Best International Schools in Shanghai (2026 Compare Hub)
This page is a shortlist and compare hub for families relocating to Shanghai in 2026 — not a deep narrative guide. Use it to filter by curriculum, fee band, and campus area, then open each school profile for contacts, fees detail, and admissions notes.
Who this is for
Relocating expats on a clock: housing, visas, and school offers often move in parallel. For fees, curriculum, and how to choose, read International Schools in Shanghai 2026: Fees, Curriculum & How to Choose. Also see the Asia admission guide.
How to use this hub
1) Pick a curriculum path that matches where you might be in 3 to 5 years. 2) Check fee bands and commute (Puxi vs Pudong vs outer campuses). 3) Open 4 to 6 school profiles and ask each school about your child's exact year group for your start month.
Quick compare (seed list)
Fee bands below are approximate annual CNY tuition from directory data. Always confirm on the school's current fee schedule.
Fudan International School
IB · Ages 6–18 · Fee band ~¥82k
Harrow International School Shanghai
British · Ages 1.5–18 · Fee band ~¥274k–¥385k
Nord Anglia International School Shanghai Pudong
British · Ages 2–18 · Fee band ~¥272k–¥385k · Pudong
Shanghai Community International School (SCIS)
IB · Ages 2–18 · Fee band ~¥192k–¥309k
Shanghai High School International Division (SHSID)
American · Ages 6–18 · Fee band ~¥140k–¥156k
Western International School of Shanghai (WISS)
IB continuum · Ages 2.5–18 · Fee band ~¥165k–¥267k · Qingpu
Wellington College International Shanghai
British · Ages 2–18 · Fee band ~¥301k–¥403k (2026–27) · Pudong
Yew Chung International School of Shanghai
British / IB · Ages 2–18 · Multi-campus
YK Pao School
Bilingual CNC + IGCSE/IBDP · Ages 6–18 · Fee band ~¥168k–¥216k
Shanghai American School
American · Ages 3–18 · Fee band ~¥246k–¥311k (2026–27)
Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong
British · Ages 2–18 · Fee band ~¥266k–¥390k · Pudong
Concordia International School Shanghai
American · Ages 3–18 · Fee band ~¥243k–¥320k
By curriculum path
British: Harrow, Nord Anglia Pudong, Wellington, Dulwich Pudong, YCIS (also IB). American: SAS, SHSID, Concordia. IB: SCIS, WISS, Fudan. Bilingual CNC + international: YK Pao. Pick the path for the next posting, not only the brand.
By area
Pudong clusters suit East-side housing. Puxi / Changning fit many downtown and west-side families. Outer campuses trade commute for space — factor daily travel before you lock a favorite.
Quick FAQs
When should we apply? As early as your relocation timeline allows. Ask schools about your exact year group and start month.
Are fees all-in? Usually not. Watch application, capital, bus, lunch, and uniform fees on each profile.
Visas and guardianship? See the Asia International School Admission Guide for Expats 2026.
Next step
Browse the school directory, open the profiles above, and shortlist 4 to 6 schools before you lock housing. Then dig into the Shanghai 2026 longform guide for fees, curriculum, and how to choose.