Beijing International Bilingual Academy vs Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy

	B Beijing International Bilingual Academy Beijing, China	C Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy Beijing, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 76,000 - 292,000	Fees / year RMB 197,600 - 247,600
Age range	Age range 1 - 17 years	Age range 5 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Montessori Curriculum, Chinese National Curriculum, American Curriculum	Curriculum Chinese National Curriculum, Cambridge (Primary), Cambridge (Secondary), Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP), Cambridge A Levels, Advanced Placement (AP), BTEC Qualification
Pupils	Pupils 1,700	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 21	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2006	Opened 2017
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location No.1 Yumin Road, Houshayu, Shunyi District, Beijing — the campus is in the suburban Shunyi area (postcode 101300). The school is reachable by car and local buses (routes 933, 855 and Shun 22); the nearest subway access is Line 15 (Houshayu Station) combined with a short bus or taxi ride.	Location Located in Beijing's Chaoyang District (address: 北京市朝阳区宝泉三街46号院, postcode 100018), the campus sits near the Fourth Embassy Area / Jinzhang corridor and is reachable from the East 3rd/4th Ring roads and nearby suburban districts. The school website notes the main campus and gives admissions contact details for relocation queries.
Stages	Stages BIBA serves from Early Years (kindergarten/early childhood) through Primary (KG–G5), Middle (G6–G8) and Upper/High School (G9–G12). High‑school students follow a mix of IGCSE (G9–10) and IBDP or A‑Level options (G11–12).	Stages Chaoyang KaiWen Academy is a K–12 (pre‑school through Grade 12) bilingual school. High‑school pathways include international options (IBDP, A‑Level, AP) alongside a national (普高) pathway.
School type	School type BIBA is a co‑educational, bilingual (Chinese–English) international school. The school offers optional boarding for secondary students (grades 6–12).	School type The school is a private, co‑educational K–12 international bilingual school. The campus offers boarding options for some year groups (third‑party and school listings indicate boarding is available for older primary and secondary students).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school describes a schoolwide approach to tailored support: differentiated/tiered instruction, inclusive classrooms, personalized mentoring and targeted language support (for example specialized English coaching in the secondary years). Early Years and primary pages note individual portfolios, parent–teacher collaboration and regular developmental reporting. For specific formal SEN (additional‑needs) provision or case‑by‑case admissions decisions, contact Admissions directly.	Additional learning support The school describes academic and personalised learning support and an emphasis on ‘学业支持'/individualised development in published materials, but it does not publish a detailed public SEN policy on its main pages; for specific additional‑needs provisions (assessments, individual education plans, staffing) contact the admissions office directly.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation BIBA is based in China and describes itself as rooted in China while operating as an international bilingual school; it is authorised by international bodies such as the IB and WASC. It does not present a formal affiliation to another country's national school system.	Country affiliation The school is a Chinese private school based in Beijing and does not operate as an overseas/state school tied to another country. It presents a bilingual, China‑rooted international programme.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school website does not indicate any religious affiliation; BIBA presents itself as a secular, bilingual international school.	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is indicated on the school's published materials or ‘About' pages.
School day structure	School day structure Published local school guides report a typical school day start around 08:20 with classes ending about 15:50 and optional ECAs running until about 16:50; exact daily timings and ECA schedules are set by division and can vary by year group and season, so check the school calendar or ask Admissions for current division timetables.	School day structure Specific daily start/end times and break/lunchtimes are not listed on the public site; the school publishes a school calendar and recommends confirming division‑level daily schedules with admissions before relocating.
Bus service details	Bus service details BIBA runs an optional paid school bus service (school lists an annual bus fee range and a Bus Application Form in its downloadable resources). Bus fees and routes vary by year and pickup area (fees are listed as a paid optional service on the school fee page), and parents must apply for bus service via the school's Bus Application Form. Contact Admissions or the Finance Office for current routes, stops and pricing for your address.	Bus service details The school runs a dedicated school‑bus service covering large parts of northeast and east Beijing (sources and school materials list routes serving areas such as Tongzhou, Shunyi, Wangjing, Dongba, Changying, Sihui and parts of the East 3rd/4th Ring). Recent listings note around 30 bus routes; fees and exact pickup points vary by route and are managed by the school—confirm current routes and costs with admissions. }
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fee - No application fee amount is listed on the school's admissions pages or the tuition and fees page. Tuition fees (per semester and per year) - Nursery class: RMB 38,000 per semester. - EY2–EY4: RMB 93,700 per semester. - KG: New student RMB 126,700 per semester; continuing KG student RMB 122,100 per semester. - Grades 1–5: RMB 143,000 per semester (RMB 260,000 per year). - Grades 6–8: RMB 146,300 per semester (RMB 266,000 per year). - Grades 9–10: RMB 151,050 per semester (RMB 273,000 per year). - Grades 11–12: RMB 160,600 per semester (RMB 292,000 per year). Billing schedule and payment terms - The school year is split into two semesters with the semester dates published on the school's billing page. Payment is due by the date stated on each invoice; tuition is not pro rata by month or day. Placement is not guaranteed if payment deadlines are missed. A 5% sibling discount applies for second and subsequent children (subject to the conditions stated by the school). A 10% tuition discount may apply to continuing students who meet the school's advancement and payment conditions. Boarding fees (optional) - Boarding is optional and meal-inclusive (three main meals and three snacks per day). - 4 students per room (Grades 6–10): RMB 75,000 per school year. - 2 students per room (Grades 11–12): RMB 90,000 per school year. - Single room (Grades 11–12): RMB 125,000 per school year. Other costs and optional charges - Uniform (optional, except EY): RMB 3,100–3,400 per set. - Lunch and snack service (optional): RMB 5,800–8,600 per school year. - School bus (optional): RMB 10,000–16,000 per school year. Withdrawal and refund information - Withdrawals require written notice and completion of the school's refund and withdrawal forms; refunds are not automatic. Normal processing time for refunds is 30 working days. No refunds are given for withdrawals resulting from violations of Chinese laws/regulations, serious school-rule violations, or force majeure events. Refund schedule (tuition): 100% before orientation day; 80% if within one month after school starts; 60% if within two months after school starts; no refund after two months. Meal, bus, and boarding refunds have specified timelines and conditions. Payment methods and currency - Invoices are issued via the school's education payment platform (“School Pay”) for payment to a student-specific account (scan code). Payment options listed by the school are: School Pay electronic payment, cash in RMB at the School Finance Office, or payment by pay card at the School Finance Office. The school lists payments in RMB only.	Fee details Application and registration fees - Application / registration fee: RMB 2,000 (one‑time, non‑refundable). - Enrollment deposit / seat reservation: RMB 20,000 (one‑time; held to reserve a place and deducted against fees as described by the school; may be retained if a student withdraws before enrolment). Published tuition — annual and per‑term presentation - Published annual tuition by school phase (annual totals): - Kindergarten (Pre‑K/K): RMB 197,600 per year. - Primary (G1–G5): RMB 208,600 per year. - Middle (G6–G8): RMB 222,600 per year. - High school (G9–G12): RMB 247,600 per year. - Term breakdown (inference): the school's application portal references Autumn and Spring terms and the school issues fee invoices after acceptance; therefore a simple per‑term estimate can be calculated by dividing the published annual tuition by the number of school terms (for example, annual ÷ 2 for two semesters). Actual invoiced per‑term amounts and permitted instalment schedules are specified on the school's fee invoice. Boarding and optional campus charges - Boarding (optional): reported examples for boarding options show approximate ranges such as RMB 40,000 per year for a four‑bed room and RMB 70,000 per year for a two‑bed room (boarding is optional and charged in addition to tuition). - School bus: reported annual ranges approximately RMB 13,000–16,000 depending on route. - School meals (lunch): reported annual estimates roughly RMB 10,000–16,000 depending on frequency and plan. - Uniforms and incidental costs: uniform sets are reported at about RMB 3,000 (one‑time, approximate); additional costs may include curriculum exam fees, overseas trips, extra‑curricular programme fees and materials. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school issues a formal fee invoice after a family confirms acceptance; the invoice defines due dates and any allowed instalment plan. Families are required to pay by the deadlines shown on the invoice. Refunds and forfeiture - The enrolment deposit (seat reservation) is retained as compensation for school pre‑allocation of the place; if a student withdraws prior to enrolment the deposit may be forfeited as stated in school notices. Other refundable/penalty specifics are set out in the school's fee terms and the invoice. Common fee payment options - The school uses an online application/invoicing system (OpenApply) and issues electronic invoices; common payment channels for Chinese K‑12 international schools include bank transfer, online payments and card payments. School‑specific accepted methods (for example, domestic bank transfer, UnionPay, Alipay/WeChat or international card payment) are listed on the invoice sent to families.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA) offers a continuous curriculum from Early Years through Grade 12 that integrates Chinese national standards with international programmes to provide bilingual instruction and an international perspective. Early Years (ages 1–5) combine play-based learning with Montessori practices, and Elementary (KG–Grade 5) follows Chinese–American standards with bilingual emphasis and Chinese cultural study. The Middle Years integrate the Chinese national curriculum with the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) framework to develop inquiry, research skills and global perspectives. In High School, students study Cambridge IGCSE in Grades 9–10 and most students move into the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11–12, with UK A-level courses also available as an alternative. The IB Diploma subject offerings cover sciences, mathematics, languages, arts and humanities, and the school supplements academic programmes with STEAM, community service and other enrichment alongside national coursework.	Curriculum details Chaoyang KaiWen's primary programme grounds students in the Chinese national curriculum while integrating Cambridge-English elements and bilingual teaching, with regular specialist classes in arts, physical education and STEM. Lower secondary (Grades 6–8) continues the national curriculum while referencing Cambridge (CAIE) standards; Grade 8 students sit Cambridge Checkpoint and prepare to enter IGCSE in Grade 9. Grades 9–10 follow the Cambridge IGCSE programme, leading to internationally recognised IGCSE qualifications across languages, sciences, mathematics and humanities. Senior high (Grades 11–12) offers multiple pathways: the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP), A‑Level and AP courses, plus a National Curriculum pathway and an Arts pathway, so students can choose routes aligned with different university systems or artistic specialisms. The school was authorised for the IBDP in February 2020; IBDP students complete the programme core (TOK, Extended Essay and CAS) while selecting subjects from the six IB groups, and the site also documents its CAIE, A‑Level and AP examination arrangements.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Submit an online application. Parents should use BIBA's official application channels (the school website / WeChat and the OpenApply portal linked from the site). Make sure you fill in the application form completely and upload any immediately requested documents — an incomplete online application will delay the next steps. 2. Prepare and submit supporting documents. The school asks for the completed application plus required documents (examples available in the site's Download Resources such as the School Recommendation Form and the Age/Placement guide); typical documents families should have ready are recent school reports, passport/ID, and any previous testing or language records. If you are uncertain which documents are required for your child's year level, confirm with Admissions before attending testing or interview. 3. Attend interview and/or testing. After the school receives the completed application and documents, Admissions will schedule the student's interview and any grade-appropriate tests; testing and interview are required for all applicants. Parents should expect subjects and formats to vary by grade (for example, BIBA requires a Chinese writing test for applicants in Grades 2–12 who have attended a Chinese school or are native Chinese speakers). Be prepared to bring originals of school reports and ID to the interview/testing session if requested. 4. Receive an enrollment decision and notice. The school will notify families in writing if a place is offered or if further steps (such as re-testing) are required. Note that acceptance is conditional on meeting any stated requirements (for example additional testing or documentary checks). If a place is offered, read the offer letter carefully for the payment deadline and other conditions. 5. Complete fee payment to confirm placement. BIBA requires tuition/payment to be made by the date shown on the invoice; placement is not guaranteed until the Finance Office confirms payment. Check the Tuition & Fees page for the current fee schedule, payment methods, and the school's refund/withdrawal conditions so you know the deadlines and the consequences of late payment. 6. Submit the health check / medical paperwork. After payment and acceptance, the school requires a health-check report (the site lists submission of a health check report as a final administrative requirement). Make sure any immunization/medical documents follow the format or content BIBA specifies (ask Admissions for the exact health form or any medical checklist). 7. Prepare for start of school. Follow the orientation instructions in the enrollment notice (uniform orders, bus registration and lunch/meal options are handled separately and often have their own forms). Note optional costs (uniforms, lunch, bus and boarding) and the school's stated refund schedule for withdrawals made after the school year starts. If you have additional logistical questions (transport, sibling discounts, or division-specific placement) contact the Admissions or Finance Office directly.	Admissions 1. Parents should have the child's approximate birthdate, current school and grade, and preferred start term ready; the school asks families to fill the inquiry form so the admissions team can respond with up‑to‑date availability and next steps. This is the first practical step because some grades fill quicker (class size is capped) and the office will advise whether a campus visit, assessment, or transfer steps are needed. 2. Complete the online application — After initial contact, complete the full application in the OpenApply system (the school uses ckwa.openapply.cn) and upload the documents requested there. Parents should prepare clear, legible copies of documents (student identity/passport, recent school reports, and any certificates) and ensure names/dates match official IDs; the admissions office reviews applications using the information you supply. Fill the form carefully: the school states it evaluates the application and family information to provide tailored advice and to schedule the next-stage assessments or interviews. 3. Documentation and compliance for Chinese/foreign nationals — If the student is a Chinese national entering an obligatory education stage, parents must cooperate with the school to complete any required new‑school or transfer (学籍) registration per Chaoyang District regulations; international/overseas applicants should consult the admissions office about required notarizations or translated documents. Parents should be ready to produce residency, previous school transcripts, and any legal documents the admissions staff requests; failure to provide required local registration paperwork can delay enrolment in compulsory grades. The school's admissions policy highlights that both Chinese and non‑Chinese applicants may apply but the registration process differs depending on nationality and grade level. 4. Assessment steps — The school conducts an admissions assessment that typically includes academic evaluation and interviews; for some applicants the school also arranges family interviews. Parents should expect the admissions team and committee to review submitted materials and to invite the student (and sometimes guardians) for an interview or assessment activity; overseas applicants are advised to contact the admissions office to arrange an appropriate experience. Be prepared to provide samples of recent schoolwork and for the child to take short assessments in Chinese and/or English depending on the grade and programme. 5. Decision and offer — After the admissions committee reviews materials and assessment/interview outcomes, the school will notify families of the decision; offers are granted to candidates selected from the applicant pool. Parents should note the school states applicants cannot change or resubmit their application materials after results are announced, so ensure the original submission is complete and accurate before finalizing. If offered a place, follow the admissions office's instructions promptly to accept the place and to complete any enrollment paperwork. 6. Acceptance, fee payment and enrolment formalities — Once you accept an offer, the admissions office will outline required fees, payment deadlines, and any one‑time enrollment items to complete registration; the school advises families to complete these steps before the stated enrollment deadline for the spring or autumn intake. Parents should clarify with admissions whether published fees are for day students only and whether boarding (if applicable) incurs additional charges; confirm invoicing method and deadlines directly with the admissions team. Keep copies of payment receipts and enrollment confirmations and ask for an e‑invoice or written confirmation of completed registration. 7. Practical arrival steps and onboarding — After formal enrolment, follow the school's instructions about uniform, start‑of‑term schedules, health/immunization paperwork, and orientation sessions; the admissions team will provide specific on‑campus onboarding details. If your child is transferring mid‑semester, notify admissions early because seat availability must be confirmed and local registration steps may differ. For overseas families, ask the admissions office about recommended arrival times and any local requirements for settling into Beijing (visa, residence registration, etc.). 8. If not admitted or deferred — If the school does not offer a place for the requested intake, ask the admissions office about re‑application timing, whether the school can hold application materials for the next intake, and any advice from the admissions committee on strengthening future applications. The school states it welcomes new applications for subsequent academic years; keep contact details current so the admissions office can inform you of openings or future open days. Parents should also ask whether the school maintains an internal contact list for future vacancies (see waitlist notes below).
Scholarships	Scholarships BIBA publishes a scholarship programme for current and prospective students with three broad categories: Academic Scholarships, High-Achiever (talent) Scholarships, and Minor/Contribution Scholarships. The school's materials describe eligibility windows (scholarships commonly targeted at students entering certain grades such as Grade 6, Grade 9 and Grade 11) and that awards are competitive, conditional on continued progress and participation, and regularly reviewed. The school's published scholarship descriptions (and secondary summaries of the programme) show different award formats: some pages describe scholarship amounts (examples on the school's scholarship page include tiered RMB awards for academic winners and fixed annual awards for talent/minor categories), while earlier summaries and announcements describe tuition remissions as a percentage for top academic awards — because the site has multiple historic summaries, the precise award levels and validity periods can vary year-to-year. For those reasons, confirm the current award types, amounts, application timing and conditions directly with BIBA Admissions (the school's scholarship page and public summaries explain the application components — exam/interview, reports, auditions or portfolios — and state that the final decision and duration of the award are at the school's discretion).	Scholarships Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy publishes scholarship and grant programmes targeted primarily at older entrants and enrolled students; the school has previously run the “Yinghe Scholarship Program” and a New Student Scholarship for applicants in Grade 9 and above. Scholarship awards have been described as tiered (for example: full tuition, 50% tuition, 30% tuition) depending on the class of scholarship or grant; some grant programmes (historically) required families to submit income documentation in addition to regular application materials. The admissions policy also notes a New Student Scholarship for Grade 9+ based on character, academic performance and past achievements and advises families to contact the admissions office to enquire about the current scholarship rules, application forms and timing. Because scholarship programmes, eligibility criteria and availability change from year to year, contact admissions (admissions@cy.kaiwenacademy.cn) for the latest details and to request the current scholarship application form and deadlines.
Waitlist	Waitlist BIBA's Admissions Policy indicates the school operates a waiting-list practice and gives admissions priority to siblings of current students or graduates and to those on the previous year's waiting list. Placement is described as first-come, first-served and also depends on the candidate's overall assessment (interview/testing) and timely payment; the school therefore uses both assessment results and chronological order when allocating limited places. The website does not publish a step-by-step public procedure for joining or tracking a live waiting list (for example, how/when the school notifies families on the list), so if you need a seat and the grade is full you should contact Admissions to ask how to be added and what the expected turnaround time is.	Waitlist Public admissions materials for Chaoyang Kaiwen Academy do not describe a formal, published waitlist process; the school instead asks families to contact the admissions office to check grade availability and transfer‑in possibilities. Because class size is capped (24 students per class), if a grade is full the admissions office is the appropriate contact to ask whether they maintain an internal contact/availability list or can advise transfer‑in timing. Parents who want to remain under consideration should keep their application active and maintain up‑to‑date contact details with admissions; when a seat becomes available the school typically handles next steps directly through the admissions office. For a definitive answer about any active waitlist or how priority is determined, contact admissions by phone or email so they can explain current practice for the specific grade and term.
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