International school choice — a framework

Choosing a school for an expat family in mainland China is the most-consequential single decision, and one that's heavily marketed-at. Here is a framework for thinking about it independent of the marketing.

The categories

Three broad categories of school in tier-1 mainland China:

1. **Full international schools** — admit only foreign passport holders or HK/Macau/Taiwan residents. Curriculum: IB, IGCSE+A-level, AP, or national curricula (American, British, Australian, German, French, Japanese). Tier-1 tuition: ¥250,000-¥350,000 per year per child. 2. **Bilingual private schools** — admit Chinese and foreign students. Curriculum is hybrid Chinese-international. Tuition: ¥80,000-¥200,000 per year. 3. **Public schools with foreign-children programs** — Mandarin medium. Free or near-free.

Question 1: How long are you staying?

• Less than 2 years: prioritise curriculum continuity with home country. If your child will return to a UK, US, Australian or German school, pick a school using the home curriculum. Smooth transition matters more than school 'best in class'.
• 2-5 years: priorities shift toward IB or another internationally-portable curriculum. Local Chinese curriculum elements become useful.
• 5+ years or permanent: bilingual schools become competitive — your child gets functional Mandarin, which is the single largest cumulative benefit.

Question 2: What's the home-country target?

• UK university entry: A-level or IB. UK-curriculum schools (Wellington, Dulwich, Harrow) score well here.
• US university entry: AP (American curriculum) or IB.
• Continental European universities: national curricula (German Embassy School, Lycée Français, Italian School).
• Australia / NZ: home-country curriculum schools or IB.
• Singapore-style entrance exams: bilingual schools with strong English-Mandarin balance.

Question 3: What's the child's age?

• Pre-school (3-6): language acquisition is the largest single factor. Bilingual environment matters.
• Primary (6-11): full international or bilingual. Curriculum continuity less critical at this age.
• Lower secondary (11-14): continuity becomes important. Stick with home curriculum if possible.
• Upper secondary (14-18): critical. Don't switch curriculum mid-stream unless absolutely necessary.

Question 4: What does the school's IB results look like?

International schools publish IB diploma results annually. Useful comparison points: - **Average IB score**: world average is 30-31. Top international schools in tier-1 cities run 36-39. - **% scoring 40+**: a meaningful comparator across schools. - **University placement results**: how many students go to which universities.

These are real differentiators between schools more than the marketing brochures suggest.

Question 5: What's the teacher retention rate?

A school with high teacher turnover is a school with problems. Ask: - How long has the head teacher been there? - What % of teachers return year-on-year? - How long is the typical international teacher's contract?

Schools where these numbers are good tend to have more stable culture and better outcomes.

Question 6: Where do current parents live?

The school's transport-feasibility map is real. Most international schools have: - A bus network covering 30-90 minutes' radius. - A heavy concentration of families in 2-3 specific neighbourhoods.

If you can't get to those neighbourhoods, the school doesn't really fit.

Question 7: What's the cohort?

Talk to current parents. Ask: - What nationalities make up the student body? - What's the social culture like? - How is bullying handled? - What's the academic pressure level?

Schools vary substantially on cohort culture even within the same curriculum tier.

Application timeline

For most international schools: - **Applications open**: October-November for the following August. - **Standardised testing** (MAP for primary, ISEE/SSAT for secondary): January-February. - **Interviews** (yes, even for primary children): February-March. - **Acceptance**: March-April. - **Enrolment confirmation**: April-May. - **Bus / uniform / orientation**: June-July.

Apply to 2-3 schools as a portfolio. Sibling priority is meaningful.

What we don't recommend

We don't recommend specific schools by name. The right choice depends heavily on the child, family priorities and current school cohorts. The schools that were strongest in 2018 are not necessarily the strongest in 2026.

What's worth paying for

• Strong IB or A-level results.
• Stable teacher base.
• Healthy cohort culture.
• Family-network at the school in your neighbourhood.

What's not worth paying for

• Branded curriculum prestige without underlying results.
• Modern building / fancy facilities (matter less than they look).
• Aggressive marketing claiming 'top in Asia' or similar.

The school question is consequential. Treat it like a business decision: ask the hard questions, talk to current parents, focus on outcomes rather than glossy brochures.