International Education in Shanghai
⇩ Scroll directly to the list of top 10 best schools in Shanghai ⇩
If you’re planning on joining the ranks of Shanghai’s expats, then you’ll already know that it may not come cheap. China is one of the second most expensive countries in the world for international education. And after Beijing, Shanghai is the third most costly city on the planet for your little ones to go to school. But it’s not all bad news!
International schools in Shanghai come with a high price tag, but an equally high standard of education. Students from Chinese international schools, especially those in the big cities such as Shanghai, outperform those from other countries consistently.
Not only do they get better grades, they usually go on to attend world-renowned universities and enter the workforce as highly skilled professionals. No matter how you look at it, there is no denying the sky-high quality of education on offer.
Several of the top international schools in China (and in the world) are in Shanghai. Many of them are clustered in or close to the quiet residential district of Chianging, just west of the heart of the city. Shanghai is China’s biggest city and has a wide spread of districts, so you’ll be glad to know that school shuttles are commonly offered no matter where your chosen school is located.
Shanghai is also a global financial hub and home to countless major international companies. If you’re lucky enough to be hired by one of them, you might be offered a relocation package which will likely cover a chunk of the cost of international school fees. The amount varies depending on the company; it could be anywhere from 50% - 90% of the yearly cost.
Without a relocation package or a healthy salary to rely on, your international school options will unfortunately be much more limited.
The local school system has a similarly high standard of education, but some expats find it too strict for their children. Local schools in China have a reputation for putting a lot of pressure on students to perform well in exams.
As for the curricula on offer, you’ll find a broad mix to choose from in Shanghai. Chinese, American and British are the most common curricula in international schools, but you can also find French, German, Canadian and just about anything else if you so wish.
As you may expect, the high cost of Shanghai’s international schools means they come with world class facilities for your child to make the most of. From top notch sports facilities to extensive extra curricular activity programmes, their passions and interests will most definitely be nurtured along with their academic development.
Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Shanghai according to our users. However, there are another 36 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Shanghai based on your requirements.
