Canadian International School Kunshan vs Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School

	C Canadian International School Kunshan Shanghai, China	S Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School Shanghai, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 130,000 - 206,000	Fees / year RMB 164,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 19 years	Age range 15 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)	Curriculum Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 400	Pupils 190
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2012	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Canadian International School Kunshan (CISK) is on 555 Chuanshi Road in Kunshan, Jiangsu province — the campus is described as near Duke Kunshan University and Kunshan High School, with convenient local transport links. The school sits within the city of Kunshan (between Suzhou and Shanghai), so commuting from nearby districts such as Suzhou Industrial Park or Huaqiao is common for families.	Location Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School is located in Minhang District at No. 3233 Hongxin Road (near Caobao Lu / Caobao Road). The campus is in the Qibao area of Minhang and is commonly reached by local roads and taxis (about 10 minutes from Xingzhong Road in local listings).
Stages	Stages CISK is a K–12 school offering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP), serving students roughly from ages 3 to 18. It is presented as an IB Continuum World School delivering PYP→MYP→DP across the campus.	Stages The school is an upper-secondary/high school serving grades 10–12.
School type	School type The school is co-educational and operates both day and boarding options; the boarding provision is described as family-style student apartments on campus. CISK began with an Ontario (Canadian) curriculum background but now operates as an IB continuum school.	School type Co-educational; the school offers both day-school places and boarding options for its high‑school cohorts.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support CISK lists a Coordinator of Student Support Services and refers to learning-support/individualised plans and services for students with additional needs. The school also runs an English Learner pathway (Transitional English Program) using WIDA proficiency assessment for placement and regular progress review. Parents are notified of placements and the school references ongoing evaluation and learning-support planning.	Additional learning support Public-facing school listings and directories do not provide detailed descriptions of a specific SEN/learning‑support programme or named facilities. Parents should contact the admissions office to ask about assessments, individual education plans (IEPs), on-site specialists, or external referrals — admissions@qibaodwight.org. (Summary of what was found: directory and school summaries list curriculum and boarding/day options but do not publish a clear SEN policy or staff listing for additional‑needs support.)
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school uses a Canadian identity (Canadian International School) and has historical links to the Ontario curriculum and an affiliation with St. John's Kilmarnock School (Ontario). Its branding and early curriculum origins reflect those Canadian connections.	Country affiliation The school is a Sino–U.S. cooperative venture: it was established in partnership between Shanghai Qibao High School and the Dwight Schools (U.S.).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is listed on the school's public profile; CISK presents itself as a secular international school.	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is listed in the school's public descriptions or directory entries; the school is presented as a secular, international secondary school.
School day structure	School day structure For primary visitors, the school's published ‘A Day in CISK' schedule starts with arrival around 8:20am, morning classes from about 8:30–11:35, lunch and break around 11:35–12:30, afternoon lessons from about 12:35 and a typical primary day end at 3:30pm. End times vary by age group (secondary timetables commonly finish later on weekdays and may differ by day), so exact start/finish times depend on the programme and year group.	School day structure Published listings state a typical school day runs Monday–Friday, approximately 08:00–15:30, with the usual mid‑day lunch and break periods; families should confirm the current daily schedule with admissions as times can change.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school operates a school-bus service with multiple routes (the site states seven routes) covering Kunshan and neighbouring areas such as Suzhou and Taicang; each bus is staffed with a senior bus-care teacher. The website posts a bus code of conduct and an application form for families, and route details are published by the school — parents are advised to contact Admissions for current route maps and pickup points.	Bus service details Public listings do not clearly state a school‑run bus network or specific route details. Parents relocating from overseas should contact admissions to ask whether the school operates a bus service, which routes are covered, the provider, costs, and how to register (admissions@qibaodwight.org).
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and Registration Fees - Application Fee (non‑refundable): RMB 2,000. - Registration Deposit (one‑time, refundable): RMB 10,000. This deposit is invoiced and due with tuition fees and is refundable when a student leaves after proper notification and clearance. Tuition fees (by school division) - PYP — Early Years (Nursery / JK / SK): Annual RMB 130,000. Annual amount published by the school. - Per‑term equivalent (annual ÷ 2, shown as an inferred semester figure): RMB 65,000 (inference based on two equal terms). - PYP — Grades 1–5: Annual RMB 150,000. Per‑term equivalent (inferred): RMB 75,000. - MYP — Grades 6–10: Annual RMB 170,000. Per‑term equivalent (inferred): RMB 85,000. - DP — Grades 11–12: Annual RMB 206,000. Per‑term equivalent (inferred): RMB 103,000. (Note: tuition amounts are published as annual payments in the school fee schedule; the per‑term figures above are simple half‑year equivalents inferred from the annual totals because the published schedule lists annual payments.) Billing schedule and payment terms - The registration deposit is invoiced and payable with tuition fees. The school issues a School Payment Notice with the school RMB or USD bank account after receipt of the application form. Bank charges arising from payment methods such as swiping or QR code scanning are borne by the payer. The published fee schedule lists annual payments and does not specify an installment timetable within the document. Boarding (dormitory) fees - Dormitory (5‑days program): RMB 18,500 per school year. Other costs and typical additional charges - Bus transportation: Within downtown Kunshan RMB 9,000 per school year; outside downtown RMB 12,000 per school year. - Tuition does not include school lunches, uniform, transportation, individual music‑instrument tuition, or voluntary trips and events; these are charged separately. Uniforms are required for all students. - Families may incur other variable costs (optional activities, special programs, trips) depending on grade and participation. Refund information - The Application Fee is non‑refundable. The Registration Deposit (RMB 10,000) is refundable when a student leaves, subject to proper notification and clearance procedures. Fee payment options - Payments are made to the Canadian International School Kunshan bank accounts (school provides RMB or USD account details on the School Payment Notice). Payment methods mentioned in the fee schedule include bank transfer and electronic methods that may incur bank charges (swiping / QR code scanning); any bank fees are to be borne by the payer. The school will provide the formal invoice/payment notice with account details after application submission.	Fee details Application fees - The school does not publish a separate non‑refundable application fee in its public admissions notices; applications are submitted via the school admissions platform. Tuition fees (Grades 10–12) - Annual tuition: RMB 164,000 per year. - Per‑term/semester rate: RMB 82,000 per semester (two semesters per academic year). Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is charged on a per‑semester basis (semester amounts shown above). Parents are billed by semester and required to settle fees before the term begins as part of enrollment/registration procedures. Boarding fees (where applicable) - Boarding (dormitory) fee: RMB 5,600 per year (RMB 2,800 per semester) for students who use the school's boarding service. Day‑student option is available and boarding is an additional charge. Other costs and typical additional fees - School meals: sample pricing noted in published school materials and third‑party school profiles — breakfast approx. RMB 15; lunch/dinner approx. RMB 25 per meal (meal plans billed separately). - Typical extra costs (not included in tuition): textbooks and learning materials, uniforms, optional trips and co‑curricular activity fees, local health/accident insurance, and transport (school bus) if used. Specific amounts for uniforms, transport and some miscellaneous items are not publicly itemized in the school's general admissions summaries. Refund information - Refunds for tuition/fees are handled in accordance with standard Shanghai school refund practices; district guidance for schools specifies refunds are calculated on a monthly basis (pro rata) with partial‑month rules applied (e.g., less than half‑month treated as half‑month). Exact refund mechanics and any administrative deductions are set by the school's published terms. Fee payment options - Common methods used by Shanghai schools include bank transfer/online bank payment and the school's online payment channels; some Shanghai schools also accept designated bank payment systems (for example ICBC online payment is commonly used by local schools). Parents should be prepared to use bank transfer/online payment channels; specific accepted methods and bank account details are provided by the school on billing notices and registration communications.
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 Canadian International School Kunshan (CISK) delivers the International Baccalaureate continuum: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) for students aged about 3–18. Early Years and Primary follow the PYP (play‑based early years; six transdisciplinary themes and English as the language of instruction) alongside a schoolwide Chinese immersion program. The MYP covers the middle‑school years (roughly ages 11–16 / Grades ~6–10) with a concept‑based, interdisciplinary curriculum and Mandarin offered as an additional language; CISK completed MYP authorization in mid‑2023. Years 11–12 follow the IB Diploma Programme, with students taking DP subjects across language, mathematics, sciences, individuals and societies, arts, and core elements (TOK, extended project/EE) leading to the IB Diploma. The school also serves as an Oxford AQA IGCSE/A‑Level test centre and initially operated an Ontario (Canada) curriculum before becoming an IB continuum school.	Curriculum details Shanghai Qibao Dwight operates a three‑year high school (Grades 10–12) that integrates the Chinese national curriculum core with international programme options. Grade 10 functions as a bridging/pre‑IB year with IGCSE preparation—particularly IGCSE English and IGCSE Mathematics—and foundation/online summer work. In Years 11–12 students can follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or pursue Cambridge A‑Level/Cambridge routes, and the school also provides access to Dwight Global/AP online courses. Domestic (Shanghai‑registered) students continue to study the Chinese national subjects—Chinese language, history, politics and geography—and must pass those assessments to qualify for the Shanghai graduation certificate. Depending on programme choices and assessments, graduates may receive the Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School diploma and, where applicable, a Dwight (American) diploma and the IB Diploma.
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. Initial enquiry and research (what to prepare). Contact the Admissions Office to request the current enrolment timetable, the year-group vacancy status and the school's document checklist. CISK asks families to submit applications via OpenApply, so you should create an OpenApply account in advance and gather identity documents (child's passport and parents' visas/residence permits), recent school reports and any learning-support records; the Admissions Criteria page lists the specific residency documentation the school requires for eligibility. 2. Complete and submit the online application. Use the school's OpenApply form and upload the documents from the checklist (the How to Apply page explicitly instructs applicants to upload required documents when creating an OpenApply account). Make sure uploaded files are clear and that you include the items the school requests for your child's age/grade (for example prior school reports for primary/secondary applicants). 3. School review and eligibility check. After you submit, the admissions office reviews the application and supporting documents to confirm the child meets the school's legal and programme admission criteria (CISK is licensed to enrol children of foreign nationals and has specific documentation rules for Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan residents, Chinese citizens settled abroad and other eligible categories). Expect the school to contact you for clarification if documentation is missing. 4. Assessment (age-appropriate tests). CISK arranges an age-appropriate assessment after the application is complete. The How to Apply page specifies that kindergarten applicants will be reviewed and attend a family interview; Primary (Grade 1–5) applicants take a school-organised admissions assessment (parents are asked to reserve at least two hours); Secondary (Grades 6–11) applicants take a written test (English and English-language math). Plan travel/online-test timing accordingly and ask whether an English-language support assessment will be provided if your child is not a native English speaker. 5. Family interview and, where applicable, further meetings. The school requires a family interview: kindergarten and primary applicants meet the Head of the Academic Department; secondary applicants' parents join a roughly 30-minute family interview. For scholarship candidates the school will invite shortlisted students to further testing and an interview with leadership. Bring originals of identity/visa documents to the interview as the school may verify them in person. 6. Decision timeline and offer. CISK aims to communicate admissions decisions within three working days (this can extend to five working days during peak admissions season). Successful applicants receive a digital offer letter; the offer will include instructions and any deadlines for accepting the place (for example a deadline to respond and pay a registration/confirmation deposit). If your application is unsuccessful the school closes the file and notes that applicants may reapply after six months. 7. Securing a place and fee steps. To secure a place you will be required to follow the offer instructions (typically accepting the offer in writing and paying whatever deposit or registration fee the offer specifies). The school's tuition-and-fees page explains what tuition covers and what it does not (see the fee schedule for current amounts and the exact deposit/application fees for the academic year). Always confirm whether deposits are refundable and the deadline for the payment directly with Admissions before transferring funds. 8. Final enrolment and orientation. After finance and paperwork are complete the school will confirm enrolment and advise about orientation dates, uniform, lunch plans and transport options. Note that tuition typically excludes lunch, uniforms, transport and optional music lessons or voluntary trips—budget for these separately. Keep a copy of the signed enrolment/fee paperwork for visa/residency or employer-reimbursement needs. 9. If you need help or have special circumstances. If your child requires English language support, has special educational needs, or you need a language service during admissions, contact the admissions team early (the school lists English/Mandarin/Korean admissions support and asks families to notify the office about other language needs).	Admissions 1. Initial inquiry and online application. Start by contacting the Admissions Office to request the current application form and any year-specific instructions; the school publishes an admissions contact (email and phone) for inquiries. Parents should confirm whether the intake they want (day student vs. boarder, Grade 10–12) has open places before completing the full application to avoid unnecessary fees and delays. For contact details and the school's admissions channel, see the school listing and directory information. 2. Submit required documents with the application. Families should be prepared to upload or deliver standard documents: student passport (or ID), copies of parents' passports/ID, recent academic transcripts (current year plus at least one previous year), and any school reports or recommendation letters. Non-native English speakers may be asked to provide an English-proficiency report (IELTS/TOEFL) and applicants are commonly asked for a personal essay (Edarabia cites a 300-word minimum as an example). Always check the admissions checklist from the school because exact document lists and minimum documentation may vary by year and by nationality. 3. Admissions office review and scheduling of assessment. Once an application is complete the Admissions Office or Committee will review the file and, if the student meets the basic entry requirements, schedule an entrance assessment; this is a standard next step. Parents should confirm how long the review typically takes and whether any outstanding items (e.g., translated transcripts or notarized documents) must be provided before an assessment is booked. If you need the school to vet visa timing, raise that at this stage so assessment and enrollment dates can align with visa processing. 4. Entrance assessment and interviews. The school's entrance process normally includes written assessments (English and mathematics) plus an oral interview or oral English component; for students applying to Grades 11–12 (IBDP) there is often an additional interview with the principal and/or the IB Diploma coordinator. Parents should prepare their child by confirming the assessment format, permitted reference materials, and whether the assessment can be taken remotely if travel is constrained. If your child has special educational needs or requires assessment accommodations, notify Admissions well in advance so arrangements can be considered. 5. Committee decision and offer. After assessment, the Admissions Committee reviews the full file and then issues a decision; one published summary indicates families may receive a decision within about a week after assessment, though timing can vary by season and grade. Parents should ask at application time for the school's current decision timeline and whether offers are conditional (for example, conditional on final grades or visa approval). If an offer is issued, clarify the deadline to accept the place and the amount and terms of any enrollment deposit or first payment—these financial deadlines are important and policies differ between schools and intake years. 6. Fees, billing and visa steps. Published fee summaries for Qibao Dwight list a tuition figure often cited at RMB 164,000 per year (with separate accommodation and meal charges shown in directory listings); families should confirm the current, official fee schedule with Admissions before accepting an offer. Ask the school for the full cost schedule (tuition, boarding, meals, uniforms, insurance, activity or exam fees), accepted payment methods, billing dates, and refund or withdrawal terms—these details are not consistently published on third-party directories. If your child requires a student visa, request the school's visa-letter process and timeline so you can start immigration paperwork without delay. 7. Enrollment, placement and arrival. After acceptance and payment, the school will confirm course placement, orientation dates and (for boarders) move-in procedures; expect placement or level-testing in some subjects if transcripts come from a different curriculum. Parents should also check immunization/health form requirements and whether the school needs original documents on arrival; boarding families should confirm dorm rules, parent communications and weekend/holiday arrangements. If anything in your child's academic record or health needs has changed since submission, update Admissions immediately to avoid surprises at registration.
Scholarships	Scholarships CISK offers a limited number of full and partial scholarships and describes them as awarded on the basis of academic merit and financial need. The school's Scholarship page sets out the selection stages used in previous cycles: application submission, subject testing (English, Mathematics and Sciences), a cognitive‑ability test, and a final interview with school leadership; top-scoring candidates are invited to interview and the results are announced at the end of the selection period. The Scholarship page references a selection window (for example March–June 2023 for MYP and DP candidates) and says more details will be posted on the page; for the current cycle you should ask Admissions for the application opening date, the exact tests to be used, and whether the scholarship covers tuition fully or partially and any associated conditions (renewal criteria, behavioural/academic expectations). For questions or to request the latest scholarship guidance email admissions@ciskunshan.org.	Scholarships Directory listings for Qibao Dwight list several named scholarships that appear to be awarded by the school, including a Chairman's Scholarship, Seven Virtues Honor Scholarship, Excellence in All Subjects Scholarship, Specialized Scholarship and Outstanding Freshman Scholarship. These names are cited in local school listings and directories; however, those sources do not publish the eligibility criteria, award amounts, application deadlines or whether awards are automatic (merit-based) versus application-based. If you are interested in scholarship opportunities, ask the Admissions Office for the school's current scholarship policy, including (1) which scholarships are available for incoming versus continuing students, (2) whether awards are renewable, (3) whether a separate scholarship application or additional assessments are required, and (4) typical award ranges and how scholarships interact with tuition billing. For the latest and binding scholarship details, request written policy or the scholarship application from Admissions.
Waitlist	Waitlist CISK's public admissions pages do not publish a formal waiting‑list policy. The site states that “enrolment is subject to class vacancies,” which indicates that admission depends on available places in the requested year group, but it does not set out a published process or ranking for a waitlist or candidate pool. If a grade is full you should contact Admissions directly (phone or email) to ask whether the school maintains a waitlist for that specific year group, how they prioritise candidates, whether there are any deadlines to remain on the list, and what documentation you should keep current—these operational details are not posted on the public admissions pages.	Waitlist Publicly available school listings and profiles for Shanghai Qibao Dwight do not publish a formal, detailed waitlist or “wait-pool” policy. Major local directory summaries and third-party admissions guides that cover the school (e.g., Jingkids, SmartShanghai, Edarabia) describe the application and assessment steps but do not provide an official waitlist protocol or statistics. Because many schools treat waitlists or wait pools as operational (and variable by year and grade), the most reliable approach is to ask Admissions directly whether they maintain a waitlist for the specific grade and intake you are applying to, and if so what the family must do to keep the application active (frequency of updates, deposit requirements, etc.). To confirm current practice and any expected timelines, contact the school's admissions email or phone before assuming a place on a waitlist.
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