Questions About Choosing a School?

The International School Parent Guide is a parent-friendly website that helps families understand international school choices more clearly. It offers balanced, practical guidance on curriculums, school visits, admissions questions, language support, wellbeing and finding the right fit for your child.

No. The guide is independent and is not designed to promote one specific school over another. The aim is to help parents ask better questions, compare options more clearly and make a more informed decision.

No. We do not rank schools because the “best” school is different for every child and family. A school that is right for one child may not be the right fit for another. The guide focuses on helping parents understand what to look for and how to compare schools thoughtfully.

This guide is for families exploring international school options, especially parents who feel unsure where to start. It may be helpful for English-speaking, Chinese-speaking and Korean-speaking families, as well as parents moving to Shanghai or already living there.

The first focus is Shanghai, but the aim is for the guide to grow over time. Many of the articles are useful for parents choosing international schools in other cities too, because topics such as curriculum, wellbeing, language support and school tours are relevant in many international settings.

Yes. You can use the contact form to ask a question, suggest a guide topic or share what kind of information would be helpful. Common parent questions may also help shape future articles and resources.

At this stage, the website offers general guidance to help parents understand their options. It does not make final decisions for families. More personalised guidance may be added later, but for now the focus is on clear, useful parent guides.

Parents should consider curriculum, location, class size, language support, wellbeing, communication, teaching style, admissions process, fees and how well the school fits their child’s personality, confidence and learning needs.

There is no single best curriculum for every child. British, IB, American and bilingual pathways can all offer strong learning experiences. The right choice depends on your child’s personality, language level, learning style, future plans and family priorities.

Language support is important because children need to feel confident and included in school life. For children who are new to English, strong support can help them access learning, build friendships and settle more successfully.

Not always. A well-known or expensive school may be excellent, but it may not be the best fit for every child. Parents should look beyond reputation and consider the daily classroom experience, support systems, communication and whether their child is likely to feel happy and successful there.

Yes. The aim is to build a growing, neutral directory of international schools in Shanghai. Each profile is designed to include useful starting information such as location, curriculum, age range and official school links. Families should always confirm key details directly with each school before making decisions.

The guide is designed as a helpful starting point for parents. School details can change, so families should always check important information directly with the school, including admissions requirements, fees, curriculum pathways, age range and availability.

New guides will be added over time based on common parent questions and useful topics, such as school tours, curriculum choices, admissions, wellbeing, language support and comparing schools.

School profiles are built from publicly available information and official school sources. We also encourage families to check details directly with each school, since admissions, fees, age ranges and curriculum pathways can change.

Yes. If you notice missing or outdated information, you can contact us and let us know. Suggestions and corrections help keep the guide useful and help the Shanghai directory grow in a clear, practical way.

Focus on the daily experience. Ask about teaching style, language support, class size, wellbeing, homework, communication with parents and how new students settle in. These questions often show more than a brochure can.

That is an important question to ask early. Look for clear information about English support, learning support and how the school helps children settle in. The right support can make a big difference to confidence and progress.

Start with your child’s needs. Use the same questions for each school. Compare curriculum, location, age range, language support, fees, transport, wellbeing and how well the school fits your child’s personality and learning style.