Types of International Schools in Shanghai
Not every school calling itself "international" is licensed the same way. Here's what the main categories actually mean.
Registered international school
Licensed by Shanghai's Education Commission specifically to enrol children holding foreign passports (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan permits). This is what most expat families mean by "international school," and it's the category this directory focuses on.
Local school with an international division
A Chinese public or private school that runs a separate, internationally curriculum track alongside its mainstream Chinese programme - often sharing the same campus and facilities. These typically serve children who hold a Chinese passport (including through one parent) as well as some foreign nationals, depending on the school's licence.
Private or bilingual school
Privately owned, and not necessarily licensed to teach a full K-12 international curriculum - many are kindergartens or bilingual primary programmes. Licensing and accreditation vary widely between schools in this category, so it's worth confirming directly with the school rather than assuming.
A school's accreditation and curricula are listed on its profile page. See also our accreditation and membership glossary.