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Thank you for your interest in learning more about Shanghai Community International School (SCIS).

We understand that moving to a new country and/or joining a new school can be a challenging and ultimately, an overwhelming experience for the entire family. Our commitment is to assist you throughout the admissions process in order to help provide a smooth transition for you and your children. Our experienced staff are available year-round to assist you, help answer any questions that you may have, and/or arrange a personalized campus visit.

We encourage you to explore our website and learn more about our school, community, academic and extracurricular programs.

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Discover SCIS

Established in 1996 as one of Shanghai’s first international schools, Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) is a non-profit educational day school, governed by a self-perpetuating board of directors and overseen by the International Schools Foundation. SCIS has three campuses spread across Shanghai, including locations in Puxi and Pudong, and offers a seamless international program for students age two to eighteen.

SCIS is accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the National Council of Curriculum and Textbook (NCCT), as well as authorized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum World School. Additionally, SCIS is a member of the East Asia Regional Conference of Overseas Schools (EARCOS) and the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS).

With over twenty years of rich tradition, SCIS offers a truly unique international experience. The SCIS community is unparalleled, consisting of a diverse mix of outstanding teachers, students, and parents representing over sixty nationalities and thirty-five languages, across six continents. SCIS leverages this unique community to provide a personalized approach to holistic education, ensuring all students have the opportunity to be successful.

As an IB World School, SCIS provides a full continuum of programs from Nursery through Grade Twelve, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). The IB is an academically rigorous, college-preparatory program which is balanced by an emphasis on personal development and fostering artistic, athletic, and global citizenship endeavors. Under the aegis of the IB, the SCIS Mission is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring learners who contribute positively to their communities. This mission has propelled SCIS to the forefront of education in Shanghai.

Discover the SCIS Community for yourself – INQUIRE TODAY

Download the SCIS Admissions View Book to learn more about our school and programs

Why Choose SCIS?

In everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. Our commitment to the SCIS community is to provide a truly international environment and experience through which everyone has the opportunity to challenge the status quo.

Truly International

We have both breadth and depth of international families within our community. With over sixty nationalities and more than thirty-five languages represented, the breadth of our community is unparalleled. However, what really sets the SCIS community apart is the depth of our diversity, with a student population that is evenly spread across the world, roughly one-third representation from the Americas, Europe, and Australasia. At SCIS, there is no dominant culture, only internationalism.

As a truly international school, in everything we do, we do it from an international-mindset. As an IB Continuum World School, our approach to learning, curriculum and supporting programs are internationally focused. Our activity offerings are international in scope. And, when our students leave SCIS, they leave as global citizens and spread to universities and other international schools across the world. The entirety of the SCIS experience is international.

Academic Excellence

As an IB World School, SCIS provides a full continuum of programs from Nursery through Grade Twelve, including the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). The IB is an academically rigorous, college-preparatory program which is balanced by an emphasis on personal development and fostering artistic, athletic, and global citizenship endeavors. Under the aegis of the IB, the SCIS Mission is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring learners who contribute positively to their communities. This mission has propelled SCIS to the forefront of education in Shanghai.

The most obvious place to find academic excellence on display is through the SCIS graduating class and alumni. Here it’s easy to see the living embodiment of a truly international environment and experience. Check out the portrait of a graduate from SCIS. Check in on what some of our SCIS alumni are up to.

Health and Safety

The health and safety of our community is a top priority and at the forefront of all decision-making at SCIS, which is clearly reflected through our daily operations, school policies, and capital investments. The following are just a few examples of our commitment to our community.

On each of our campuses, whenever students are present, we have a fully-outfitted, licensed clinic which is staffed by registered nurses from WorldPath Clinic International. For our student athletes, we have a full fitness center and certified physical therapist located onsite, as well as the full breadth of sports facilities.

Within all of our indoor learning spaces, SCIS is able to control environmental factors in order to optimize learning, health and safety. Each campus is fitted with onsite indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring systems, which in-turn control our state-of-the-art, centralized double-air-filtration systems. These systems in tandem help to ensure that all our indoor learning spaces meet the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of healthy air. Our policies regarding outdoor air quality help to ensure students are healthy and safe throughout the entire school day.

We import all of our playground equipment from either the United States or Denmark, knowing full well the additional lead time necessary for customs clearance and the added cost due to additional import tax. However, these extra efforts are worth it, with assurance that our equipment is sturdy, chemical free, and of the best possible quality.

SCIS operates our own cafeteria service, which allows us to manage all aspects of food preparation and service. We source the best ingredients, both imported and locally when appropriate, from trusted sources. We are able to accommodate a variety of food allergies and dietary requests. Our community are integral in the development of our well-balanced lunch menu and other cafeteria initiatives.

Positive, Welcoming Atmosphere - Parents as Partners

As a community-centered institution, SCIS values strong and supportive family units. We consider both the parent and student as partners within our learning community. Parents are actively involved in joining with staff and students to create a strong learning environment. On each campus, the Parents and Friends Association (PAFA) organizes volunteer opportunities as well as community events. These activities enrich the students’ lives, support and improve the school environment, and contribute to the fun feel of an involved international community.

Community

Since the foundation of our school, we have always had a strong reputation for creating a family-friendly community atmosphere. Community is at the core of the SCIS experience. As students, your child will feel warm, welcomed and happy. As parents, you will feel accepted and engaged. Together, we are the SCIS community.

Yes, we offer a rigorous academic program. Yes, we are competitive in sports. And yes, we push for excellence in all areas. However, we execute these goals in the spirit of cooperation, teamwork, and unity. We seek to foster a strong community culture of encouragement and inclusion.

Tradition

Established in 1996 as one of Shanghai’s first international schools, SCIS celebrates over twenty years of rich tradition and commitment to the community. SCIS has been a Tier-1 school not only in Shanghai, but in all of Asia for many years. Our community extends across the globe. We are proud of our rich history, and encourage you to discover more.

Comprehensive Programs

SCIS focuses on the development of the whole child, fostering each student’s growth as an inquiring, knowledgeable and caring learner who contributes positively to their community. In addition to academics, we also stress social, emotional, physical, and ethical development. SCIS provides a multitude of opportunities for students to participate in special interest activities, community building and service, the arts, and athletics, both during the school day and through our after-school activities program. We believe in supporting a vast range of learners, through which we believe the breadth and depth of our diversity supports our collective intelligence. SCIS offers support services for students who are English language learners, through a comprehensive English as an Additional Language (EAL) support program. For our diploma students, dedicated college guidance counselors are readily available to support in the college and university research, application, and admissions process. Throughout your child’s journey with SCIS, we will be there to support them.

Cultural Opportunities and Community Involvement

We are fortunate to have families from all over the world; cultural diversity offers valuable experiences for our students in the classroom. Each grade level helps to sponsor at least one community outreach program. Class trips occur regularly throughout the year and our upper school students have yearly trips planned outside of Shanghai. These and other initiatives aim to show students that they are in a unique position to understand the world around them – one that they may not be able to experience back in their ‘home’ country.

MEet Our Community

“When we met with the administrator, I just found that the way he approached us was very warm and more comfortable to us. It was more of a conversation and not an advertisement of the school. At SCIS they really want to embrace the children, their feelings, and teach them to enjoy learning. SCIS is kind of like my home, it’s what I refer back to. When I think of Shanghai, I immediately think of SCIS. We were talking about this today, ‘why are the students here at SCIS much closer than other schools,’ and we thought it was because it feels like we are more of a family here. We all come from different international backgrounds, so we all have to accept each other, and that’s what really helps us to become better friends and a closer family.”

Machan Family

An SCIS family for eleven years

“I think SCIS gives us a good impression. It’s a very warm place and they can take care of students. For Abby and Cyrus, starting from Pre-K and growing up at SCIS, there’s a reason why they love this school. SCIS is quite good for them and it’s good for us. Other than schooling, activities like Halloween night, Bingo Night, and Christmas – you can connect with different people from different countries.”

Wong Family

An SCIS family for fourteen years

“We are happy to be at SCIS. We trust that SCIS is the right environment. We have heard a lot of comparisons by talking to other parents and I think this environment at SCIS is not as strict compared to German schools. You have the freedom to explore yourself and develop your personality and get to be a part of a community. These are the advantages here. There are not many schools where a teacher would stay after school and spend so much of their own time and help you grow. People have this misconception about it being an easy education. I think the thought process is continually in our brain—to figure things out by ourselves and learn that your future is in your own hands.”

Akyazici Family

An SCIS family for twelve years