Jeffry R. Stubbs
Superintendent
With a new campus opened in 2022, Hangzhou International School (HIS) is an IB World School, where we provide a rigorous, high-caliber academic program for all ages of students. HIS has a highly reputed International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) for Grades 11 to 12, and the full IB Continuum of study, which includes delivering the Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) for Grades EY to Grade 5, and the Middle Years Programme (IB MYP) for Grades 6 to 10.
These programs are recognized worldwide, so if your next educational experience is back to your home country or to another international school, you can be assured of the transferrence and acceptance of your child’s achievements at HIS.
Our wonderful students continue to score well above peer norms with IBDP, NWEA, MAP, PSAT and SAT standardized test measures, and since our first graduating class in 2004 most have gone on to attend the world's top 100 universities.
As part of our complete learning experience, we offer a rich and comprehensive extracurricular program with more than 100 different afterschool activities for students of all ages, as well as Model United Nations and a strong multi-sport competitive program.
Personally I have been involved with HIS for almost two decades, and every year I have experienced a genuine sense of caring between individuals and within the HIS community, with our very active Parents and Friends Association (PAFA). Join us and become part of our truly unique and international school.
We have organised the information available for this school into 10 sections and 41 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
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Number of students
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970
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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40+
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Most common nationality
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The top 10 nationalities are American, Chinese (including Hong Kong), German, Canadian, Indian, Australian, South Korean, French and Japanese. The other 30 nationalities have under 10 students each.
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Ratio of local students to international students
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HIS is a school for children of foreign nationals only. The only Chinese students allowed to apply are residents of Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan, or those with special government permission.
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Native English speaking teachers
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Yes
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Language support for students not fluent in English
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We provide significant EAL (English as an Additional Language) support, with a team of more than 10 staff. In addition, we also have two dedicated Speech Language Therapists as well as four Social & Emotional Counsellors.
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Additional language classes offered by the school
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Our foreign language options are Mandarin and Spanish.
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Max. number of students per class
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18 in Early Childhood (Early Years, Pre-K and Kindergarten), and 22 for Grades 1 to 12
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Average number of students per class
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18
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Does the school employ teaching assistants?
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Yes
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Use of technology in the classroom
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With a commitment to a 1-to-1 laptop initiative in Grades 5-12, students purchase an Apple MacBook in Grade 6 (in Grade 5 they are supplied a school-owned one) as one of their required educational resources and the entire campus has WiFi access for the HIS community. We have a 'Tech Shack' open during school hours where students and staff can drop-in for tech-related assistance, and emphasize digital citizenship throughout the curriculum.
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Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)
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Yes
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Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?
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No
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External examinations or assessments available
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IB Diploma, SAT, PSAT, WIDA and NWEA
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Results in these examinations
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Hangzhou International School students perform above the global averages in these examinations. Out of the Class of 2024, 11% achieved 40+ points in the IB Diploma, while in the 2024 SAT exams, students scored an impressive average score of 1308, with 55% of HIS students scoring above the 95% percentile.
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Do teachers assign homework to their students?
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Yes, each grade level has a homework expectation, though in line with our IB curriculum the amounts of homework assigned are not excessive.
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Approximate hours of homework given
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There is no set time, as the amount slowly increases from Early Years through Grade 12.
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Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation
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100% of HIS students go to their university of choice, supported by our dedicated bilingual (English and Mandarin) University and Counseling team. More than 50% of the Class of 2024 are attending the world's Top 100 universities, across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Asia and Europe.
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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HIS believes that all children deserve an excellent education. With a dedicated support team of 20 staff, HIS is committed to providing an inclusive learning experience for students with mild learning/sensory differences on an individualized basis, and has learning support specialists for Upper and Lower schools.
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Learning support offered
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Children may be referred to the Learning Support Program by parents, teachers, or other faculty. When a referral is made, a team is gathered to assess the student’s current level of academic or social/behavioral performance. Following assessments, the team makes decisions. If formal learning support services are indicated, they will be put into an Individualized Learning Plan. Learning Support Program fees are assessed according to the level of support provided.
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The school supports gifted, able and talented students
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HIS tailors learning to the abilities of its students and has programs of increased enrichment for all learners.
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Student access to education psychologist
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Yes, we have a dedicated, full-time School Psychologist, as part of our larger learning support team of 20 staff.
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Entry evaluation for students
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The Admissions department conducts a thorough review of admission materials including a general assessment of previous schooling, standardized test results, prior reports and any additional assessment material needed that helps the department make an informed decision before enrolling new students.
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Brief description of entry evaluation required
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In cases where the admissions application does not have sufficient assessment information from prior schools, and especially with students in High School years (Grades 9-12), we may arrange a standardized assessment, interview, and/or writing sample. This is applied on a case-by-case basis with applications.
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Waiting list
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Yes, depending on the grade level. We recommend parents first contact our admissions department to see if there are spaces available in their child's grade.
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Deadline for registration (new academic year)
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There is no fixed deadline for applications and we accept applications all year round, but most new students start in August or January of each school year.
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Students can join after academic year begins
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Yes, we understand that often families relocate to Hangzhou at different times of the year, so we can accept new students no matter what time they arrive.
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School start time
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8am
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School finish time
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3pm
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Supervised care before/after school
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No, but students can choose to sign up for one of the extracurricular activities that take place at the end of the school day, generally from 3.15pm to 4.30pm.
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School bus service available
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Yes, we have a large fleet of school buses that connect to homes and residential complexes all across Hangzhou - though there is an additional fee required.
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School provided lunches
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Yes, we offer a wide ranging menu for lunch, including hot food, a salad bar, fresh fruit and a sandwich station. The cost of lunch is included in tuition fees.
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Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)
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Yes, upon request we can cater for most dietary needs. However, we will need to be informed in advance so that the catering department can help prepare.
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Uniform required
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Yes, we have uniforms for all students. The designs differ for Early Childhood (EY-KG), Lower School (Grade 1-5), Middle School (6-8) and High School 9-12).
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Facilities at the school
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In 2022, HIS relocated to a new, purpose-built campus in a green setting. Covering 50,000 square meters, the HIS campus redefines education through open, shared, and multi-functional learning and leisure spaces. It is characterized by two buildings: The Cocoon (ECE Campus) and The Lantern (Main Campus).
With a focus on cultivating student development both inside and outside of the classroom, we are proudly equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including a 600-seat Performing Arts Theatre, multipurpose Black Box Theatre, ‘The Wave’ 25 meter swimming pool, three indoor gyms, outdoor courts, and a FIFA-rated football/soccer pitch. Here students can develop their learning potential, pursue hobbies, enjoy outdoor sports, and explore endless possibilities.
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Sports facilities at the school
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A FIFA-rated 90x60 meter field, 2 competition-level gyms, Early Childhood rhythm and movement gym, fitness center, 6-lane 25 meter pool, climbing walls.
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Qualities and characteristics best defining the school
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Hangzhou International School (HIS) is a non-profit IB Continuum School, which means we offer all three IB programmes: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). This international curriculum provides a rigorous, high-caliber academic program for all ages of international students. HIS is an inclusive community-centered school, the longest serving international school in Hangzhou (we opened in 2002) and is the only WASC-accredited and IB Continuum School in Zhejiang, China. Those accreditations mean we offer both a High School Diploma and IB Diploma.
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Teaching approach of the school
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The HIS mission is to provide our students with opportunities to pursue both academic and personal excellence in a nurturing, resource-rich, international-community environment. These opportunities are provided by an outstanding staff working in first-rate learning environments, on safe and secure campuses.
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Early Childhood Education | Ages 2-6
The Early Childhood Education program at HIS draws guidance from best practices around the world, and our teachers’ vast and varied experience. Through our Reggio-inspired approach and centered around the principles of the IB PYP Early Years framework, we create inviting and aesthetically pleasing learning spaces that encourage exploration, creativity, and collaboration. Our teachers embrace the role of facilitators, supporting children's inquiries and providing opportunities for both self-expression and reflection.
Our curriculum is built on the principles of play-based and inquiry-driven learning, fostering curiosity, creativity, and a love for discovery in our youngest students.
Lower School | Ages 6-11
The Lower School at HIS embraces the principles and practices of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP). Our transdisciplinary homeroom curriculum fosters holistic student development by integrating subject areas such as Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science into conceptually-driven units of inquiry that encourage deeper understanding and the development of key learning skills.
Learning in the Lower School is further enriched and supported by specialist educators in areas such as Physical Education, the Arts, Mandarin, Learning Support, Design & Technology, and Library. Our aim is to nurture each student’s natural curiosity and eagerness to learn through an inquiry-based approach, helping them build a solid foundation of cognitive skills, learning habits, and a lifelong love of inquiry and learning.
Upper School | Ages 11-18
As an IB world continuum school, HIS offers the MYP programme for Grades 6-10, and the Diploma Programme for Grades 11-12.
In addition to rigorous academic learning, the upper school places great emphasis on social and emotional learning, and the development of individual skills, and interests in the pursuit of personal excellence. In the upper grades, there is greater depth and understanding of subject matter and transition to a college-preparatory program. In the Diploma Programmes students generally have more subject choices within their extracurriculuar and academic learning.
All students will work towards a WASC-accredited High School Diploma and/or IB Diploma Programme (DP). Students can also graduate with both high school and IB diplomas.
After School
HIS offers over 100 Co-curricular Activities (CCAs) to all students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. The Co-curricular program allows students to develop talents in an environment that promotes the growth of leadership and communication skills all while being hands-on and engaging.
HIS also provides athletic opportunities for students to compete in 10 Varsity sports and 12 Middle School sports, as well as several Lower School sports and recreational activities.
Whether in practice or on the field of competition, the student athlete will learn the importance of dedication, communication, and perseverance. Sportsmanship is stressed and emphasis is placed on teamwork and cooperation. HIS students teams represent the school as the Golden Dragons. GO DRAGONS!!!!
Our Campus
In 2022, HIS relocated to a new, purpose-built campus. Covering over 50,000 m2, the HIS campus redefines education through open, shared, and multi-functional learning and leisure spaces.
With a focus on cultivating student development both in and out of the classroom, we are proudly equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including a Performing Arts Theatre, Black Box Theatre, ‘The Wave’ swimming pool, three indoor gyms, outdoor courts, and a FIFA-rated football/soccer pitch. Here students can develop their learning potential, pursue hobbies, enjoy outdoor sports, and explore endless possibilities.
Check out the facilities in this interactive virtual tour.
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