This interactive data visualization will help build an understanding of the International School market in China. It reveals historic trends on the number of international schools founded every year. It also discusses the general geographic distribution, tuition fees, and student teacher ratio of international schools throughout China.

Play with the visualization yourself to learn more!

Rise and Fall of the Growth of International Schools in China

The Shanghai American School, the first international school in China, was founded in Shanghai’s Hongkou neighborhood on September 17, 1912 less than a year after the end of the Qing dynasty. Many expat children attended the Shanghai American School and its reputation for offering the finest international education soon grew. The Shanghai American school started with 38 students and two rented buildings but by the 1930’s expanded to their own campus. Only a few schools were founded every year over the next fifty years, due mostly to political turmoil in China. Of these first international schools, nearly all were foreign-run by the small community of expats in large cities.

After 1990 and China’s increased international openness, international schools gained popularity, increasing by about ten schools every year. Starting from 2002, this number skyrocketed, increasing to 30-40 schools founded per year. During this period, the number of state-run schools increased as more public schools began establishing international curriculum branch for their students who want to apply overseas colleges. The number of schools founded reached an all-time high in 2012—a staggering 99 schools. And the year of 2009 saw the increase of private-run international schools in China.

However, after 2015, the number of privately-run international schools dropped due to increased regulations on private school curriculum. The number of state-run schools teaching international curriculum continued to be popular until 2017. In the last two years, there has been a sharp drop of international schools founded in China in all three types.

Regulations on Profitability and Curriculum

While the demand for these schools is still high, Chinese government passed several stricter regulations on the curriculum taught at international schools and the profitability of K-9 schools. These new regulations completely prohibit students in grades 1-9 from attending for-profit private schools. Not-for-profit private schools are permitted, but the government requires that Chinese curriculum is taught through K-9.

Starting from grade 10 both for-profit and not-for-profit private schools are allowed to teach international and Chinese curriculum. Schools still must teach Chinese history, politics, geography and language like other public schools in China, but they are also allowed to prepare their students to take international exams such as A levels, IB and Advanced placement.

Many international schools are still grappling with preparing their students for international success while simultaneously following Chinese curriculum requirements. Amidst these stricter regulations, international schools will be forced to make some adjustments, however the market opportunity and demand for international schools is still incredibly high.

International Schools are Concentrated in Coastal Area

International and urban hubs such as Shanghai and Beijing have the highest number of international schools across the country, 168 and 133, respectively. International schools tend to be along the developed coasts of Eastern China, in provinces like Guangdong (132), Jiangsu (88), and Zhejiang (66). These areas are more affluent and often have a high foreign population. Outside of these urban areas, international schools across China are relatively uncommon. There are very few schools in the rural, western provinces. There are only three in Xinjiang, two in Qinghai and a single school in Guanxi province.

How much does it cost?

The median cost of education at an international school is $18,250 USD per year. There are several elite international schools that charge a much higher fee—the highest being $55,220 USD a year to enroll.

What’s the Student to Teacher Ratio?

The student to teacher ratio in international schools is 6.6:1, much lower than the average for other schools across China (16:1). The median number of students per international school is 650; the median number of teachers is 150.

What’s the school size?

The median school size is around 300 students. The number of students varies widely, however. Some of the largest schools have almost 5000 students. The 25th to 75th percentile range is 168 to 712. Most international schools have a median of 90 teachers and 150 staff members. At the 75th percentile international schools have 200 teachers and 312 staff members. While the median number of teachers is 90, there are several high outliers, which conveys that there are several schools that have a higher number of teachers.

What’s Percentage of Foreign and Chinese Teachers?

On average across China, 30% of teachers at international schools are from countries outside of China, while 70% of teachers are from China. These ratios vary by province, and the chart below highlights the percentage breakdown for the five areas with the highest number of international schools. In the largest international cities, Shanghai and Beijing, international schools have a ratio of 40% foreign teachers to 60% Chinese teachers. In Sichuan only 9.3% of teachers are foreign, and in Zhejiang the percentage is even lower hovering at 6.6%.

Percentages of foreign and Chinese teachers also differ based on ownership of the international school. On average, in foreign-run schools the ratio is about even, 47% Chinese and 52% foreign teachers. In privately run international schools, the percentage of Chinese teachers is higher, 73% Chinese teachers to 26% foreign teachers. In government-run schools the percentage of Chinese teachers is the highest at 79%, with only 20% foreign teachers.

What’s the Most Popular Curriculum?

The Venn diagram depicts the curriculum taught at different international schools. Most schools prepare their students for A-level and AP exams: 338 schools and 336 schools, respectively. 90 of these schools give students the option of both exams. Fewer schools, use IB curriculum, 152 total, of which 34 schools offer both IB and A-Level curriculum. 37 offer both IB and AP curriculum. Only twelve schools prepare their students for all three exams.