Canadian International School of Guangzhou vs ISA Science City International School

	C Canadian International School of Guangzhou Guangzhou, China	I ISA Science City International School Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 188,000 - 258,000	Fees / year RMB 220,000 - 328,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum Canadian Curriculum, IB (PYP), Advanced Placement (AP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 500	Pupils 2,200
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2012	Opened 2020
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The school is in Merchant Hill, Panyu District (No.122 Dongyi Road), Guangzhou — about a 20-minute drive from downtown Guangzhou and close to retail and residential areas. Public transport and highway links in Panyu connect the neighbourhood to the wider city; the school website gives the full postal address for visits and enquiries.	Location ISA Science City is in Guangzhou's Huangpu District at 66 Yushu South Road, inside the Guangzhou Science City development. The campus sits near the boundary with Tianhe District and is described as roughly a 20–30 minute drive from Guangzhou's Pearl River New Town/CBD depending on traffic.
Stages	Stages CIS serves ages 2–18 with divisions for Early Childhood (international kindergarten), Elementary, Junior High (Grades 6–9) and High School (Grades 10–12). The site describes pathways from Pre‑K through the Alberta high‑school program.	Stages The school is a K–12 (Early Years through Grade 12) international school, accepting children from about age 2 up to 18. The website and group listings show Early Years, Primary, Middle and High School divisions.
School type	School type CIS is a co‑educational international school that operates as a day school and offers boarding for secondary students. The boarding programme and dormitory facilities are available to students in Grades 7–12.	School type ISA Science City is a co‑educational international day and boarding school. The school states it operates as a mixed (male/female) day and boarding K–12 campus and advertises a boarding house capacity (around 500 boarders).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school provides English Language Learning (ELL) with graded programs (elementary pull‑out and after‑school sessions, in‑class support in junior high, and credited ESL in high school) and assesses other learning‑support needs on an individual, at‑need basis. Admissions and the ELL pages describe assessment and tailored support arrangements.	Additional learning support The school website does not publish a detailed SEN policy on its main pages; the ISA group schools operate a formal access/inclusion and learning‑support approach (tiered support, EAL and individualized plans) and the group's member schools commonly offer learning‑support and EAL services — prospective parents should contact admissions with specific queries about individual needs and available resources.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation CIS follows the Alberta (Canada) curriculum and is accredited by the Alberta (Canada) government; it also uses the IB PYP framework in early years/elementary and offers AP courses at senior levels.	Country affiliation The school is based in China (Guangzhou) and is an international school operating within that context; it does not advertise affiliation to a foreign national school system.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation The school does not list any religious affiliation on its public website; information and programme descriptions are secular in nature.	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is stated on the school website or in its public profile; the school presents itself as a secular international IB school.
School day structure	School day structure The school operates full‑day programs (the site specifically notes full‑day Pre‑K and Kindergarten). Specific daily start/end times and break schedules are not published on the public pages; prospective parents are asked to contact Admissions or check the school calendar for division‑specific timetables.	School day structure The school does not publish a full daily timetable (start/end times and all break times) on the main website; a third‑party school listing notes a short secondary pastoral/tutor time (PTT) at about 15:00–15:30, but parents should confirm exact daily hours and division‑by‑division schedules directly with admissions. Boarding students follow an established residential routine.
Bus service details	Bus service details CIS offers a paid school bus service with zone pricing (examples listed on the admissions/fees page: a local 5 km zone, within‑Panyu and outside‑Panyu rates are published). Bus routes, fees and pickup areas are arranged through Admissions and are billed as optional extras. For exact routes, stops and current fees, contact the Admissions office.	Bus service details ISA Science City runs a professional school‑bus service in partnership with an external provider; third‑party reports say the school operates multiple routes (reported as nine–ten routes) covering several Guangzhou districts (Tianhe, Huangpu, Haizhu, Baiyun and Zengcheng), with a driver plus on‑bus supervisor, face‑recognition check‑in and WeChat push notifications for parents. The school's team pages and group admissions pages also reference school‑bus arrangements — contact admissions for route stops, costs and current route maps (routes can be adjusted each semester).
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - Application Processing Fee: RMB 2,000 (non‑refundable). - Enrolment/registration charges reported by school materials and published admissions summaries: Enrolment Fee: RMB 10,000 (one‑time) and Enrolment Deposit (applied as credit to fees): RMB 100,000 (one‑time). Tuition fees (by school year / per semester) - Pre‑Kindergarten / Nursery (age 2–4): RMB 188,000 per year / RMB 97,000 per semester. - Kindergarten to Grade 3: RMB 198,000 per year / RMB 102,000 per semester. - Grade 4–6: RMB 218,000 per year / RMB 112,000 per semester. - Grade 7–9: RMB 238,000 per year / RMB 122,000 per semester. - Grade 10–12: RMB 258,000 per year / RMB 132,000 per semester. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition may be paid annually or by semester. A full semester payment is due in advance of attendance for that semester. Mid‑semester starters are billed pro‑rata (month‑by‑month); months are pro‑rated using a 10‑month division and partial months (after the 15th) are treated as half‑months. Families with two or more children or CIEO graduates may be eligible for a 5% discount on basic tuition (exclusions apply). Boarding and transport - Boarding (secondary students only): RMB 35,000 per year. - School bus (annual): RMB 9,800 (within 5 km Merchant Hill); RMB 12,800 (within Panyu); RMB 17,800 (outside Panyu). Other mandatory / optional costs - Meal fees (annual): commonly published figures range (kindergarten/elementary and secondary differ); examples reported: RMB 9,800 per year (meal plan), breakfast/dinner charges for boarding also published separately. - School uniform: approx. RMB 2,880 (new students required). - Bedding (new boarding students): approx. RMB 500–600. - Materials, insurance and experiential learning fees: approx. RMB 7,200 per year (typical itemization). - ELL support: published amounts vary by placement (examples: RMB 10,000–20,000 per term/semester depending on assessment). Refund information - The Application Processing Fee is non‑refundable. The Enrolment Deposit is published as credit toward school fees; other refund details are part of the school's formal fee and refund policy. Fee payment instructions - The school's published policy requires payment in advance of the semester start and invoices/fee statements are issued; payment instructions are supplied with billing. (Tuition currency and specific payment channels are provided on school invoices.)	Fee details Application and admission fees - Application fee: RMB 3,000 (non‑refundable). - Admissions / enrolment deposit: RMB 30,000 (taken to confirm a place; listed as refundable on the school's admissions page). Tuition fees by year group (annual; per‑term amounts shown as an arithmetic division by three and noted as derived) The school publishes annual tuition by year group. The annual figures below are taken from publicly available school listings; the per‑term amounts are derived by dividing the published annual fee by three (per‑term figures are an inference based on a three‑term academic year). Annual tuition (RMB) and derived per‑term amount (RMB): - FS1: Annual RMB 220,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 73,333. - KG1 / FS2: Annual RMB 220,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 73,333. - KG2 / Y1: Annual RMB 250,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 83,333. - Grade 1 / Y2: Annual RMB 270,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 90,000. - Grade 2 / Y3: Annual RMB 270,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 90,000. - Grade 3 / Y4: Annual RMB 270,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 90,000. - Grade 4 / Y5: Annual RMB 280,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 93,333. - Grade 5 / Y6: Annual RMB 280,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 93,333. - Grade 6 / Y7: Annual RMB 310,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 103,333. - Grade 7 / Y8: Annual RMB 310,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 103,333. - Grade 8 / Y9: Annual RMB 310,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 103,333. - Grade 9 / Y10: Annual RMB 320,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 106,667. - Grade 10 / Y11: Annual RMB 320,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 106,667. - Grade 11 / Y12: Annual RMB 328,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 109,333. - Grade 12 / Y13: Annual RMB 328,000 — Per term (derived) RMB 109,333. (The school's published annual fee range for the referenced academic year runs approximately RMB 220,000 to RMB 328,000.) Billing schedule and payment terms - The school's public admissions pages state the application fee and the admissions deposit required to secure a place; the site provides a dedicated ‘School Fee' page but does not publish a detailed public schedule of term‑by‑term invoicing or standard installment options on the pages indexed. Parents should note that the application and enrolment deposit requirements are explicitly published. Boarding fees (where applicable) - Boarding is offered (boarding house for up to 500 students; boarding is available for secondary grades). No separate boarding fee schedule or published boarding price was found on the school's publicly listed pages. Other costs and incidental fees - The school's publicly available fee summaries list annual tuition and the admissions/application fees but do not publish specific line items for uniforms, school meals, transport, textbooks, examination fees, activity charges or other ancillary charges in the pages indexed by public directories. Specific amounts for uniforms, meal plans, bus service, exam fees and similar extras were not available on the school's public fee summary pages. Refund information - Application fee: published as non‑refundable (RMB 3,000). Admissions/enrolment deposit: the school's admissions page lists the RMB 30,000 admissions deposit as refundable. The school's publicly indexed pages do not show a complete tuition refund schedule or the full terms and conditions for refunds (for example, pro‑rata refunds for mid‑year withdrawal or cooling‑off periods were not published on the pages located). Fee payment options - The school's publicly indexed pages do not list a full set of accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card, local e‑wallets). No explicit, published list of accepted payment channels or bank details was found on the school fee pages available in public listings. Summary of what is published versus what was not found - Published and verifiable: application fee RMB 3,000 (non‑refundable); admissions deposit RMB 30,000 (listed as refundable); annual tuition by year group (as listed above). - Not published on publicly accessible fee pages (no amounts found in public listings): a separate published boarding fee schedule; line‑item charges for uniforms, meals, transport, textbooks, exams; a full billing timetable or standard installment options; a detailed tuition refund schedule. Where per‑term amounts are shown above, they are derived from the school's published annual tuition figures by dividing by three (not directly published by the school). If you require this set of published figures presented in a different format, the figures above are drawn from the school's admissions and public fee listings. The key published references used are the school's admissions/application pages and public fee listings for ISA Science City International School.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements Boarding is available for secondary students (Grade 7–12). The CIS Guangzhou dormitory accommodates 120 students and includes four-bunk rooms, independent bathrooms, and student lounges. The dorm programme offers after-school activities and an evening development curriculum. Boarding expenses are RMB 35,000 per year.	Boarding arrangements The school provides day school and boarding; a boarding house on campus accommodates up to 500 students.
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options CIS Meals provides on-site catering from a Level A certified kitchen. The kitchen uses Metro Supermarket ingredients with daily quality checks. Boarding students have breakfast and dinner on campus on weekdays, in addition to lunch and snacks for all students. Weekly menus are shared with parents, and the meals feature a mix of international and local dishes.	Food options The campus has a cafeteria on site for meals.
House system	House system CIS uses a four-house system: Panda, Wolves, Elk, and Dragon. The houses compete throughout the year to win the House Cup, promoting community, belonging, and personal and social development.	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership CIS Guangzhou is Alberta-accredited by the Government of Alberta and an IB PYP World School. It is a member of ACAMIS and the Canadian Overseas Schools Association Network (COSA). The school delivers the Alberta Curriculum for K-12 and offers Advanced Placement courses.	Governance and ownership The school is part of the ISA International Education Group and is an IB World School.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Canadian International School of Guangzhou delivers the Alberta (Canada) K–12 curriculum, integrates the IB Primary Years Programme framework across early years and elementary levels, and offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses in senior high. Early Childhood (ages 2–5) follows a play‑based, IB‑aligned program that also uses Alberta kindergarten outcomes; Elementary (Kindergarten/age 5–Grade 6) teaches Alberta Programs of Study through Units of Inquiry in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies while also scheduling PE, art, music, Mandarin and IT. Junior High (Grades 7–9) continues the Alberta curriculum with an inquiry approach and provides English Language Learning (ELL) support embedded in core subjects for students who need it. High School (Grades 10–12) follows Alberta senior‑secondary courses; on completion of required credits students receive the Alberta High School Diploma, and AP courses are offered as enrichment (AP Calculus and AP Physics were introduced for 2024–25). Mandarin instruction is provided across divisions in native and non‑native streams, and the school supplements classroom learning with after‑school activities and university‑counselling services to support language development and post‑secondary pathways.	Curriculum details ISA Science City International School (Guangzhou) is a K–12 IB World School serving students aged 2–18 and delivering the full IB continuum. Its Early Childhood Learning Centre and Primary phases follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). Middle school is organised around the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), and senior students (Years 11–12) study the IB Diploma Programme (DP) to complete university‑entry qualifications. The taught curriculum covers English and Chinese instruction plus additional world languages, mathematics, sciences, humanities, design and computing, and a formal arts programme (visual arts, drama and music), alongside extensive co‑curricular activities. Academic enrichment and research pathways are provided through the Student Enrichment Centre, and the campus includes boarding and purpose‑built facilities to support experiential learning and university preparation.
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 CIS describes a formal counselling service that provides group and individual counselling and delivers social‑emotional lessons in the classroom to support students' social and emotional development. The counselling team works with teachers to implement evidence‑based strategies aimed at improving student relationships, behaviour and learning. The school's House system (Panda, Wolves, Elk, Dragon) is explicitly described as promoting belonging, self‑identity, responsibility and positive self‑esteem across sporting, academic and artistic activities. CIS also lists “personal growth & well‑being” among its core competencies within its Alberta/IB‑informed curriculum framework.	Social & emotional learning ISA Science City describes social and emotional development as part of its whole‑child approach and the Head of School states the school aims to develop students' social‑emotional skills alongside academic learning. The ISA Academic Centre also says it contributes to “wellbeing frameworks” for ISA schools. The school's leadership pages and student‑support overview note that a Student Support Team (to include pastoral care) is being developed to deliver social‑emotional and pastoral provision. The website does not publish a detailed SEL curriculum or daily programme (for example, explicit lessons or named SEL programmes are not shown).
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) CIS states it is an inclusive, non‑selective international school and that learning support for students who require additional help is assessed on an individual, at‑need basis during admissions and thereafter. The admissions information explains the school will determine availability of learning‑support services case‑by‑case rather than listing a published set of specific diagnoses or categories supported. The website does not publish a public list of the exact types of special educational needs it can or cannot accommodate. CIS does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution; instead it describes individual assessment and tailored support where possible.	Special educational needs (SEN) The school publishes a Student Support team led by a Head of Student Support Services and lists a Learning Support teacher, and it says staff will provide individualised programming and learning support services. Leadership profiles note qualifications in inclusive education and experience supporting students who require individual programming. The website does not list specific categories of special educational needs (for example, particular diagnoses or levels of need) that the school will or will not support. The school is presented as a mainstream IB K–12 international school rather than as a specialist SEN institution; no public statement identifies it as a specialist SEN school.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language CIS operates a defined English Language Learning (ELL) programme for students who do not speak English as a first language, with stated provision for Grades 2–9 and an ESL credited course option in High School. The ELL page describes leveled reading materials and assessments 2–3 times per year, elementary pull‑out and after‑school sessions (noting nine periods per week at elementary level), in‑class support in Junior High, and credited ESL courses in High School. The school says ELL is designed to develop both social and academic English and to remove barriers so students can access the Alberta curriculum when ready. The website therefore does publicly describe specific EAL/ELL provision and staffing structure.	English as an additional language ISA Science City's staff pages and the Student Support description state the Student Support Team will include English as an Additional Language (EAL) provision and list staff experience supporting EAL learners. Senior‑staff profiles also reference experience in supporting students with EAL. The website, however, does not publish a detailed EAL programme (for example, entry assessment procedures, lesson models, withdrawal vs in‑class support, or levels/phases of EAL instruction).
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing CIS's counselling service describes whole‑school wellbeing initiatives intended to promote compassion, leadership and resilience, and offers both group and individual counselling to support students' mental health. The counselling team states it provides classroom social‑emotional lessons, supports teachers with evidence‑based strategies, and runs parent/caregiver workshops to help families support student wellbeing. Boarding and student services pages also reference attention to students' psychological and social development in the boarding context. These statements on the website outline the school's publicly stated approach to mental wellbeing but do not publish clinical protocols or detailed therapeutic qualifications for staff.	Mental wellbeing The school's published staff profiles and Student Support description show counselling and guidance are part of the intended Student Support Team (the Head of Student Support Services holds degrees in Inclusive Education and Guidance & Counselling, and other senior staff have counselling experience). The Academic Centre page states it supports wellbeing frameworks across ISA schools. The website does not publish a standalone, detailed mental‑health policy or a schedule of counselling services (for example, numbers of counsellors, referral routes, or session formats are not publicly listed).
Safeguarding	Safeguarding The school's public website describes student wellbeing, counselling services and boarding safety in broad terms but does not publish a clearly labelled child‑protection or safeguarding policy that is publicly accessible. The site includes a privacy policy and a menu link for "School Policies," but a distinct, named safeguarding/child‑protection policy is not available on the pages reviewed. For specific details about safeguarding procedures, reporting lines, or staff safeguarding roles you will need to contact the school directly via the admissions or contact details provided on the site.	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview Located at Merchant Hill, Panyu District, Guangzhou, the CIS Guangzhou campus was built in 2018 as a purpose-built, safe international campus. It reflects Canadian and Chinese roots and serves a global student body. It is approximately a 20-minute drive from downtown Guangzhou. The campus houses spaces to support learning, arts, and student life, including a Learning Commons, library, indoor gymnasium, indoor swimming pool, track and field, auditorium (W Hall), science lab, and Picasso Art Studio. It also includes an Early Years Play Facility, an ECE Building, and dormitories. Dormitory accommodation is available for middle and high school students.	Facilities overview The school is a K12 flagship international school located in Guangzhou's Science City, with independent property rights in a green belt environment. The campus covers 37,320 square metres with a total construction area of 78,000 square metres. It offers day and boarding options, including a boarding facility for up to 500 students.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities The campus supports a comprehensive athletics program. An indoor gymnasium, an indoor constant-temperature swimming pool, a track and field facility, and a basketball court are on campus. A fitness center is available for student use. CIS participates in Grizzlies Athletics and offers after-school athletic programs and events.	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities Academic spaces include a Learning Commons and a library, plus a science lab and Picasso Art Studio. The Early Years Play Facility and the ECE Building support early childhood learners.	Academic facilities The school is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme, with English as the language of instruction.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities After School Activities (ASAs) are offered to students. The dorm program includes a Dorm English Activities Programme to help dorm students practice English.	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Canadian International School of Guangzhou (CISGZ) opened in 2012. The school is part of the Canadian International Educational Organization (CIEO) network, a group that operates multiple international education institutions in the Greater Bay Area and beyond. In 2016 CIS underwent inspection by the Alberta (Canada) Ministry of Education and gained Alberta accreditation, a milestone in its development. Since then the school has expanded its programs and facilities while maintaining links with CIEO and sister institutions.	History ISA Science City International School opened in August 2020 and is operated as the flagship K–12 school of the ISA International Education Group. The school was developed as a purpose-built IB campus under the ISA group, with the group retaining overall ownership and management responsibility. During planning the campus followed a “curriculum‑first” design process and worked with external architects to align buildings and spaces with teaching needs. Since opening the school has received recognitions for its campus (including WELL Gold v2 environmental health and safety accreditation) as it moved from start‑up into steady operation.
Community	Community CIS describes itself as a truly international community, with families and staff from more than 45 nationalities and regular partnerships with consulates, local chambers and multinational organisations for cultural learning. The school site highlights recurring community events such as International Day and a Winter Festival, plus public music concerts and athletics occasions that involve students and the wider Guangzhou community. CIS also operates a four-house system (Panda, Wolves, Elk, Dragon) used across sporting, academic and artistic activities to build belonging and peer support.	Community The student and staff community is international and multilingual; ISA materials note teachers and students from more than 30 countries and a strong emphasis on language learning. The school schedules recurring curriculum-linked cultural events — for example World Languages/Book Week, a Shakespeare week and regular Open Days — that bring together students, families and staff. Day students and a residential boarding community (capacity cited by the school) both contribute to campus life, and the school integrates community service through group initiatives and the ISA Charity Fund.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association CIS runs a Parents Advisory Council (PAC) that follows the Joyce Epstein model of parent engagement, organising activity across six areas: communication, volunteering, decision‑making, collaborating with community, learning at home and parental training. The school appoints parent representatives, provides an annual list of volunteer opportunities, and schedules lectures and information sessions on topics such as subject choices and university pathways. PAC activities include training sessions for parents (described as ‘parental training' or parent‑effectiveness workshops) and guidance on using local community resources to support student learning at home. The PAC is positioned as a formal channel for parent input and for coordinating volunteers and parent education across the school year.	Parent teacher association ISA's published materials describe structured home–school channels rather than a single informal group: the ISA organisation and school websites reference a parent service centre and a parent committee (家长委员会) as part of their approach to parent engagement. The campus includes a Parent Reception Area and lists ‘parent classes' and assemblies as planned uses of school facilities, which the school uses for parent information sessions and ceremonies. Parents are regularly invited to participate in Open Days, cultural weeks (for example World Languages/Book Week) and community‑service activities run through the ISA Charity Fund, which the group identifies as a channel for student and parent participation in charitable projects. The group also describes routine parent–teacher meetings and curriculum briefings as part of its communication model. In practice, the school's parent structures support event volunteering, information sessions and coordinated community‑service projects rather than only fundraising or social functions.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual The school uses the Alberta (Canada) Curriculum for Kindergarten through Grade 12, with the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) framework supporting ECE and Elementary, and Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered. The Alberta Curriculum is taught in English, and CIS is the first Alberta-accredited K-12 international school monitored by both Canadian and Chinese authorities. The Alberta Diploma is awarded upon graduation.	Academic & intellectual The school provides a K-12 international education based on the IB framework. The program covers ages 2 to 18, for a total of 16 years of schooling. The curriculum adheres to IB standards and emphasizes holistic development alongside academics.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative The school supports arts and creative expression through its broad program, including performing arts and creative activities integrated into the curriculum across divisions.	Arts & creative Co-curricular activities include theatre and film-related events; Macbeth screenings are part of the English Language and Literature program. The school supports creative expression through arts-related programmes within the IB framework.
Cultural & language	Cultural & language Mandarin language instruction is provided daily, and the program includes English-language immersion across early years and primary years with explicit Mandarin integration in the elementary division and beyond.	Cultural & language The school offers five language learning pathways for students aged 2 to 18. World Languages and Book Week celebrates linguistic and cultural diversity through cross-cultural dialogues and multicultural activities.
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies After-school activities and athletics are offered, including Grizzlies Athletics and various after-school programs.	Social & hobbies Co-curricular offerings cover a range of interests, including arts, sports, and leadership development. The programme supports holistic growth through initiatives that foster arts, physical activity, well-being, and student leadership.
Community & service	Community & service The school emphasizes a holistic education with a focus on global citizenship and community engagement as part of its Alberta-IB framework.	Community & service The Student Enrichment Centre collaborates with global corporations and international charities to design and operate experiential programmes that connect learning with the wider world.
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional The school employs professionally trained teachers, many with Alberta Education certifications, supporting a structured K-12 program and university pathways.	Leadership & professional Leadership and professional skills are developed through SEC programmes and IB-aligned initiatives that emphasize critical thinking, communication, and global mindedness.
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing The campus emphasizes safety and a caring international community, with a strong focus on well-being and personal growth within the Alberta-IB curriculum.	Lifestyle & wellbeing The campus holds WELL Gold v2 Environmental Health and Safety accreditation. The school provides a boarding facility for up to 500 students, supporting a residential international community.
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision The school uses English as the main language of instruction. English Language Learning (ELL) supports students in developing English proficiency. Mandarin is taught as part of the language and culture curriculum with native-speaker and non-native speaker classes across Early Childhood through Grade 9; Mandarin is optional in the Alberta High School Curriculum and counted as 5 credits in Grade 10-12. Mandarin classes are scheduled as 2 sessions per week in Early Childhood, 5 sessions per week from Kindergarten to Grade 9, and 5 sessions per week in Grades 10-12 at 80 minutes per session. The curriculum integrates Chinese Language and Culture and aligns with the IB Primary Years Programme framework for Elementary education.	Language provision 5 language learning pathways for students aged 2 to 18.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards Only awards explicitly shown on the school website in the past five years (awards granted to the school itself): • China Schools Awards — "Enterprise and Employability" award (2024) — CIS reports it was the winner of the China Schools Awards Enterprise & Employability category (school news post dated 1 March 2024); the award recognises institutional commitment and innovation in preparing students with employability skills. • China Schools Awards — "Science and Technology" category (2023) — CIS reports winning the Science & Technology category at the 2023 China Schools Awards; this is presented on the same school news item as a national‑level recognition for the school in science/technology provision. (Background: the school site also posts recognitions and rankings — for example a 2025 Forbes China schools item and other news — but where the site labels a school‑level "award" within the last five years, the two China Schools Awards entries above are the items explicitly described as awards to the school on the official website. )	Awards (Only awards listed on the school's public website and awarded to the school itself are included below.) • Official WELL Gold v2 Environmental Health & Safety Standard (January 2021) — Listed on the school's "Our Campus" awards section as an official accreditation/award received in January 2021; the school presents this as a campus-level recognition for environmental health and safety. • Hurun Education — Ranked 2nd in "Hurun Education China International Schools Best School Campuses" (June 2022) — The school's awards section reports a June 2022 placement as 2nd in that Hurun Education list, which the school presents as a campus-ranking recognition. • BEED AWARDS 2022 — "Green Innovation School" (August 2022) — The school's awards section lists a August 2022 BEED AWARDS recognition ("Green Innovation School" in the Ideal Campus Awards), shown on the site as an award to the school campus. If you want, I can (a) check the IB Organisation or the WELL certification registry to confirm the exact scope and current status of the IB authorizations and the WELL certificate, or (b) pull exact pages (with screenshots or dates) from the school site for your records.
Accreditations	Accreditations • Alberta (Canada) Government — Fully accredited by Alberta Education; this means CIS is approved to deliver the Alberta (Canadian) curriculum and its Alberta high‑school credential is issued under Alberta Education standards, which matters for recognition by Canadian and many international universities. • IB PYP World School — Authorised to deliver the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) for early childhood and elementary; this indicates the school has met IB requirements for the PYP framework and related standards for teaching and learning. • SAT Test Centre (College Board) — CIS is listed by the school as a testing centre that works with the College Board to administer SAT exams; being a test centre provides on‑campus access to SAT administration for students applying to U.S. universities. • ACAMIS membership — Member of the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS); membership connects CIS with a regional network of international schools for interschool events, competitions and professional development. • COSA membership — Member of the Canadian Overseas Schools Association (COSA) Network; this affiliation links CIS with other schools that use Canadian curricula for sharing best practice and professional opportunities. Note (program, not an accreditation): CIS also publicises offering Advanced Placement (AP) courses (AP Calculus and AP Physics for 2024–25) as an academic enrichment pathway; this is a program offering rather than a formal accreditation listed on the school site.	Accreditations • IB World School (International Baccalaureate) — The school's website identifies ISA Science City as an IB World School and describes use of the IB Primary Years Programme in its Early Years and Primary divisions; this indicates formal IB programme authorization at least for the PYP as presented on the site. • WELL Gold v2 (WELL Environmental Health & Safety Standard) — The school's "Our Campus" page states the campus was officially accredited with the WELL Gold v2 Environmental Health and Safety Standard (January 2021); this is an independent building/operations certification that assesses features related to occupant health, safety and environmental performance. Note: I reviewed the school's public website for other formal accreditations (for example CIS, WASC or similar) but did not find explicit claims of additional external accreditations on the school's pages. The items above are those explicitly presented as accreditations on the school's website.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions 1. Initial enquiry and eligibility check — Contact the Admissions Office to begin. Parents should confirm eligibility (CIS accepts students who hold foreign passports, including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) before completing the online application form; if you are unsure, ask Admissions so you do not complete unnecessary paperwork. You can request a campus tour or an online information session — tours are available year-round but appointments are recommended. 2. Complete the application and gather documents — Fill in the school's Application Form (the site links to the online form) and prepare required documents: a recent photo, the student's passport information page, both parents' passport copies, and school records (current year and previous full-year reports and any standardized test results). Note the non‑refundable application processing fee (stated on the admissions page) is required when you submit — this fee covers review, one test and an interview. Keep certified/translated copies ready if your documents are not in English. 3. Arrange assessment and interview — After submission you will be scheduled for an admissions assessment and an oral interview; these are conducted in English and are used to determine grade placement and any language support needs. If you are outside Guangzhou the assessment and interview can be scheduled online; follow the instructions Admissions provides so your child is prepared (timing, platform, and materials). Expect the school to test English and, where relevant, to assess academic levels against the Alberta curriculum. 4. Learning support / ELL assessment — If the assessment indicates the student needs English Language Learning (ELL) or other additional learning support, the school will evaluate needs individually and may make ELL a condition of entry (especially above Grade 2). Parents should ask in advance about ELL costs, frequency, and how ELL lessons are scheduled relative to mainstream classes. If your child has documented learning support needs, disclose these early so CIS can confirm whether appropriate services are available. 5. Offer, acceptance and securing placement — Once assessments and document checks are complete, CIS will issue written notification of the outcome (offer or otherwise). To secure a confirmed place the FAQ states families must complete tuition payment — parents should clarify whether this means a deposit or full payment and ask for the exact invoice and payment deadlines. Ask Admissions for the written offer's conditions (start date, grade placement, any conditions such as continuing ELL). 6. Fees, payment timing and mid‑term starts — Tuition can be paid annually or by semester; fees are inclusive of experiential-learning fees, tests, materials and insurance, and the school invoices pro‑rata for students starting mid‑semester (monthly or half‑month rules apply as specified). Parents should request the full tuition table and a written copy of the school's refund and withdrawal policy before paying to make sure they understand deadlines and any penalties. Also note optional miscellaneous fees (boarding for Secondary students, bus fees) are charged separately. 7. Arrival and orientation — Arrange a campus visit or orientation before your child's first school day where possible; the Admissions Team normally arranges a meeting with a relevant head of school or teaching staff during visits. If you are relocating from overseas, inform Admissions early so they can accept documents by email and schedule an online interview if needed. For visa purposes the school can provide a “future student letter of enrolment” only after tuition fees have been paid; CIS does not provide visa‑application services.	Admissions 1. Online application and documents — Start by completing the school's online application and uploading the required documents listed on the ‘Apply Online' checklist (for example: previous school reports, passport/ID, and any medical or residency documents the school requests). Parents should check the checklist carefully before submission — missing documents slow the review and may delay assessment. If you are applying from abroad, prepare clear certified copies and allow extra lead time for document translation or notarisation. 2. Pay the application fee — After you submit the online application you must pay a non-refundable application fee of RMB 3,000 for the admissions team to review the file. Make sure you keep the payment receipt and reference number; the school will not begin a full review until payment shows against the application. Note that application fees are routinely non-refundable at many international schools, so confirm the payment method and currency before you pay. 3. Documentation review and conditional offer — The admissions team reviews submitted documents and then the appropriate Division Principal or Head of School gives final sign-off. If the paperwork meets requirements the school will issue a conditional letter of offer; if more information is needed they will contact you to request it before issuing a conditional offer. Parents should watch their email closely during this stage and be ready to supply school reports, transcripts, or clarity about previous curricula. 4. Assessment and family meeting — For Early Childhood learners the school uses an observation by an education leader; Primary and Secondary applicants typically sit screener assessments in English, Mathematics, Chinese and General Reasoning, with other components added as required. All families are invited to a meeting with a member of the education leadership team so the school can better understand the child's background, learning needs, interests and any support required. Parents should prepare to discuss learning history, any SEN (special educational needs) support, and to ask about curriculum, language support and pastoral care during this meeting. 5. Offer acceptance and enrolment payment — Once assessments and meetings are completed the school issues an unconditional offer (subject to the family returning the signed acceptance and family contract). To confirm the place families pay an admissions/enrolment deposit of RMB 30,000 (the school's published information describes this as refundable when accepted according to their terms). Before you pay this deposit, check the contract carefully for timelines, refund conditions, and any deadlines for accepting the offer. 6. Tuition, boarding and payment schedule — Published sources for recent academic years show annual tuition in the range of approximately RMB 220,000 (Early Years) up to about RMB 328,000 (senior grades), and the school operates a boarding facility for secondary students (capacity published as around 500 boarders). Parents should request the current official fee schedule from admissions because published ranges vary by year, grade and program (and may not include additional charges such as uniforms, transport, meals, exam or activity fees). If you need instalment options, sibling discounts or an exact cost breakdown (tuition vs boarding vs one-off levies), ask the admissions office and request the written fee policy for the year you plan to start. If you want, I can draft an e-mail you can send to the school's admissions office asking for the latest fee schedule, payment terms, refund policy and exact list of documents required for your child's year group.
Scholarships	Scholarships CIS publishes a formal Academic Scholarship Programme (2025–2026) on its website. The programme includes several categories: (a) a high‑value “Million RMB Scholarship” tied to Grade 12 graduates who receive offers from certain elite universities (Ivy League, Stanford, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge — the page describes awards up to one million RMB); (b) a Tuition Scholarship that can cover full tuition for high‑performing students entering Grade 10; and (c) an Excellence Scholarship recognising new and current students for academic achievement, leadership and contribution in areas such as STEM, arts and service. The scholarship announcement asks new families to contact Admissions for details and current students to speak with their Learning Partner (LP), so application procedures, eligibility criteria, selection timelines and award amounts appear to be managed directly by the school rather than through an open online application form; parents should contact Admissions to request the official scholarship guidelines and any deadlines.	Scholarships ISA Science City publishes an internal programme called ISA Global Pioneers (run via the Student Enrichment Centre) that selects students (notably in Grades 9–11) by academic and comprehensive assessment to receive scholarships to participate in ISAIEG academic programmes and enrichment activities. The Student Enrichment Centre page describes the ISAGP selection process (academic assessment and comprehensive assessment) and notes that selected students are offered special scholarships to participate in those programmes. Separate public-facing articles and school communications for 2025 reference scholarship opportunities connected with ISAGP and promotional scholarship campaigns; however, detailed eligibility rules, the value of awards (for example partial vs full tuition), availability by year group, and application deadlines are not published in full on the school's basic admissions pages. For a clear answer about what scholarships are currently available, how they are awarded, what they cover (tuition or programme fees), and the application timetable, contact the school's admissions or the Student Enrichment Centre and request the scholarship policy and application form.
Waitlist	Waitlist The school's public admissions pages (Admissions and FAQ) do not describe a formal waitlist or centralised ‘pool' system; instead CIS accepts applications year‑round and emphasises that offers are made subject to seat availability. Parents are explicitly advised to apply as early as possible because seats in each grade are limited, and the FAQ notes that placement is secured by completing tuition payment — which implies places are allocated on a first‑come/confirmed‑by‑payment basis rather than by an automatic ranked waitlist. If you need to know whether CIS will hold your application on a waiting list or maintain a priority order for late applicants, contact Admissions directly (phone, WeChat or email) to request the school's local practice for your child's grade.	Waitlist The school's published admissions pages and public enrolment guidance do not describe a formal waitlist or wait-pool system. The application-process page sets out application, assessment and offer steps but does not explain how the school manages oversubscription or waiting lists; because many international schools use waitlists differently from year to year, the safest option is to ask the admissions office directly whether a waitlist is used for your child's year group and, if so, what (if any) deposit or timeline is required to hold a place. Contact the admissions office to confirm current practice and any priority rules (for example sibling priority or returning students).
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