Shenzhen American International School (SAIS) 深圳市深美外籍人员子女学校 (SAIS)

Shenzhen American International School (SAIS) is a well-established American-style international school in Shenzhen. Founded in 2005 with the approval of the Ministry of Education and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education, it is one of the first officially recognized schools for the children of foreign nationals in Shenzhen. Located in Shekou, Nanshan District, adjacent to Sihai Park, SAIS has been dedicated to providing continuous international education from early years through high school for foreign and Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan families for two decades.

Accreditation & Authorizations

SAIS holds Cognia accreditation and is an authorized IB PYP (Primary Years Programme) World School. It is also an official test center for SAT, AP, and AQA. At the high school level, the school offers AP and A-Level pathways, providing students with flexible and diverse options for university preparation.

Curriculum

Early Years (Ages 1.5–5)
Accepting children from 1.5 years old, the program is centered on the IB PYP inquiry framework. It utilizes full English immersion, integrating English, mathematics, science, arts, music, physical education, and social-emotional learning to build a bilingual foundation and learning habits through project-based learning and play-based inquiry.

Primary School (G1–G5)
The IB PYP framework is integrated with the US Common Core standards. Mathematics follows the Singapore Math standards, and Chinese language instruction follows the Chinese National Curriculum standards. Subjects are taught entirely in English, with daily Chinese classes, emphasizing transdisciplinary inquiry and STEAM literacy.

Middle School (G6–G8)
Using the US Common Core curriculum as the academic framework, sciences are taught as separate disciplines (Physics, Chemistry, Biology). Additional subjects such as Economics, Computer Science, Design, and Drama are offered to build a solid foundation for high school academic depth. Subjects are taught in English with daily Chinese classes.

High School (G9–G12)
The school offers two academic pathways: AP and A-Level. The AP program is authorized by the College Board, and the A-Level program is authorized by AQA. Students can choose flexibly based on their university goals.

Faculty & Class Size

SAIS maintains small class sizes with 10–15 students per class, resulting in a student-teacher ratio of approximately 1:4 to 1:6. The ratio is around 1:4 in the Early Years and Kindergarten, and around 1:6 in other grades. 100% of international teachers in the middle and high school hold a master's degree or above, with 60% holding doctorates. Faculty members are primarily from the US, UK, and Canada, and all hold recognized international teaching credentials.

 

Academic Extension & Competition Achievements

SAIS places great emphasis on academic extension and holistic development in the middle and high school years, actively encouraging and supporting students to participate in high-level international competitions. In recent years, our students have won championships and achieved outstanding results in several prestigious international events, including but not limited to:

• iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition)
• Spelling Bee
• iBO (International Business Olympiad)
• WRC (World Robot Contest)
• FRC (FIRST Robotics Competition)
• International Golf Tournaments

These achievements across diverse fields—from biotechnology, linguistics, business, and robotics to sports—fully demonstrate the comprehensive qualities and exceptional competitiveness of SAIS students.

University Matriculation

The school boasts a strong college counseling team composed of experienced counselors who are graduates of world-leading universities such as Harvard University and the University of Cambridge. Graduates have received offers from top universities worldwide, covering major destinations:

• United States: Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, University of California (various campuses), New York University, Babson College, and other top institutions.
• United Kingdom: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, University College London (UCL), and other G5 elite universities.
• Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and other "Hong Kong Eight" institutions.
• Other Destinations: Numerous students have also received offers from top universities in Canada, Australia, and other countries.

(Note: In addition to outstanding academic admissions, the school shines in arts. Students have received offers from top art institutions such as the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, accompanied by substantial scholarships.)

Campus & Environment

The Shekou campus is located at Shekou Park Road, Nanshan District, adjacent to Sihai Park and the Shekou Youth Center & Shekou Sports Center. Students can access professional facilities at the Sports Center, including an 8-lane 400-meter all-weather track, standard football pitches, and basketball courts. Sihai Park is utilized as an outdoor learning laboratory for the "Nature Exploration" curriculum, integrating ecological observation and scientific inquiry into daily teaching.

SAIS operates as a day school, offering school bus and catering services (optional). The student body comes from over 40 countries and regions, creating an intimate and culturally diverse learning environment.

Admissions Eligibility

SAIS exclusively admits foreign passport holders and students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. Applicants must hold a valid foreign passport with a Chinese visa, or permanent resident status for Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan. Mainland Chinese students are not eligible for admission.

November 6, 2026