International School of Dongguan vs ISA Science City International School

	I International School of Dongguan Guangzhou, China	I ISA Science City International School Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 126,000 - 233,600	Fees / year RMB 220,000 - 328,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 17 years	Age range 2 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), IB (MYP), IB (PYP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 400	Pupils 2,200
Typical class size	Typical class size 5	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 ISD is located at 11 Jin Feng Nan Road in Nancheng District, Dongguan — roughly midway between Shenzhen and Guangzhou, in the city centre area of Dongguan. The campus is a purpose-built international campus with sports and arts facilities; public buses and the Dongguan Metro (Line 2) serve the area nearby.	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 ISD serves Early Childhood (Pre‑K through Senior Kindergarten), Elementary (Grade 1–5) and Secondary (Grade 6–12). The school offers the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12.	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 ISD is a co‑educational day school; the campus and public materials describe it as a day school rather than a boarding school. The school was established in 2012 and presents itself as an international school operating in China.	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 ISD runs an English Language Learners (ELL) program to support students for whom English is not a first language, and core classes include English language goals alongside content goals. Secondary‑school pages note differentiated instruction and co‑teaching models; the counseling team provides academic, social and emotional support for students. For specifics about individual education plans or intensive SEN provision, the admissions office is the best contact.	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 The school does not list an affiliation to a particular country; it operates as an international school in China and references an American Core Standards curriculum alongside its IB Diploma Programme authorization.	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 There is no religious affiliation stated on the school website; ISD presents itself as a secular international school.	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 ISD publishes an annual school calendar (term dates, holidays and PD days) but the public site does not publish a detailed, level‑by‑level daily timetable for student start/end times and break/lunch periods. The school does schedule campus visits and tours Monday–Friday (noted as 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for tour appointments); contact admissions for the current daily schedule for each age group.	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 The school website does not publish a clear school‑run bus/shuttle schedule. There are public bus routes and nearby stops within walking distance and Metro Line 2 stations serving the area (local transit apps list routes such as 12, 219, X11, 快线16 and 79 near the campus). For any school‑arranged transport (school buses or private shuttles), contact the admissions office — they can confirm available routes, pickup points and safety arrangements.	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 - Non-refundable application fee: RMB 2,000 for Pre‑K to SK; RMB 3,000 for Grades 1–12. Paid in cash to complete the application. Tuition fees (payment options shown per grade band) - Grade 9–12: Per semester RMB 122,600; Single (annual) payment RMB 233,600. - Grade 6–8: Per semester RMB 117,200; Single (annual) payment RMB 223,300. - SK–Grade 5: Per semester RMB 110,800; Single (annual) payment RMB 211,000. - Pre‑K–JK: Per semester RMB 66,000; Single (annual) payment RMB 126,000. - Tuition includes: all text and resource materials, library/database memberships, high‑speed/wireless internet access, one PE uniform set, teacher‑led after‑school activities, sports/fitness facility access and annual maintenance. Billing schedule and payment terms - School issues tuition billing by email at least one week before each tuition payment due date. Fees may be paid by wire transfer or bank card. Wire transfer details and invoice information are handled by ISD Accounting (accounting@i‑s‑d.org). All bank charges are borne by the payer. Parents must include student name and grade on transfer instructions and email proof of transfer to the Accounting Office. - Payment plans offered: Annual single payment or two‑installment semester plan. Invoices specify the exact due dates. Late payment administrative charge of RMB 100 per day applies from the first day after the invoice due date; records are held after 20 days and the student may be suspended after 30 days of non‑payment. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable: ISD operates as a day school. (No boarding program/boarding fees.) Other costs and fees - English Language Learner assessment: initial test included in application fee; each additional retake RMB 500. - School bus (transportation) fee and lunch/meal plan are charged separately; specific rates are announced each year. Additional uniform items are available via the ISD uniform online store (tuition includes one PE set). Refund and withdrawal - Withdrawal must be submitted in writing to Admissions. A Withdrawal Administration Fee of RMB 20,000 applies. The policy uses a decreasing‑refund rule (a 10% reduction of refundable tuition for each successive month of enrollment after the school year begins) and provides specific examples of refund timing and amounts in the school's tuition and fees policy. Note: some time‑period examples and percentages are set out in the fees document; parents should follow the written withdrawal procedure to trigger refund calculations. Payment options summary - Accepted: Wire transfer (bank transfer) and bank card. Bank transfer fees charged to the payer; proof of payment must be emailed to ISD Accounting.	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 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 ISD serves Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 as a coeducational day school. English is the language of instruction. The curriculum combines an American Core Standard Curriculum with the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12. ISD is an IB World School authorized to deliver the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. The teacher–student ratio is 1:5 and the school offers 90+ extracurricular options. ISD graduates have progressed to universities around the world.	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 The teacher–student ratio is 1:5.	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results ISD graduates study at some of the world's most prestigious colleges and universities. The first cohort of IB graduates completed in 2017. ISD is an IB World School.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression ISD graduates pursue higher education at universities around the world. The first IB graduates were in 2017. ISD is an IB World School with authorization to deliver the Diploma Programme. ISD prepares students for higher education through an American core curriculum and the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented ISD offers 90+ extracurricular options. The campus supports House League, After School Activities, Athletics, Creativities and Week Without Walls. The Maker Space includes robotics, a laser cutter and a 3D printer.	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. Schedule a campus tour. ISD invites prospective families to schedule a campus tour to learn about the curriculum, facilities, and community. Campus tours run Monday to Friday from 8:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M., and an appointment is encouraged before you visit. 2. Start your application. Submit your application through our paperless admissions system using the Apply link. The admissions page directs you to start the online application and provides contact details for questions. 3. Admissions support. The admissions team provides guidance during the application process and can arrange campus tours as needed. 4. Transfer options and trial classes. For the 2025-2026 admissions season, ISD offers trial classes; prospective students can start the online application by scanning the QR code. Transfer students are welcome for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years, and ISD invites families to visit the campus for a closer look. Ready to get started? Contact ISD admissions for more information.	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 ISD offers a Merit-Based Scholarship Program. Details on eligibility and the application process are published by ISD. For inquiries, contact the admissions office.	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 —	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).
	View full profile →	View full profile →