Compare International Schools in Nanjing, China

Nanjing International School is located at Xue Heng Lu 8, Xian Lin University City, in the Qi Xia District of Nanjing, PRC 210023. The campus sits in Xianlin University City, across from international restaurants and nearby residential areas. The school occupies a large, purpose-built site of about 80,620 square metres and holds LEED Silver certification.

NIS offers Pre-K to 12 education within an IB Continuum. The Primary School covers Pre-K to Grade 5 and the Secondary School covers Grades 6 to 12.

NIS is co-educational and operates as a fully inclusive, non-profit international school. It is an IB World School offering the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP).

The Learning Support Services (LSS) team comprises four specialists who work with classroom teachers to provide targeted interventions, accommodations, and individualized learning plans. English Language Support and Counselling are also available to support learners with diverse needs.

There is no formal country affiliation.

NIS has no religious affiliation.

Early Years follow a full-day schedule with a start at 8:00 a.m. and a finish at 3:00 p.m. Primary School schedules are issued by the homeroom teacher, and Secondary timetables are managed by the school leadership as part of the IB continuum.

Bus transport is provided through HomeCaught to cover routes serving most international compounds in Nanjing. Buses are supervised, GPS-tracked, and driven by trained staff; parents pay the bus fees and coordinate with a dedicated buses manager for pickups and drop-offs.

Students in Grades 1-12 have options from Western Grill, Asian Station, Salad Bar, and Sandwich Bar, with Vegetarian and Daily Special choices. Snacks are served at the Deli, with seating on the ground floor and mezzanine. All dining options are provided and managed by AdenEdge, a branch of Aden Group, and NIS is a nut-free and single-use plastics-free campus.

The school has a house system with three houses: Taiping, WuTaiShan, and XuanWu. Members include students, parents, and staff; inter-house competitions are held throughout the year, and the house with the most points is awarded the house shield.

The school is a not-for-profit, independent institution owned 100% by its parent community. It is governed by a volunteer board of elected trustees drawn from parents, staff and the NIS community, which sets policy and oversees strategic direction and financial stability. The Association of NIS includes all parents and board members; an Annual General Meeting is held each September to review the year and approve plans and budget.

Nanjing International School (NIS) is an IB World School offering an IB Continuum Pre-K to 12 curriculum. The IB programmes at NIS are PYP for Pre-K to Grade 5, MYP for Grades 6–10, and DP for Grades 11–12. The PYP focuses on the development of the whole child through transdisciplinary inquiry, while the MYP includes service learning as a core element. The Diploma Programme lasts two years (Grades 11–12) and comprises six subject groups plus the DP Core (Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay); the school also recognises a Global Citizen Diploma for activities beyond academics. English is the language of instruction; language offerings include a German Mother Tongue programme and IB-integrated language courses. NIS emphasises inquiry-based, student-centred learning with inclusive practices and provides university counselling to support DP students.

Nanjing International School supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a proactive, school‑wide Counselling programme that addresses both academic and social‑emotional development from Pre‑K to Grade 12. The University Counselling Programme focuses on overall personal development and wellness as part of student wellbeing. The Learning Support Services team provides targeted support to students and collaborates with families on individualized learning plans. The English Language Learning (ELL) team provides targeted language support across the school, and in Primary, ELL teachers are integrated into classrooms to support English acquisition within the regular learning environment. The JEDI initiative—Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion—underpins everyday practices and aims to build a sense of belonging and remove barriers to learning.

Nanjing International School describes itself as an inclusive learning community and states it accepts students with mild to moderate support needs. A Learning Support Services team comprises specialists who work across the school to provide targeted support to students and to develop individualized learning plans. English Language Support (ELL) is provided by a dedicated team of specialists who support English language learners across the school; in Primary, ELL teachers are embedded in classrooms. Counselling supports the whole child's academic and social‑emotional development, complementing other supports for learners with additional needs. The school emphasizes removing barriers to access as part of its inclusion approach.

English Language Support (ELL) is provided by a team of specialists who work across the school to provide targeted support for English language learners. In Primary, ELL teachers are integrated into classrooms, supporting English acquisition within the context of the regular learning environment. This arrangement reflects the school's inclusive approach to language development within mainstream classes. The ELL provision is part of the broader inclusion framework described on the Inclusion pages.

The Counselling programme is proactive and focuses on the academic and social‑emotional development of the whole child from Pre‑K to Grade 12, and the University Counselling Programme emphasizes overall personal development and wellness. Counselling services are designed to support students' mental wellbeing as part of their holistic education. The inclusion framework and JEDI ethos reinforce a supportive sense of belonging and relationships as foundational to wellbeing. These provisions operate in concert with Learning Support and ELL to support diverse learners.

Nanjing International School prioritises Child Protection, with procedures based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Safeguarding provision is organized into Prevention, Operational, and Strategic components, including police checks for all employees, contractors, and volunteers; a Code of Conduct (English and Chinese) signed by staff; and clear reporting pathways for abuse or neglect. Visitors sign in and wear identification badges, and the Visitor's Code Conduct is enforced. A designated Child Protection Officer, Child Protection Team, and Child Response Team coordinate safeguarding across the school. The NIS Child Protection Policy and Procedures are available in English, Chinese, and Korean.

Step 1: Enquiry and/or school tour. Begin by making an enquiry or arranging a tour to learn about NIS and determine if the school fits your child's needs. Tours can be booked through the Book Tour option in the Admissions area, or you can contact the admissions team for more information. This step helps families decide whether to proceed with the online application. If you decide to move forward, you proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Online application. The OpenApply online form is how your family introduces themselves to NIS. All applications are completed online, and each child requires a separate application. The system allows you to return to the application later, and all necessary supporting documents are uploaded during this process. Submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance.

Step 3: Admissions interview. After the online application and documents are received, the Admissions Team will schedule an interview to determine if NIS is a good fit for your family and your child's learning needs. The interview includes an in‑person session with your child, and they can ask questions about the school. Students in Grade 3 and above will be assessed on reading, writing, maths, and language during or after the interview, and initial online interviews may be conducted for families outside Nanjing; a second interview may be arranged if more information is needed.

Step 4: Assessment. Admissions testing is diagnostic and does not affect eligibility. All applicants for Grade 3 and above will take a MAP assessment to gauge maths and literacy against grade‑level standards. If English is not the home language, Grade 9 and above will take the WIDA English language test to determine if English Language Learning (ELL) support is needed.

Step 5: Interview with Principal. The Primary or Secondary Principal will meet with the family, and they may be accompanied by a Learning Support specialist if relevant. In Primary, the Deputy Primary Principal is also present. This interview provides a final opportunity to discuss learning needs and fit.

Step 6: Final decision. Following the Principal Interview, the Admissions Committee reviews the application package and interview results and makes a recommendation to the School Director, who makes all admissions decisions. Families are notified of the admissions decision through an OpenApply email generally within one week of the Principal Interview. Grades are then placed according to the school's guidelines: Primary (Early Years to Grade 5) and Secondary (Grade 6 to Grade 12) with age guidelines by August 31.

No discounts or scholarships are offered.

If a grade level reaches capacity, students are placed in a waiting pool (waitlist). The school operates a diversity policy, and the maximum number of any one nationality group at any grade level is 30%.