Dehong Chinese International School vs Soong Ching Ling School

	D Dehong Chinese International School Shanghai, China	S Soong Ching Ling School Shanghai, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 77,000 - 124,000	Fees / year RMB 84,000 - 200,000
Age range	Age range 6 - 18 years	Age range 6 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Chinese National Curriculum	Curriculum Chinese National Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 500	Pupils 1,700
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English, Mandarin	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2017	Opened 2008
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Dehong Shanghai International Chinese School is located at 1935 Shuguang Road, Maqiao, Minhang District, Shanghai. It is in the Qizhong villa area of Maqiao, Minhang District. The campus sits in a residential area accessible by local roads in Shanghai's Minhang district.	Location Soong Ching Ling School is on Ye Hui (Yehui) Road in the Zhaoxiang area of Qingpu District, on the western edge of Shanghai; the school gives the campus a suburban, residential setting. The website lists the campus address as No.2 Yehui Rd, Qingpu District (Zhaoxiang), and the school's own profile describes a large, green campus in Zhaoxiang.
Stages	Stages Elementary School (grades 1–5, ages 6–11); Middle School (grades 6–9, ages 11–15); High School (grades 10–12, ages 15–18).	Stages The school comprises both Domestic and International divisions and offers primary, middle and high school provision; the International Division serves grades 1–12.
School type	School type Private, Chinese-owned international school. Boarding facilities are available for enrolled students (boarding fee RMB 11,500 per semester).	School type Soong Ching Ling is a co-educational day school with separate Domestic and International divisions operating on the same campus. The public information does not indicate boarding provision.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Public information does not list a dedicated SEN department.	Additional learning support The school describes bilingual/co-teaching arrangements (Chinese and Western teachers in classes) and separate Chinese-language tracks for native speakers and additional‑language learners, which supports language differentiation. The website does not publish a detailed public policy about formal Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, so parents requiring specific SEN services should contact Admissions to discuss individual needs and available support.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is Chinese-owned and operates in Shanghai.	Country affiliation SCLS is a Chinese school founded and funded by the China Welfare Institute (established in memory of Madame Soong Ching Ling); it is not affiliated to a foreign country.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is listed.	Religious affiliation The school does not list any religious affiliation; its materials present an educational and cultural mission rather than a faith-based one.
School day structure	School day structure Exact daily start and end times are not publicly published.	School day structure Public listings indicate a typical school day beginning in the early morning and finishing in the mid‑afternoon (examples found: about 08:00–15:30 or 08:15–15:50 in third‑party school listings). Exact daily start/finish times and break/lunch schedules can vary by division and year, so please confirm current hours with Admissions.
Bus service details	Bus service details Yes. A school bus service exists, with routes arranged according to the needs of enrolled students.	Bus service details The school operates a formal school-bus service with multiple morning and afternoon routes for Primary, Middle and High School; route maps and timetables are published on the school website. The school's published fees (2024–25 pages) list bus transport charges in the range RMB 1,000–1,200 per month (distance-dependent). Parents can view route details and downloadable timetables on the school's School Bus Service pages or contact Admissions for route availability at your address.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - There is no separate application or registration fee charged. Tuition fees (by school level) - Elementary School: RMB 77,000 per semester - Middle School: RMB 90,000 per semester - High School: RMB 124,000 per semester Boarding fees - Boarding is charged at RMB 11,500 per semester where boarding is used. Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition and boarding are presented and billed on a per-semester basis (amounts above are shown per semester). Specific semester billing dates, due dates, installment plans, and late-payment penalties are not listed in the publicly available admissions summary. Other costs and fees - Meals: School meal costs are charged separately and are additional to the tuition amounts above. - Uniforms: Uniform costs are additional and are charged separately. - School bus: A school bus service is available; bus fees and specific route charges are additional and arranged according to demand. - Enrichment / activity charges: Fees for optional extra-curricular activities, trips, specialist courses, or external examinations (where applicable) are charged in addition to tuition. Fee payment options - Specific accepted payment methods (for example, credit card, bank transfer/wire, WeChat/Alipay or other channels) are not itemized in the publicly available admissions summary. Families should note that the admissions materials list standard contact details for the admissions office but do not publish a detailed list of payment methods or online payment portal details.	Fee details Application fees - No application or registration fee is charged during the online application process; applications are accepted without a one‑time registration charge. Tuition fees (per term and per school year) — International Division - Primary (Grades 1–5): RMB 70,000 / semester; RMB 140,000 / school year. - Middle (Grades 6–8): RMB 90,000 / semester; RMB 180,000 / school year. - Secondary (Grades 9–12): RMB 100,000 / semester; RMB 200,000 / school year. Tuition fees (per term and per school year) — Domestic/China Division - Primary (Grades 1–5): RMB 42,000 / semester; RMB 84,000 / school year. - Middle (Grades 6–9): RMB 52,000 / semester; RMB 104,000 / school year. - Domestic high school figures are published separately where applicable (see school listings). Billing schedule and payment terms - Fees are quoted on a per‑semester basis (two semesters per academic year); published tuition amounts are given per semester and per school year. The school notes it may change fees without prior notice. Boarding fees - No boarding program or boarding fees are listed in the school's public fee schedules; published fees relate to day‑school tuition, meals, transport and activities. Other costs and recurring charges - Meal / lunch: Primary day meal shown as RMB 38 / day (Grades 1–4); Grade 5 meal optional. Middle/high school have optional meal arrangements billed separately. - School bus: RMB 1,000 – RMB 1,200 / month (route/distance dependent). - Activity/field‑trip fee: RMB 300 (per stated period). - Uniforms and incidental supplies: costs are not itemised in the public fee pages and are listed separately by the school when required. Refund information and payment methods - The school's public admissions and fee pages do not publish a detailed public refund policy or specific accepted payment methods (bank transfer, card, etc.) on the pages reviewed; the school states only that fees may be changed by the school. Parents should rely on the school's official fee invoice/finance office for payment instructions and any refund terms. Summary of coverage: published per‑semester and per‑year tuition, meal, transport and activity charges for both International and Domestic divisions are provided above; the school's public admissions pages do not publish detailed payment channels or a stand‑alone refund policy on the pages reviewed.
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 The Dehong Shanghai curriculum is structured around three strands and serves elementary (Grade 1–5), middle (Grade 6–9) and high school (Grade 10–12) cohorts: the 9-year compulsory PRC curriculum, a holistic inquiry- and skills-based extension, and the Dulwich Difference holistic education. The compulsory programme follows the Chinese National Curriculum, with an approximate 50% instruction in Chinese and 50% in English in Elementary and Middle School, while the extended programme uses inquiry-based, interdisciplinary learning including STEAM, SE21, service, sustainability, and cultural activities. In high school, the programme is international in scope and designed to prepare students for world-leading universities, and Shanghai Dehong is an IB World School authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12, taught in English and Chinese. Dehong emphasises bi-lingual, bi-literate, and bi-cultural education as core principles. An Enrichment Programme runs across all levels with categories in Humanities, Visual and Performing Arts, Entrepreneurial Practice, Sports and Music, and University Counselling supports university- and career-readiness planning.	Curriculum details Soong Ching Ling School's International Division teaches primarily in English and follows an American-style Common Core framework with Advanced Placement (AP) options in the upper years; the school holds Cognia accreditation and operates as an AP and SAT test center. Primary (Grades 1–5) combines the Chinese national curriculum with U.S. Common Core standards; most subjects are taught in English while Chinese and mathematics begin in Chinese and mathematics transitions to English around Grade 5. Middle school covers seven core disciplines (English, math, science, social studies, arts, world languages, PE/health) and requires students from Grade 6 to study an additional language (currently French or Spanish). High school follows a “fusion” model with English-language modules, UCLA modules, and a range of elective AP courses across disciplines (including AP Chinese, sciences and arts) to prepare students for university admission; AP courses are offered as optional accelerated electives. The school also runs extracurricular and competitive programmes (AMC, Waterloo Math, IMMC, robotics, debate, etc.) and maintains separate native‑speaker and additional‑language Chinese tracks to meet differing student language backgrounds.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression University Counselling provides guidance on university and career readiness to help students apply to world-leading universities.	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 Step 1. Learn about Dehong Shanghai and obtain the prospectus. Dehong Shanghai offers a progressive learning plan from elementary to high school designed for Chinese students, combining the Chinese compulsory curriculum with international elements. The Admissions section provides a Prospectus and an online Information Collection Form to begin the process, and it lists a contact telephone number and email for inquiries. Start by reviewing the prospectus to understand the school's approach and entry expectations. Step 2. Submit the online application. To apply, complete and submit the online Information Collection Form, which initiates the formal application flow. After submission, the Admissions team will contact you shortly to progress the process. You may also access the application form via the link labeled "Apply" on the Admissions page. Step 3. Review grade-specific admissions criteria. Grade 6 candidates are students graduating from Grade 5 who meet junior high entry requirements. Transfer applicants are welcome to inquire, and transfer criteria are handled by the Admissions team. Step 4. Attend an Open Day or campus visit. Parents are invited to participate in Open Day activities at specified times after submitting the Student Information Collection Form. Open Day events provide opportunities to tour the campus, learn about the program, and meet the admissions team. Coordinate via the provided Admissions contact to schedule or receive Open Day details. Step 5. Complete any required assessments for transfer. Transfer applicants may need to pass a learning capability test to meet Dehong's requirements. The school notes that transfer entrants undergo an Entrance Exam process as part of evaluating suitability. Reach out to the Admissions team for specifics if you are transferring from another school. Step 6. Admission decision, enrollment steps, and tuition information. The Admissions team will contact you after submission to discuss next steps if you are offered a place.	Admissions 1. Confirm eligibility and category. Before you start an application, check that your family meets one of the school's admission categories (for the International Division these include: a working parent who holds a foreign passport with an alien employment permit in Shanghai; families from Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan working in Shanghai; a PRC parent with a child who has a foreign birth certificate; or a family holding a SHMEC waiver). Parents should review these categories carefully because eligibility is governed by Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (SHMEC) rules and the school requires applicants to fall into one of the listed categories. 2. Download the admissions booklet and check grade/age placement. The school publishes an Admissions Booklet and a Grade Level Placement chart (the Grade 1 age cut‑off is noted on the site — e.g., children entering Grade 1 should be 6 years old with a birthdate no later than August 31). Download and read those documents so you understand age cut‑offs, required certifications and any local policy references before you complete the application. 3. Create an online account and submit the application. For Grades 6–12 the site directs applicants to create an account and apply through the school's online portal (the page links to the school's application portal and confirms you will receive a confirmation email after submission); follow the portal instructions and check your email (including spam folders) for next steps. Use the portal linked on the school's admissions pages and keep the account credentials — the school uses that account for event registration and follow‑up correspondence. 4. Prepare and upload required documents. The school's admissions pages list documents you should have ready: passports or ID, evidence of parent work/permit status (where required), the child's birth certificate, and student school reports (the site specifically requests the past two years' school reports for transfer applicants and notes that Grade 1 applicants are an exception). 5. Note agency/fee and technical details. The school states you do not need to use agencies to apply and that the school does not charge a registration fee during the application; technical recommendations (preferred browsers) are provided to avoid submission problems. Parents should rely on the school's official portal and the admissions email rather than third‑party intermediaries. 6. Expect follow‑up from admissions and (if necessary) requests for additional information. The admissions pages do not provide a step‑by‑step description of assessments or interviews on the public pages, so after you submit the application watch for school emails asking for more documents, interview scheduling, placement checks or other next steps. If you need to confirm whether an assessment or interview will be required for your child's grade, contact the admissions centre directly (phone and email appear on the admissions pages). 7. Offers, acceptance and fees. The school publishes tuition figures and other fees on its admissions pages (see the school's 2024–2025 fee schedule linked on the site) — if an offer is made the admissions office will issue next steps about acceptance and payment. Because published fees can change and the school's pages include a fee‑change disclaimer, confirm the exact fees and payment deadlines with the admissions office for the year you plan to enroll.
Scholarships	Scholarships Yung Wing Scholarship Program (Dehong Shanghai) offers three scholarship types: - Yung Wing Full Scholarship: 100% tuition reduction for high school, awarded to students with the highest overall academic achievements. - Yung Wing Half Scholarship: 50% tuition reduction for high school, awarded to academically outstanding students who also demonstrate additional traits via named scholarships (Earhart, Shackleton, Qi Baishi, Deng Jiaxian). - Academic Excellence Scholarship: 25% tuition reduction for high school, awarded to academically outstanding students who embody Dehong's values. Eligibility: Students entering Grade 10 or Grade 11 in the next academic year (including current Dehong students and external applicants) are eligible to apply. Application and evaluation process (summary): Step 1, submit the scholarship application; Step 2, internal preliminary evaluation; Step 3, final internal evaluation (only applicable to full scholarship applicants). Application materials include a scholarship application form and a personal statement in English (within 500 words); non-Dehong students must provide additional documentation from their previous school. The application method and opening time are announced separately.	Scholarships The school's International Division admissions pages do not list any routine tuition scholarships or financial‑aid programs for applicants. The public pages focus on eligibility, application procedures and published tuition/meal/transport fees (for example, the site shows tuition and optional meal and bus charges for the 2024–2025 year) and do not describe merit or need‑based awards for International Division students. The broader Soong Ching Ling/China Welfare Institute history references Soong Ching Ling awards in other contexts, but that is not the same as an advertised school tuition scholarship on the International Division admissions pages. If you are seeking fee assistance, scholarships, or awards, ask the Admissions Office directly which (if any) financial‑support options or external awards may be available to enrolled students and whether there are separate application steps for them.
Waitlist	Waitlist There is no published waitlist or pool policy described in the admissions materials.	Waitlist The school's public admissions pages for the International Division do not describe a formal waitlist or pool system. The admissions information focuses on eligibility categories, required documents and online application steps but does not state whether applicants who cannot be placed immediately are added to an official waitlist. Because many Shanghai international schools manage limited places and local demand can fluctuate, if you need to know current availability or whether the school operates a waitlist for your child's grade, contact the Admission Center (admission.center@scls-sh.org or the phone numbers listed on the school site) and ask how they handle overflow and waiting applicants.
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