living · 5 May 2026
School Runs in Shanghai: International Schools, Chinese Schools, and the Decision
Expat families in Shanghai face a genuine choice between international schools (expensive, Western curriculum) and Chinese schools (free but linguistically demanding). This guide explains the options, costs, and what the school run actually looks like.
Shanghai has one of Asia's largest concentrations of international schools. British curriculum: Harrow International, Dulwich College (multiple campuses), BISS. American: Shanghai American School (Puxi and Pudong). IB options widely available. Bilingual schools are a growing category. Fees: ¥150,000–350,000/year plus separate registration (¥50,000–150,000 non-refundable capital levy). Apply early — waiting lists at sought-after schools are common.
Chinese public schools: available to foreign nationals with a residence permit. Entirely Mandarin-medium. Requires strong linguistic adaptation from the child. Some schools welcome foreign students; others have administrative barriers. Valuable for Mandarin acquisition but demanding.
Local private Chinese schools: Mandarin-medium with some English teaching, ¥50,000–120,000/year.
School run options: school bus (¥/term, departs 6:30–7:00 a.m.); metro for older children (12+); taxi/Didi (¥30–60 per ride). Neighbourhood choice in Shanghai is often driven by proximity to target school.
Tags
living, shanghai, schools, expat, family, children