Beijing International Bilingual Academy vs Keystone Academy

	B Beijing International Bilingual Academy Beijing, China	K Keystone Academy Beijing, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 76,000 - 292,000	Fees / year RMB 289,800 - 323,950
Age range	Age range 1 - 17 years	Age range 5 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels, Montessori Curriculum, Chinese National Curriculum, American Curriculum	Curriculum IPC (International Primary Curriculum), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 1,700	Pupils 1,596
Typical class size	Typical class size 21	Typical class size 18
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2006	Opened 2014
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 Keystone Academy is in the northeastern suburbs of Beijing: No. 11 Anfu Street, Houshayu Town, Shunyi District (postcode 101318). The campus is in the Shunyi district near Beijing Capital International Airport and is reached by the S11/Jingcheng and local roads; the school's admissions office lists the campus address and phone for directions.
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 Keystone is a full K–12 school split into Primary (early years/primary), Middle (MYP-style curriculum) and High School (IB Diploma in Grades 11–12). The website presents distinct Primary, Middle and High School pages and materials for each division.
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 Keystone is a private, co-educational K–12 school that operates both day and residential (boarding) programs. The school's Residential Life program describes dormitory living and student supervision; students are required to board starting in Grade 9.
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 runs a Student Development Support Centre (CSD) that provides academic support plans, accommodations and ongoing case management; the centre also helps coordinate with external specialists when needed. The admissions policy asks families to disclose learning support needs so the school can assess whether it can provide appropriate support.
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 Keystone is an independent school located in China; its program explicitly weaves a Chinese curricular thread into a bilingual, international model rather than being affiliated to a foreign national school system.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school website does not indicate any religious affiliation; BIBA presents itself as a secular, bilingual international school.	Religious affiliation The school does not identify with any religion on its official pages; its materials present Keystone as a secular 'world school' focused on bilingual and experiential education.
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 The school's published schedules vary by program and year group and the site does not offer a single public bell-time table for all divisions. Example program pages show typical arrival for programs around 8:15–8:30 and program-day end times near 15:30, and the FAQ notes after-school activities and evening boarding routines for residential students (including supervised study periods). For exact daily start/end and break times you should request the current parent handbook or contact admissions.
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 Keystone provides a paid school-bus service (route and fee details vary by year and program). Summer/short-program pages list school-bus fees and typical pick-up (around 8:15) and drop-off (around 15:30) times for day programs, and the FAQ notes a school bus service for after-school activities (e.g., 16:30 pick-up after clubs). For route coverage, fees and pick-up/drop-off points the admissions office can provide the current routes and pricing.
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 fee - The school's public admission pages do not publish a fixed application-fee amount. Keystone uses the OpenApply application system and indicates that application submission includes payment of required application fees as part of the process. Tuition fees (annual, current academic year) - Primary School: RMB 289,800 per year. - Middle School: RMB 320,850 per year. - High School: RMB 323,950 per year. Per-term breakdown - Keystone publishes tuition as annual amounts by school division. A per-term (semester/term) breakdown is not published on the school's public pages and therefore per-term figures are not available in the school's public materials. Boarding and meals - Boarding and meal fees (for students required to board from Grade 9 onward) are RMB 110,250 per academic year. Boarding is required starting in Grade 9. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school states that next year's tuition and other fee levels are determined and announced in February each year. Detailed billing schedules (term invoicing dates, due dates) and standard payment terms are not published on the school's public admission pages. OpenApply is used during application processing and the admission process references submission of application fees as part of that workflow. Other costs and optional fees - Some after‑school activities and specialist external programs may carry additional charges; most teacher‑run KAP activities are included but certain activities run by hired specialists may require extra fees. Uniform procurement and supplier arrangements are handled by the school (supplier selection has been announced) but uniform costs are not listed publicly. Additional costs such as trips, optional program fees, transport or personal items are not published as fixed amounts on public pages. Refund information - The school does not publish a detailed public refund/withdrawal policy (refund amounts, timelines, or administrative procedures) on its admission or how‑to‑apply pages. Fee payment options - The school's public pages do not list specific accepted payment methods (for example: bank transfer, credit card, Alipay, WeChat Pay). The application process is handled through OpenApply and the Admissions Office is the listed contact for payment and billing questions.
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 Keystone Academy (北京市鼎石学校) operates a K–12 bilingual (Chinese–English) programme that deliberately integrates elements of the Chinese national curriculum with international curricula and a boarding model. In the primary school the programme uses a dual‑language immersion approach and the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), combined with a distinctive “China” thread that embeds Chinese language, culture and national curriculum standards. The middle school covers Grades 6–9 and explicitly blends the China national curriculum with the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) alongside continued bilingual, inquiry‑based learning. The high school prepares students for the International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB DP), including the DP core (Theory of Knowledge, Extended Essay and CAS) and a bilingual/China‑focused approach to TOK and the curriculum in Years 11–12. Across all stages Keystone emphasizes experiential learning, outdoor education and a broad co‑curricular programme (KAP) and provides university‑counselling support to prepare students for tertiary study.
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. Create an application account (OpenApply) and start your child's application. Keystone asks families to open an account on keystoneacademy.openapply.cn and begin the online application as the first step; because places are limited there is an application cap for the Foundation Year, Grade 1 and Grade 7, so families interested in those grades should start as early as possible. If you have previously applied to Keystone or registered for an admissions event with the same email, you can log in with that address rather than creating a new account. 2. Expect the school to invite scheduled meetings and assessments within a few business days. After you submit the initial application, the Admissions Office will email guidance to schedule a parent meeting and a student meeting/assessment (the site notes this guidance usually arrives within 2–3 working days). Parents should watch the inbox they used for the application and be ready to propose times for those meetings. 3. Prepare and request required school documents and recommendations. Keystone asks applicants to request a current teacher recommendation through the application system; personal recommendation letters are optional. School records must be provided according to the grade: applicants for Foundation Year–Grade 3 should supply one and a half years of school reports; applicants for Grades 4–11 should supply two and a half years of reports. 4. Complete the written statements and (where required) student essay inside the application. Families must complete a parent statement in the OpenApply account; applicants in Grades 6–11 are also required to complete a student essay in the application. These written materials are part of the Admissions Committee's review packet. 5. Track application progress online and wait for committee review. You can log in to your OpenApply account at any time to check whether the application file is complete; completed files are submitted to the Admissions Committee for discussion. Keystone states final decisions are normally communicated in early spring for on-time applicants; families should plan for a multi-week review timeline once the file is complete. If you have particular timing constraints (for example mid‑year entry), contact Admissions directly to discuss options. 6. Post‑decision practical steps if accepted. The school's scheduled next steps typically include formal acceptance communication and then the usual enrolment actions (parents are asked to follow the admissions office's instructions to complete enrollment paperwork and any required payments). For short programs and Archway offerings the site explicitly states that fees are collected after acceptance; for full-year enrolment the Admissions Office will provide the enrollment checklist and payment instructions at the acceptance stage. 7. Be aware of grade availability and language/age requirements. Keystone indicates primary entry grades they plan to admit each year (notably Grade 1 and Grade 7) and says other grade-level admissions depend on vacancies from departing families; Grade 1 entrants must be six years old by August 31 of the entry year. The school also notes applicants for Grade 1 and above should have sufficient Chinese and English to access the bilingual, immersion curriculum. Parents should contact Admissions early to confirm whether there are current openings for the grade you need.
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 Keystone operates both merit‑based scholarships and need‑based financial aid; families must submit a scholarship application in addition to the standard admission application. The school states it offers named scholarships (for example the Academy's “Scholar” awards reported in school news) and has an established scholarship/financial aid program intended to help talented students who cannot otherwise afford tuition. The Admission Policy and FAQs make two points parents should note: (1) scholarship applicants complete a separate scholarship form as part of the process, and (2) limited financial aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated need and is managed annually by the Admissions Office. Selection is competitive and the school treats scholarships and admissions as related but distinct evaluations — if you intend to seek assistance, complete both the main application and the scholarship form and be prepared to supply any supporting materials the admissions team requests. For the most up‑to‑date guidance on application deadlines, required financial documents and the scale of awards, contact admission@keystoneacademy.cn or consult the school's scholarship pages and admissions office directly.
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 Keystone does not present a public, numbered “first‑to‑be‑offered” waitlist on its website; instead, the school describes a rolling process for reviewing late/over‑capacity applications and vacancies. The Admissions Policy explains that if spaces become available, the school will review overdue applications from late April onward on a rolling basis, and that places in many grades (especially Grade 1 and Grade 7) are limited and only other grades are considered when space opens up because current families depart. Practically, that means families whose applications arrive after the main deadline or who apply for non‑standard grades should expect their files to be held in a rolling admissions pool and reviewed against available seats rather than being placed on a public, position‑based waitlist. Parents who want to be considered for an unexpected vacancy are advised to keep their application current in OpenApply and to contact admission@keystoneacademy.cn to confirm their interest and status.
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