International School of Dongguan vs ISA Tianhe International School

	I International School of Dongguan Guangzhou, China	I ISA Tianhe International School Guangzhou, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 126,000 - 233,600	Fees / year RMB 173,000 - 187,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 17 years	Age range 2 - 11 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), IB (MYP), IB (PYP)	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE
Pupils	Pupils 400	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 5	Typical class size 24
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened 2012	Opened 2015
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 Address: Block C2-2 Redtory, No.128 Siheng Road (Yuan Village), Tianhe District, Guangzhou — the school is located in the Zhujiang New Town / Tianhe CBD area (Redtory creative-park campus). It is in the city centre with road and public-transport links into the Zhujiang New Town district; the Redtory area is within walking distance of Yuancun metro (Line 5) and several bus routes.
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 ISA Tianhe enrols early years and primary pupils — the school accepts children aged about 2 to 11 (EY1–EY4 and Years 1–5). The school describes its programme as Early Years through Primary and delivers IB-aligned primary programmes.
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 Tianhe is a co‑educational day school (no boarding provision is advertised). It is part of the ISA International Education Group and operates as an international school located in Guangzhou.
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 ISA group follows an Access & Inclusion / learning‑support approach and ISA schools publish tiered learning‑support arrangements (screening, in‑class differentiation, small‑group or individualized plans) in line with IB inclusion guidance; ISA Wuhan's Access & Inclusion policy describes this approach as used within the ISA group. ISA Tianhe's website does not detail a full SEN handbook online, so parents should speak with admissions about specific provisions, assessment and any individual plans.
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 an international school in China and a member of the ISA International Education Group; it is not affiliated with a single 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; the school presents itself as a secular international 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 website describes curriculum and school life but does not publish a standard daily start/end timetable for all year groups. For exact hours, drop‑off/pick‑up windows and break/lunch arrangements, contact the admissions office or request the parent handbook.
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 —
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 fee - Non‑refundable application fee: RMB 1,500. Tuition fees by year group (annual) - Nursery 2 (age 2): RMB 166,000 per year. - Kindergarten / Early Years (Kindg.1 / age 3; Kindg.2 / age 4; Kindg.3 / age 5): RMB 173,000 per year. - Grade 1 to Grade 5 (age 6–10): RMB 187,000 per year. Per‑term amounts (calculated) - The school publishes annual tuition amounts; the following per‑term figures are calculated by dividing each published annual fee by three to give a termly figure (calculation noted as an inference from the published annual rates). - Nursery 2: RMB 55,333 per term (approx.). - Kindergarten (Kindg.1–3): RMB 57,667 per term (approx.). - Grades 1–5: RMB 62,333 per term (approx.). Billing schedule and payment terms - The school's publicly available materials list the application fee and the annual tuition levels above, but a specific, detailed public statement of the regular billing schedule (for example: annual vs. termly invoicing, instalment deadlines, late‑payment penalties, or mandatory seat‑deposit amounts for guaranteed places) was not located in the school pages and fee summaries reviewed. Boarding fees - ISA Tianhe operates as a day school for ages 2–11; no boarding fees are indicated for this campus. Other costs / typical additional charges (items found in school or programme notices) - Summer‑school specific items (separate to regular tuition): lunch for summer school listed at RMB 250 per week; summer‑school transport indicated around RMB 300–400 per week (weekly rates shown on the school summer programme pages). These are programme‑specific charges and not the regular annual tuition. - No specific published amounts for regular school items such as uniform costs, textbook/technology fees, elective or co‑curricular fees, or school‑bus annual fees were found in the publicly available fee summaries reviewed. Refund information - A refund window and deadline are shown for the 2025 summer‑school programme (refunds permitted only before 18 June 2025 for that programme). A clear, itemised refund policy for regular enrolment tuition or deposits was not found in the public fee material reviewed. Fee payment options - No explicit, itemised list of accepted payment methods (for example: credit card, bank transfer, Alipay, WeChat Pay, etc.) for regular tuition was located in the public fee summaries consulted. The school's admissions contact details are published for payment queries. Summary of sources and limitations of publicly available information - Published annual tuition levels and the non‑refundable application fee are available in school fee summaries and third‑party school directories; these were used for the figures above. The school's public materials and the fee summaries reviewed do not include a detailed, public billing schedule, a complete list of routine additional fees (uniform, bus, technology, etc.) with amounts, nor a full statement of regular refund or payment‑method policies. Where per‑term figures are shown above, they are calculated approximations derived from the published annual tuition (annual ÷ 3) and are explicitly presented as such.
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 The school is an IB World School with authorization for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and the Middle Years Programme (MYP). The education system fuses the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme with UK National Curriculum standards and outcomes. It emphasizes inquiry-based teaching and holistic education. It includes an outstanding Chinese language programme, a Mother Tongue programme, and a Co-curriculum. ISA Tianhe serves students from early years to primary (ages 2–11) and enrolls children from over 30 countries. It is designated as an IGCSE examination centre and houses a LAMDA centre for drama.
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 The school is an IB World School with authorization for PYP and MYP. It is a designated IGCSE examination centre and hosts a LAMDA centre. The school has earned recognitions including Hurun Education Top 20 International Schools in China (2020) and New Insight International School of the Year (2020). Students have participated in the American Math Olympiad (AMO), with medals earned by ISA Tianhe students.
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 —
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 —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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