One of the first facts you’ll learn about Beijing international schools is that they cost a fortune. But you can at least be grateful you’re not in Shanghai where schools are even more expensive.
- Education in Beijing
- Choosing a school in Beijing
- Pre-schools, kindergarten and nurseries in Beijing
- Best schools in Beijing
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Education in Beijing
The population of Beijing is over 20 million – including a huge number of expats – yet the number of truly international schools is remarkably small. The cost of the schools, the totally different culture and even the pollution (they’re working on it, but Oxford Street in London is the Antarctic by comparison) may be some of the reasons why so many families choose to keep their children safely ensconced in schools back home.
A couple of the famous English names have set up shop and the global educational giant Nord Anglia Education has taken over the British School of Beijing. But there are not nearly as many international players as in cities such as Singapore and Bangkok.
There are bilingual schools available, but few families without at least one Chinese parent would consider such a foreign environment for formal schooling. That said, some offer a range of curricula options including American, Australian, English and Chinese – and these have a number of foreign students.
Choosing a school in Beijing
Your choice will depend on the curriculum that you want your child to follow and also whether they can fit your child in. The International Baccalaureate programmes are currently very much in favour and almost all international schools offer the IB Diploma, even if the remainder of the curriculum is English or American.
The size of the schools can be daunting to parents used to student numbers in three figures but the mainly, brand new, architect-designed campuses are specifically arranged to deal with the hordes. There are some exceptions to these huge numbers, but anything under 1,000 students is unusual.
In terms of geography, Chaoyang District is the upmarket choice of international families as it is the place where you can work, shop and party, as well as having most of the better international schools on your doorstep and your embassy around the corner. The crème de la crème of prestige addresses is in the Chaoyang Park neighbourhood as there is a rare patch of green at its centre, complete with pagodas and Chinese gardens, particularly encouraging to any Brits who yearn for London parks. This is also home to most of the schools that are most popular with expats.
To the northeast of Beijing, Shunyi Central Villa District is a true suburb (think Chinese-style) and is also very popular with expats, particularly as it is in-between the city and Beijing Capital International airport. If you can afford it, there are grand neo-classical villas but there are also cheaper options, leaving enough in your pocket to afford a round of golf on the Jack Nicklaus-designed course. If Chaoyang is Beijing’s Chelsea, Shunyi is Beijing’s Sunningdale. Naturally, this is a Mecca for international schools. Shunyi’s schools tend to have more to offer in terms of space, sport and other traditional extras.
Pre-schools, kindergarten and nurseries in Beijing
While Beijing’s bilingual schools are not an obvious choice for expats, the more adventurous do send their children to bilingual kindergartens, partly to pick up the basics of Mandarin but also to absorb the atmosphere of their new environment and hopefully make friends with Chinese children.
Naturally, these – and other - kindergartens gravitate towards the areas where expats settle, so Chaoyang is home to some of the most discussed (around the dinner table) options.
Best schools in Beijing
Dulwich College Beijing 
(pending)
Adapted National Curriculum for England/ IGCSE/ IB Diploma; ages 2-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 1,550 students
Opened in 2005 and closely tied to its London parent. On two campuses in Shunyi and Chaoyang, the former all-through and the latter for nursery and kindergarten. The Legend Garden campus lives up to its name with games on grass and, even, Beijing’s only cricket pitch. Regularly one of the top international schools on Beijing lists and recently an award winner for Creativity in Learning.
Harrow International School Beijing (pending)
National Curriculum for England/ I/GCSE/ A Level; ages 2-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 1,200 students
Founded in 2005, one of three international Harrow schools. Now with a new city campus for pre-nursery to reception and a main campus in Chaoyang. Offering an all-through English education to students from over 25 nationalities. All students are enrolled in houses along the lines of Harrow School, London and a large number of graduates head off to university either in the UK or USA.
International School of Beijing (ISB) (pending)
Adapted curriculum/ American High School Diploma/ AP/ IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 1,750 students
Established by five English speaking embassies, nearly forty years ago. Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. Regularly tipped up as one of the best international schools in Beijing. Since 2002, located on a huge campus in Shunyi, opened in 2013 and completed with shiny new sports domes.
Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) (pending)
PYP/ MYP/ IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 1,400 students
An IB World School, on a stunning campus with a state of the art air filtration system, a major plus in Beijing. Described as ‘remarkable’ by accreditor, the Council of International Schools (CIS). Newly opened Swiss section offering a German-language programme based on the Swiss curriculum.
Yew Chung International School of Beijing (pending)
Adapted curriculum/ IGCSE/ IB Diploma; ages 6 months-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 750 students
Opened over 20 years ago in the Chiaoyang District of Beijing. One of the network of schools owned by the Yew Chung foundation (also in Shanghai, Hong Kong and Silicon Valley, California). Council of International Schools (CIS) accredited and an International Baccalaureate World School offering a bilingual education from the cradle to graduation.
These schools have been brought to our attention but until we have reports from parents, we are unable to consider reviewing them.
Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS)
PYP/ MYP/ IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 800 students
As the name implies, a bilingual (Chinese/English) school for mainly (around 70 per cent) Chinese families, although there are also students from approximately 35 other nationalities. Opened in 1998 and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Beijing Aidi School
Chinese curriculum/ Australian curriculum/ IGCSE/ A Level/ American High School Diploma/ AP; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 3,000 students
A bilingual (English/Chinese) school, offering international students a range of curricula options, including Chinese, English, Australian and American, culminating in the choice of either English A Levels or an American High School Diploma and Advanced Placement courses.
Beijing City International School
PYP/ MYP/ IB Diploma; ages 2-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 1,170 students
Founded in 2005, with a majority of Chinese students, although many hold American passports. Dually accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Beijing Huijia Private School
PYP/ MYP/ IB Diploma; ages 5-18; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 2,200 students
A bilingual (Chinese/English) school, opened in 1993 that has accepted non-Mainland Chinese since 2010. The students are mainly Chinese, although there are also Australian and American cohorts. The group also runs 42 kindergartens looking after 6,000 children and a vocational college which caters for 5,000 students. Large numbers of mainly Chinese move on to university in the USA.
Beijing World Youth Academy
International Primary Curriculum/ MYP/ IGCSE/ IB Diploma; ages 5-19; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 1,100 students
Founded in 2001 and licensed to accept non-Mainland Chinese students with around 20 other nationalities enrolled, although Chinese students are by far the largest cohort. Now based on four purpose-built new campuses in Chaoyang, complete with air purifiers.Teaching is in English and they offer an EAL programme. A member of ACAMIS (Association of Chinese and Mongolian International Schools).
British School of Beijing Sanlitun (BSB)
National Curriculum for England; ages 1-11; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 700 students
Brand new addition to the Nord Anglia stable in shiny new buildings in downtown Beijing and sister school to the long-established British School, also now owned by Nord Anglia. All classes taught in English but Mandarin available as a language, as well as a strong music and performing arts section in collaboration with Juilliard, New York.
British School of Beijing Shunyi (BSB)
National Curriculum for England/ German curriculum/ IGCSE/ IB Diploma; ages 1-18; day; independent; privately owned; 1,500 students
In the popular expat suburb of Shunyi, 30 kms from frenzied downtown Beijing. Now owned by Nord Anglia and providing classes taught in English, German and Korean. Teaching STEAM programmes in collaboration with Juilliard, New York and MIT and offering the Duke of Edinburgh International Award.
Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB)
Canadian/ Montessori/ PYP/ MYP/ IB Diploma/ New Brunswick Diploma; ages 1-18; co-ed; day; independent; state; 1,200 students
Opened in 2005 and teaching a combination of the New Brunswick curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Programme with Montessori elements incorporated in the lower school. Around 40 per cent of the students are either Canadian or American. They offer the alternative of the New Brunswick or the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
Etonkids International Beijing
Montessori/ Chinese curriculum; ages 1-6; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 180 students per campus
A leading group of Chinese kindergartens, established in Beijing in 2006. They run total English immersion schools for Chinese children but also bilingual kindergartens which cater for a mix of expat and Chinese families.
International French School Beijing
French curriculum/ Brevet/ French Bac; ages 2-18; co-ed; day; independent; state; 950 students
Formerly called the Lycée Francais de Pékin, which was opened in 1965 as an AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad), school. Offering a full French education with the DNB (Diplome National du Brevet) at sixteen and the French Baccalaureate. Now on a genuinely spectacular new campus, costing 24 million euros.
For more information on the schools above, please go to each school’s individual entry on the Good Schools Guide international search.