doris
Find Schools Events My shortlist My account Ask doris
Parent Guide Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
S

Shanghai American School

China, Shanghai

Shortlist
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees RMB 246,000 - 304,100
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 2900
Type Co-educational
Opened 1912
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum Reggio Emilia Approach, IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP)
Taught languages Mandarin, French, Spanish
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Shanghai American School (SAS) is a non-profit PreK–12 school with two campuses in Shanghai: Pudong (1600 Lingbai Road) and Puxi (258 Jinfeng Road). The school was founded in 1912 and serves children from early childhood through high school. Early years at SAS use a Reggio Emilia–inspired approach; at high school SAS offers both Advanced Placement (AP) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma as pathways. The school highlights programs such as robotics alongside sports and performing arts, and provides an optional bus service for families. SAS is led by Head of School James Nelligan. (All facts below are taken from the SAS website.)

www.saschina.org

258 Jinfeng Rd, Minhang District, Shanghai, China, 201106

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

Shanghai American School has 2,900 pupils, typical class sizes of 18, instruction in English.

Location
Two purpose-built campuses: Pudong (1600 Lingbai Road, Pudong) and Puxi (258 Jinfeng Road, Minhang). Both campuses are in residential parts of Shanghai with car- and taxi-access; Pudong campus is inside The Links community and has controlled vehicle access. For precise directions, campus maps and gate procedures see the school's campus access/contact pages.

Stages
SAS is a Pre‑K through Grade 12 school with Early Childhood (Pre‑K), Elementary, Middle and High School divisions. The high school offers pathways including Advanced Placement (AP) and the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Type
Independent, non‑profit, co‑educational day school operating two PreK–12 campuses (no boarding provision listed). The school describes itself as an American‑style international school serving expatriate families.

Additional learning support
SAS provides English language support/EAL and has dedicated Learning Support staff and student‑support roles across divisions; non‑native English speakers may be assessed (WIDA screener) and limited EAL places are available. The school and external reviews note support for mild-to-moderate needs but say admission and provision for severe or complex special educational needs (SEN) are handled case‑by‑case and may be limited. Families with specific SEN requirements are advised to discuss needs with Admissions before applying.

Country affiliation
The school follows an American/international curriculum model (AP and American high‑school pathways) but is an independent international school rather than being officially affiliated with a single country's government.

Religious affiliation
SAS is non‑sectarian and does not have a religious affiliation.

School day structure
Daily timings vary by division; the school handbook (elementary example) shows campuses open around 7:55 a.m. with student dismissal near 3:00 p.m., and division‑specific start/end times and break/lunch periods are used. Exact start/end times and any staggered schedules are confirmed by the school for each division and year.

Bus service
The school operates an optional student transport system: younger students are escorted by bus monitors to/from classrooms and parents must register for routes and seats. Route coverage, contracted bus providers, fees and pick‑up/drop‑off arrangements are managed by the school and can change year to year, so Admissions or the Transport office should be contacted for current operators, routes and costs.
Diving Deeper
The school has not added this information
Fees

Annual tuition at Shanghai American School ranges from RMB 246,000 to RMB 304,100 for 2026/27.

Application and One‑time Entry Fees
- Application fee: RMB 2,800 (non‑refundable).
- One‑time entry fee for new entrants: Pre‑Kindergarten & Elementary: RMB 28,000; Middle & High School: RMB 33,000. This applies once at first enrollment (re‑entry after two years non‑enrollment normally requires payment again).

Enrollment Fee
- Non‑refundable Enrollment Fee: RMB 32,000 (applies to secure a place; due by April 1 for returning students; for new entrants due within five working days of invoice).

Annual Tuition and Per‑term (installment) Amounts
- Pre‑Kindergarten: Annual tuition RMB 246,000 — two equal installments of RMB 123,000 (due June 1 and November 1). Enrollment fee is additional.
- Elementary (K–5): Annual tuition RMB 279,400 — two equal installments of RMB 139,700 (due June 1 and November 1). Enrollment fee is additional.
- Middle School (6–8): Annual tuition RMB 287,200 — two equal installments of RMB 143,600 (due June 1 and November 1). Enrollment fee is additional.
- High School (9–12): Annual tuition RMB 304,100 — two equal installments of RMB 152,050 (due June 1 and November 1). Enrollment fee is additional.
- Prepayment discount: 1% discount if tuition installments are prepaid in advance under stated conditions (details apply).

Billing Schedule and Payment Terms
- Annual tuition billed as two equal installments due June 1 and November 1. Enrollment and entry fees billed according to invoice and timelines described above. All bank charges are the payer's responsibility.

Other Fees and Typical Additional Costs
- Transportation (optional): RMB 11,400 per semester (payable per semester).
- Lunch: hot‑meal program available; cost varies by selection and is billed separately. PE uniforms (Grades 6–10) are purchased from the school shop. External exam fees (AP/IB) and school trip costs are invoiced separately. Students in Grades 6–12 must provide their own MacBook and backup drive (BYOM requirement).

Refunds
- Application Fee and Enrollment Fee are non‑refundable. Tuition refunds follow a structured schedule tied to written withdrawal dates (specific refund percentages and conditions apply for withdrawals on or before August 1, between August 1 and the first semester start, on or before December 1, and after December 1). Transportation refunds are prorated minus a handling charge. Outstanding obligations may be deducted from refunds.

Accepted Payment Methods
- By RMB or USD wire transfer to the school bank account; by RMB or USD debit/credit card direct to the school bank account; or by RMB cash deposit to the school bank account. Payments under RMB 5,000 may be paid in RMB cash at the Finance Office. All fees are set in RMB but may be paid in USD by wire using the Bank of China exchange rate on the school's published date. All bank/processing charges are the payer's responsibility.
Academics

Shanghai American School teaches Reggio Emilia Approach, IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP) for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
Shanghai American School's early childhood program (Pre‑K) follows a play‑based, Reggio Emilia–influenced model with on‑site ateliers for hands‑on exploration.
The elementary program (K–5) is an American‑style curriculum emphasizing literacy across the curriculum, a conceptual approach to mathematics, science, social studies, arts, physical education and languages.
Middle school (Grades 6–8) uses inquiry‑based and conceptual learning in core subjects while offering exploratory courses (design technology, theater, global languages, etc.) to prepare students for high school.
High school (Grades 9–12) culminates in a U.S. high‑school diploma (minimum 24 credits with specified credit requirements by subject) and offers multiple qualification pathways: Advanced Placement (including AP Capstone), the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, or a hybrid combination of AP and IB courses.
Detailed grade‑level course lists, graduation requirements, and the IB policy manual are published in the school's course catalogs and resources on the SAS website.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
The school has not added this information
Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
The school has not added this information
Languages
The school has not added this information
Reputation
The school has not added this information
Admissions

Admissions
1. Submit the application online. Create or sign in to an OpenApply account, complete the student and parent sections, and submit the form. The “Grade Applying for” is automatically filled from your child's date of birth; if you want a different grade, use the “Requested Grade Level” field and explain why. After submission you'll receive an automated confirmation email and an Admissions team member will contact you within five business days.

2. Upload required documents and pay the application fee. After applying you'll get a checklist in your OpenApply account showing required documents (school reports, government documents and confidential recommendations) and instructions for how to submit them. The application invoice is usually raised within three to five business days; the non‑refundable application fee is listed on the school's fees page and must be paid before the Admission Committee evaluates the file. The Admissions team will let you know if any documents are missing or don't meet the requirements.

3. Application marked complete once paperwork and fee are received. When all required documents and the application fee are received the school marks the application as complete and the Admissions team will confirm the status and outline next steps. Keep copies of submitted school reports and the confidential recommendation contacts—SAS sends recommendation requests directly to the current school for grades and teachers specified in the checklist. Applications are not considered complete until all eligibility documents (including government/visa paperwork where required) are on file.

4. Interview and academic/English assessments (as required). Selected applicants (and parents) are invited to assessments and/or interviews; the exact format depends on grade level and the candidate's background. For families in Shanghai assessments are on campus and must take place during school hours (sessions can take up to four hours); overseas applicants may be assessed online. Non‑native English speakers (Grade 1 and up) may be given a WIDA screener to assess English proficiency—spaces for language support are limited, so strong English results influence placement.

5. Admissions review and placement in the wait pool. The Admissions Committee reviews applications holistically—considering academic potential, English proficiency, social/emotional development and family alignment with SAS's mission. Qualified applications are placed into a wait pool rather than being offered on a strict first‑come, first‑served basis; qualified applicants are then considered in rounds when seats become available. If the school determines it cannot support a student's individual needs or if the applicant pool is unusually strong relative to seats, the application may be closed.

6. Decision rounds and updates. SAS uses scheduled decision rounds (and rolling/adhoc updates) for each admissions cycle; the Admissions site lists the round dates and when families can expect an update for the 2026–27 cycle. Possible outcomes include an enrollment offer, placement in or continuation in the wait pool, remaining under consideration for further evaluation, or application closure. Because seat availability and applicant volumes vary by grade and campus, timelines can shift; the Admissions team will inform families if processing is delayed.

7. If offered: accept and complete enrollment requirements (deadlines and fees). If you accept an offer you'll be invoiced for the one‑time entry fee (for new entrants), the non‑refundable enrollment fee to secure the place, and the annual tuition per the published Schedule of Fees. Enrollment fees and payment deadlines are specific: returning students' enrollment fee is due by April 1 of the year prior to the school year; for newly admitted students the enrollment fee is due within five working days of the invoice due date. Read the tuition and refund policy carefully (refund rules vary depending on withdrawal date) and follow the stated methods of payment.

8. Campus selection, transfers and practical notes. Families choose Pudong, Puxi, or Two‑Campus consideration on the application; if you request Two‑Campus consideration you may be offered a place at either campus depending on seat availability. If an offered seat is at one campus and you request a campus change after an offer is made, your child may be returned to the wait pool (placement not guaranteed). Once enrolled, students are expected to attend their original campus for two years before a campus transfer is considered, and transfers are not guaranteed—factor commuting, housing and sibling/transport arrangements into your campus choice.

Scholarships
Shanghai American School's public materials (admissions and tuition pages) do not advertise a general student scholarship or means‑tested financial aid program for external applicants. The school's published benefit information does show an internal tuition assistance benefit (Eagle Assistance Tuition Assistance) available to employees (one tuition assistance benefit per employed teacher/administrator as part of staff benefit packages). If you are seeking fee‑reduction, special considerations, or exceptions, SAS advises contacting the Admissions or Finance offices directly—these are handled case‑by‑case and are not described as an open scholarship program on the website. If you'd like, I can draft an email template you can send to admissions or finance to ask about any available assistance or special arrangements.

Waitlist
Shanghai American School does not operate a simple first‑come, first‑served waitlist; instead it uses a qualitative “wait pool.” Qualified applicants who are not immediately offered a seat are placed into this wait pool and considered alongside other qualified candidates in scheduled decision rounds and on a rolling basis. The Admissions Committee reviews the pool in rounds (round dates and expected update windows are published for each admissions cycle) and issues outcomes that include offers, continued wait‑pool placement, requests for additional evaluation, or application closure. The school notes that priority consideration (not automatic placement) may be given in cases such as U.S. and other foreign citizens, applicants with international schooling backgrounds, stronger English proficiency, siblings already at SAS, and returning students in good standing; admissions also balance multilingual learner needs and cohort diversity when filling seats. For current seat availability and advice about applying outside the main cycle, SAS asks families to contact admissions directly because seats are often very limited.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in China View all schools in Shanghai View all schools in China IB curriculum schools in China Open days & tours in Shanghai What is the IB curriculum? View all schools Search all schools
doris
linked-in-logo facebook-logo instagram-logo
About
Parent Guide
Transparency Charter
Privacy Notice Terms of Use Cookies Notice Cookie Preferences
© 2026 doris Worldwide Ltd. All rights reserved.