Shanghai Singapore International School () is a K-12 private school and a school for children of foreign personnel in Shanghai, China.
There were two campuses: the Minhang Campus serves preschool through senior high school and the Xuhui Campus served preschool through elementary school. The two campuses merged during 2019.
The school was established in 1996 with an initial enrollment of 18 students and 9 teachers. In 2001, it relocated to a new campus in Hua Cao Town, Minhang District, serving 74 students with a staff of 25 teachers. The school received authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to offer the Middle Years Program (MYP) in 2003, the same year it introduced a golf program and opened a second campus on Huajing Road in Xuhui District, enrolling 147 students.
In 2005, the institution was authorized to offer the IB Diploma Program (DP). A new campus in Minhang District opened in 2006 to mark the school's tenth anniversary. The school launched its first After School Program (ASP) in 2008 and joined the China International School Sports Association (CISSA). In 2010, it received full accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the National Center for School Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT), expanded its ASP offerings, and became a member of the Shanghai International School Activities Conference (SISAC).
Authorization to offer the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) was granted in 2011. The Xuhui Campus marked its tenth anniversary in 2013 and introduced a pilot Farm-to-School initiative. In 2014, the school became the first in China to receive authorization from the IBO to offer the Career-related program (CP).
The school celebrated its twentieth anniversary in 2016 and joined the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS). In 2018, it opened an Aquatic Center and the Merlion Residence for teachers, and introduced the SSIS IBDP Scholarship Awards. The Xuhui Campus was relocated and integrated with the Minhang Campus in 2019, coinciding with the introduction of the SSIS Athletics and Aesthetics Scholarship Awards.
The final phase of the School Expansion Project was completed in 2020, adding an Integrated Learning Center and a Performing Arts Center. The school marked its twenty-fifth anniversary in 2021. In 2025, it received accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Applicants are required to create an OpenApply account in order to submit an application or register for an open day. The account functions as the primary channel for receiving notifications throughout the admissions process.
Application documents must be submitted through OpenApply. All documents are required to be translated into English or Chinese by an authorized translation provider. Original documents must be presented to the Admissions Office for verification on the day of the admissions assessment. Applicants select the documents appropriate to their application category.
The application fee must be paid at leave 5 working days before the scheduled admissions assessment, following the issuance of a pro forma invoice by the school's Finance Office. Accepted payment methods include bank transfer and on-site payment by credit card or cash.
All applicants are required to complete an admissions assessment. Admissions officers contact applicants with assessment details once all required documents have been received.
After the admissions assessment results are issued, the matriculation fee must be paid within 5 working days. Confirmation of receipt of the matriculation fee finalizes the application.
The application fee is non-refundable, non-transferable, and valid only for the school year to which the applicant is applying. The fee is due within 5 working days of issuance.
Fee: 2,500
The matriculation fee is non-refundable and is used to support the provision of school resources. It is not deductible from tuition payments.
Fee: 20,000
The annual tuition fee varies by grade level.
The English Language Acquisition (ELA) Program provides additional language support for students in Grades 1 to 6 who require assistance in developing English proficiency. The program operates on a year-long basis, and students exit at the end of the academic year. Payment is required in full before the program begins.
Fee: 25,000 per year
The transportation fee applies to students registered for the regular school bus service and must be paid in full before the start of the school year.
SSIS is affiliated with several interscholastic organizations that coordinate athletic and co-curricular activities among international schools. These associations include the Chinese International Schools Sports Association (CISSA), the Shanghai International Schools Athletics Conference (SISAC), the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS), and the Shanghai Swim League (SSL).
This organization includes all international schools located in Shanghai and is designed to provide inclusive athletic opportunities for students. Its stated aim is to promote individual and team development within an environment that emphasizes cooperation, friendliness, and enjoyment. The association supports principles of fair play and seeks to ensure that all participants are able to take part safely, regardless of skill level.
The sports currently offered within the program are touch rugby, football, cross-country running, table tennis, floor hockey, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, badminton, track and field, and basketball.
The organization offers seasonal sports competitions and activities for students from international schools in Shanghai, providing a supervised environment for participation. Team selection is conducted by coaches and is based on demonstrated skill levels and commitment to training and competition. The program includes volleyball, cross country, basketball, table tennis, football, and badminton.
The ACAMIS Sports League is structured to provide students with opportunities to engage in both cooperative and competitive athletic activities. It is intended to offer a safe setting in which participants can take part in organized events, travel to other schools, and interact with peers from different communities. The league focuses on three principal sports: volleyball, basketball, and football.
The Sabres Swim Team competes regularly within the SSL, which was established for international schools in Shanghai. The league has expanded significantly and now includes schools from Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Nanjing, resulting in participation from more than thirty-two schools. SSL events are held throughout the year, generally organized in rounds, and conclude with the SSL Championships followed by the annual Long Course Meet at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center.
The Aesthetics Program is structured to provide students with opportunities to participate in artistic activities that include art, dance, drama, and music. It offers a range of activities at multiple levels and serves as a platform for students to present their work both within the school and in the broader community.
âÂÂFine art is that in which the hand, the head, and the heart of man go together.â â John Ruskin
At SSIS, art education is presented as a program that develops practical artistic abilities while encouraging students to engage with their surroundings in a reflective and aesthetically aware manner. Instruction emphasizes creative freedom, personal enjoyment, and an appreciation of visual and expressive forms.
Students are given opportunities to display their work in exhibitions held on campus, and they are encouraged to participate in art competitions organized by external associations. These activities provided structured settings in which students can present their artistic achievements to both the school community and wider audiences.
The SSIS Performing Arts Program is presented as a specialized curriculum that encompasses three principal areas of aesthetic study: music, drama, and dance. The program is structured to provide students with sustained opportunities to develop performance skills and to participate in a range of artistic activities.
A variety of school and community events serve as platforms for student participation. These include musical productions, festival celebrations, International Family Days, student talent competitions, summer concerts, and performances in external community settings. Such events offer multiple opportunities for students to refine their abilities and to present their work in public forums.
The Music Program at SSIS is organized to provided students with progressive instruction in range of musical disciplines. Students learn different musical instruments at various grade levels in small-group settings and also follow a general music curriculum that includes vocal training, music theory, and music appreciation. The program introduces students to both Western and Eastern instruments, allowing them to explore diverse musical traditions and identify areas of long-term interest. Technology is incorporated into instruction through the use of professional music notation and recording applications.
SSIS functions as testing center for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), enabling students to participate in two professional-level music examinations each year. This structure supports formal skill development and provides students with recognized benchmarks for musical achievement.
SSIS structures its drama classes to support the development of young performers who are able to create, collaborate, lead, and communicate with confidence. Instruction is delivered through a practicum-based curriculum that takes place in a supportive and supervised environment, allowing students to explore expressive techniques, develop an understanding of character, and gain insight into their creative identities.
The school stages a range of drama productions each year in which students perform for audiences that include peers, families, and members of the wider community. Students also participate in filmed productions, some of which have received recognition at the annual Shanghai Student Film Festival.
The Dance Curriculum at SSIS is presented as a specialized program that focuses on artistic characteristics, aesthetic principles, and the distinctive nature of dance as an art form. Its structure is intended to cultivate an enjoyment of movement and to develop the ability to communicate emotion and ideas through physical expression. Instruction emphasizes the relationship between movement and meaning, encouraging students to explore how bodily expression can convey feelings, intentions, and narrative elements.
The central aim of the curriculum is to support a growing awareness of self. Students engage with music drawn from a variety of cultural traditions, which broadens their sensory and artistic experiences and deepens their understanding of how movement interacts with rhythm, mood, and cultural context. This approach positions dance as both a creative discipline and a medium for personal exploration.
The Co-Curricular Activities (CCA) program at SSIS is designed for students in Grades 1 through 6 and serves an extension of the Primary School Curriculum. It is intended to support the development of leadership qualities, strengthen social skills and provide opportunities for students to practice the attributes outlined in the school's learner profile. The program offers a setting in which students can broaden their interests, explore new activities, and interact with teachers in an environment that is not academically focused.
Each term features a varied selection of activities that span several domains. Sports options include floor hockey, gymnastics, softball, soccer, basketball, rock climbing, and badminton. Aesthetic activities include dance, creative drama, guzheng, singing and performing, xylophone, and orchestra. Special-interest offerings include STEAM Club, Knitting Club, Lego Building Club, Origami, and Scrapbooking Club. This range of choices is intended to ensure that students have access to activities that align with their interests and developmental needs.
CCAs are conducted during school hours, and the list of available activities changes each term. Information about upcoming offerings is shared at the end of each semester, and parents can register their children for preferred activities through the SchoolsBuddy application.
The After School Program (ASP) at SSIS is offered to students from K1 through Grade 12 and is intended to extend learning beyond the regular curriculum. It is designed to support the development of interests, skills, and personal potential in ways that contribute to a holistic education. The program aligns with the school's aim of nurturing well-rounded and confident individuals who demonstrate the attributes associated with the SSIS Future Global Leader profile.
ASP operates across 3 sessions each academic year, with each session running for 8 weeks. Activities are conducted either by SSIS teachers, which are non-paying options, or by selected external vendors, which are fee-based. This structure allows for a broad range of offerings that cater to different age groups, abilities, and interests.
Details of available ASP activities are provided in the session brochures accessible through the SchoolsBuddy platform. Families may also request information or clarification by contacting the ASP team via email. This system ensures that students and parents can review options and select activities that best support the student's interests and developmental goals.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DoE) at SSIS is available to Senior School students aged 13 and above and in structured around three progressive levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold Completion of each level requires students to meet specific criteria in areas such as service, physical activity skill development, and expedition training, culminating in the attainment of the corresponding Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Students participating in the program receive support from a network of teacher mentors who guide them through the process of designing and completing their individual DoE experience. Mentorship is provided from the point of registration through goal setting and ultimately to the successful fulfilment of program requirements. This structure ensures that students are able to navigate the award framework effectively while developing independence, resilience, and a sense of personal achievement.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award complements SSIS's educational aims by extending learning into real-world contexts and reinforcing the school's focus on character development, self-management, and purposeful goal setting. The program functions as an applied framework in which students practice the attributes promoted throughout the SSIS curriculum, translating them into independent action and long-term personal growth.
The award encourages students to engage in experiences that build resilience and determination. Because each level of the program requires sustained commitment over many months, participants learn to persevere through challenges, manage setbacks, and maintain motivation.
Independence and self management are central to the program's design. Students are responsible for selecting their activities, organizing their schedules, and documenting their progress. This student-led structure reinforces the school's goal of nurturing autonomous learners who can take ownership of their development and make informed decisions about how to achieve their objectives.
The program also deepens students' understanding of goal setting. Participants must define clear, measurable aims for each component of the award and create plans to meet them. This process strengthens their ability to set priorities, monitor progress, and reflect of outcomes.
The SSIS K-12 House System is a community-building framework that emphasizes teamwork, participation, and collective spirit across the entire school. All students and staff members are assigned to one of the four Houses: Ruby, Amber, Pearl, or Sapphire, creating a shared identity that supports interaction across grade levels and contributes to a cohesive school environment.
The House System at SSIS includes all students from Pre-Nursery onward, ensuring that each child becomes part of a House upon joining the school and remains in that House throughout their entire educational journey. The structure also allows younger siblings who later enroll at SSIS to be placed in the same House as their older siblings, reinforcing continuity and family affiliation within the system.
The SSIS House System is designed to uphold the school's guiding statements and to embody the spirit on which the system is founded. It supports students by creating a smaller community within the larger school environment, fostering a sense of belonging and continuity throughout their years at SSIS. The structure enables students to form relationships with peers across different classes, grade levels, and divisions, strengthening cross-age interaction and collaboration. It also provides avenues for competitive and leadership activities in an environment that is supportive, purposeful, and engaging, reinforcing both personal development and collective identity.
The Farm to School Project at SSIS is a whole-school initiative that integrates farming experiences directly into the curriculum. The school farm serves as an extended learning environment that enriches education beyond the classroom. It functions not only as an outdoor laboratory for science but also as a setting that supports learning in languages, the arts, and mathematics.
Beyond reinforcing academic concepts, the program encourages students to develop an awareness of their relationship with the natural world. Through hands-on engagement, students learn about the origins of food, the processes involved in growing it, and the ways in which food production affects both personal health and the broader environment.
Students cultivate their own crops on the school farm, gaining practical experience in planting, maintaining, and harvesting produce. This process introduces them to principles of sustainability and long-term stewardship while helping them understand the value of effort, responsibility, and the rewards of completing a full growth cycle.
The excursions program at SSIS is structured to enhance classroom learning by providing students with opportunities to make direct connections to the real world. All students, from Preschool through Senior School, participate in either a Spring or Autumn excursion each year. These experiences expose them to a variety of environments and contexts, contributing to a broader understanding of the world beyond the school setting.
Younger students take part in day trips to locations such as zoos, nature centers, community agencies including fire stations and hospitals, and museums. These visits allow them to engage with concepts introduced in the classroom in a tangible and meaningful way.
Senior School students travel to different regions of China for week-long excursions. These trips are designed to encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, form new connections, reflect on their personal development, and gain wider perspectives on the world around them.
The camps program at SSIS forms a structured part of each student's learning journey, with different experiences introduced at key stages of development. Grade 4 students participate in an overnight stay on campus, marking their first extended experience away from home in a familiar environment. Grade 5 students continue this progression with an overnight camp at Sun Island, where they engage in activities that promote independence and collaboration.
In Grade 6, students travel to Penglai Mahota Town for a camp designed to provide both enjoyment and meaningful learning opportunities. As students move into the Senior School years, camps are aligned with major academic transitions. At the beginning of the CLSP, IGCSE, and IBDP programs, Grades 7, 9, and 10 students take part in camps that help them build connections with their peers and become acquainted with the Senior School faculty. These experiences support social bonding, personal growth and a smooth transition into each new phase of their academic pathway.