International School of Qingdao vs Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province

	I International School of Qingdao Qingdao, China	Q Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province Qingdao, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 139,400 - 225,000	Fees / year RMB 113,360 - 157,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 0 - 0 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 2,300	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 14	Typical class size 3
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1996	Opened 1998
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location ISQ is in Qingdao, Shandong Province, at 26 Tianshui Road, Licang District (266041). The campus sits in a residential Bijia community area near the Qingdao Horticultural Expo, with convenient road access and local transport options.	Location QISS is located in the Laoshan District of Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. The campus address is 232 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101. The 48,000 square meter campus sits in the Laoshan area near the Laoshan mountain range.
Stages	Stages ISQ provides Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 (Early Childhood to High School) education in English. The school supports a full K-12 pathway taught in English.	Stages The school provides education from Early Childhood through High School, with divisions for Early Childhood, Lower School, Middle School and High School.
School type	School type ISQ operates as a co-educational private international day school. It is a tuition-based international school without publicly listed boarding facilities.	School type The school operates as an international school licensed by the Laoshan District Board of Education and designated for foreign-resident students. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The school runs an English Language Support (ELS) program for non-native English speakers across Elementary and Middle School, using bi-annual WIDA testing and MAP data to tailor learning paths. A team of eight ELS staff provides push-in, pull-out and intensive support, complemented by counseling services for well-being.	Additional learning support The English Language Learner (ELL) program supports students' English language development with scheduled classes, push-in and pull-out services taught by certified ELL teachers, and regular language assessments. An on-site educational psychologist provides wellbeing support.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation There is no formal country affiliation; ISQ participates in the LifePlus international network and holds Cognia accreditation (USA-based).	Country affiliation There is no formal country affiliation stated. The school serves students from many countries and is designated for foreign residents.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation ISQ has no publicly noted religious affiliation.	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is stated in official materials.
School day structure	School day structure School days run 8:00–16:00 from Monday to Thursday and 8:00–15:30 on Fridays.	School day structure The day includes start-of-day unstructured play, formal classes, a midday lunch with a post-lunch recess, and a cafeteria offering four daily lunch options.
Bus service details	Bus service details ISQ offers a school bus service with an annual fee of 8,600 RMB. Routes and providers are coordinated through the Admissions office.	Bus service details QISS operates a fleet of 10 school buses to transport students to and from campus, with a bus monitor on each vehicle for safety.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and assessment fees - Registration fee for new students: RMB 10,000. - Re‑enrollment (returning families) fee: RMB 3,000. - Admissions/assessment fee for new students: RMB 600. Tuition fees by year group (amounts in RMB; annual, semester and quarterly options shown) - Early Childhood (half-day): Early‑bird annual RMB 86,000; Annual RMB 90,600; Semester RMB 45,700; Quarterly RMB 23,300. Registration: RMB 10,000 (new) / RMB 3,000 (returning). - Early Childhood (full-day): Early‑bird annual RMB 132,300; Annual RMB 139,400; Semester RMB 70,300; Quarterly RMB 35,800. Registration: RMB 10,000 (new) / RMB 3,000 (returning). - Elementary (Grades 1–5): Early‑bird annual RMB 202,300; Annual RMB 208,600; Semester RMB 107,400; Quarterly RMB 54,800. Registration: RMB 10,000 (new) / RMB 3,000 (returning). - Middle School (Grades 6–8): Early‑bird annual RMB 214,700; Annual RMB 221,400; Semester RMB 114,000; Quarterly RMB 58,100. Registration: RMB 10,000 (new) / RMB 3,000 (returning). - High School (Grades 9–12): Early‑bird annual RMB 218,300; Annual RMB 225,000; Semester RMB 115,900; Quarterly RMB 59,100. Registration: RMB 10,000 (new) / RMB 3,000 (returning). Billing schedule and payment terms - Early‑bird (discounted) and full annual payments are due on the dates set in the school's billing notices; the school uses a payment schedule that includes annual, semester and quarterly deadlines. Semester and quarterly payment due dates are indicated in the school billing notices. - Specific payment timing noted in school materials: re‑enrollment and early‑bird deadlines occur in mid‑May; other tuition payment plans and fees are due in mid‑July; quarterly payments fall on the 15th of July, September, December and March. - Registration fee and tuition must be paid to reserve enrollment according to the billing notice. Payments more than five school days past the due date are subject to a late fee of RMB 50 per school day; students may be excluded from classes if payment is more than ten business days past due. - Late enrollment: annual tuition for late new‑student enrollment is prorated by the enrollment quarter; other payment plan arrangements for late enrollment are made with the Finance Office. Boarding/Residence - Boarding is not offered by this school (the school operates as a day school); there are no boarding fees. Other costs and typical additional fees - Transportation (bus) fee: RMB 8,600 per year. This is charged for the entire year and is payable regardless of the tuition payment plan selected. - Lunch: ECC–Grade 1 meals RMB 28 per meal (annual example noted RMB 5,040); Grades 2–12 meals RMB 33 per meal (annual example noted RMB 5,940). Lunch deposits are managed through the school's PowerSchool account; unused lunch balances are refundable. - Academic special needs support (if required): variable; up to RMB 75,000 depending on the level of additional services. - Devices/technology for secondary students: family‑provided (secondary device policy applies for Grades 6–12). - Uniforms and other personal items: variable cost (typical uniform estimates are indicated in school communications; families are responsible for uniform purchases). - Optional trips and extra‑curricular event costs: variable. School covers 50% of some school‑sponsored activities (for example certain tournaments); non‑sponsored event costs are 100% parent responsibility. Refund information and finance policies - Assessment fee and registration fee are non‑refundable. - Tuition and transportation fees are refundable for remaining full quarters not attended if a student withdraws; unused lunch account balances are refundable. - No portion of tuition is refundable for students dismissed for disciplinary reasons or expelled. - Grade‑12 students who graduate in December are required to pay 60% of the annual tuition for that year. Fee payment options and instructions - Primary methods for tuition payments: bank transfer (domestic RMB account and a US USD account are available). When making a bank transfer, include the student's full name and grade and email proof of payment to the Finance Office to ensure correct crediting. All bank charges for transfers are to be borne by the remitter. - Registration fee and transportation fee: payable by bank transfer or WeChat. - Lunch deposit/top‑up: managed through PowerSchool and can be paid using WeChat Pay as instructed in the school's lunch payment process. Unused lunch balances are refundable. - Finance Office contact for payment confirmation and receipts: finance@isqchina.com (use this contact to send payment proof and to request family‑specific invoices or confirm US account details).	Fee details Application and Registration Fees - New-student registration fee: RMB 30,000. - No routine registration fee is listed for returning students in the published fee summaries. Tuition fees (annual and per-instalment by year group) - Pre‑K / Kindergarten (PreK–K): Annual tuition RMB 113,360. Semester option (x2): RMB 61,680 per semester. Quarterly option (x4): RMB 30,840 per quarter. - Grades 1–5 (Primary): Annual tuition RMB 135,000. Semester option (x2): RMB 72,900 per semester. Quarterly option (x4): RMB 36,450 per quarter. - Grades 6–8 (Lower Secondary): Annual tuition RMB 146,000. Semester option (x2): RMB 78,840 per semester. Quarterly option (x4): RMB 39,420 per quarter. - Grades 9–12 (Upper Secondary / High School): Annual tuition RMB 157,000. Semester option (x2): RMB 84,780 per semester. Quarterly option (x4): RMB 42,390 per quarter. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school offers structured instalment plans: a two‑instalment (semester) plan and a four‑instalment (quarterly) plan with the per‑instalment amounts shown above. Families may select the instalment plan when arranging payment. Total initial costs for new students are presented to include registration plus tuition and other mandatory items. - Published fee summaries indicate that some ancillary charges (insurance, optional services) are included in the total cost calculations for invoicing, and optional services (such as bus and lunch) are added or removed according to family selection. Specific invoice dates and internal payment deadlines are set by the school's billing process and are shown on issued invoices. Boarding fees - Boarding is not offered at Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province; the school operates as a day school. No annual boarding fee is listed. Other mandatory or optional costs - Bus (school transport): RMB 8,500 per year (optional service). - Lunch (school meals): RMB 5,200 per year (optional service). - Insurance and activity charges: fee summaries indicate insurance and certain activity charges are included in overall invoicing for new or returning students; details are itemised on invoices. - Items commonly charged separately (not included in the core tuition): externally administered standardized test fees, optional international programs, some optional extra‑curricular trips and personal devices or technology purchases. These items are typically invoiced separately when applicable. - Uniforms and one‑off starter costs: no fixed uniform price is published in the publicly available fee summaries; uniform and school‑supply costs are additional and vary by family and supplier. Refund information - Published fee summaries used for the fee breakdown do not present a detailed, itemised public refund policy in the fee summary pages. Refund terms for registration, deposits and tuition (including deadlines and refund percentages) are determined by the school's official financial and enrollment policies and are specified on formal enrollment documentation and invoices. Fee payment options - The school processes applications through an online application portal. Tuition and associated school fees are invoiced and settled according to the billing instructions on those invoices. Publicly available fee summaries and the school's admissions links indicate online application processing and standard invoicing; banks transfers and the school's invoicing system are commonly used for settlement of tuition and ancillary fees. Specific accepted payment methods (for example: domestic bank transfer in RMB, international T/T, online portal card payments, WeChat/Alipay) are detailed on invoices and in the school's finance communications. Families should follow the payment instructions shown on official invoices when paying.
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 ISQ offers Pre-K through 12 education in English with an American college-preparatory program and AP coursework, and is Cognia-accredited. In High School, students take Advanced Placement courses across disciplines, with electives and clubs, and receive university and career planning support, including PSAT/SAT/ACT testing and options for dual enrollment with partners such as Grand Canyon University and LifePlus Online Academy. Middle School emphasizes character development and leadership as part of the LifePlus framework, with a balanced curriculum that integrates arts, Chinese language and culture, and technology through Canvas and Apple-based digital learning. Elementary builds on character development and leadership, with arts and Chinese language and culture as core components, and a focus on social-emotional growth alongside academic learning. ISQ's campus operates as a Cognia-accredited LifePlus international school, emphasizing character, leadership and global citizenship across all levels.	Curriculum details QISS offers Pre-K through 12 education with a US-based Core Curriculum aligned to the Common Core and College Board/AP standards, an on-site AP/SAT testing center, and a College Counseling program. Lower School (Kindergarten–Grade 5) uses four units of inquiry with authentic, performance-based assessments and language development in English and Mandarin. Middle School (grades 6–8) provides a fixed, inquiry-based program with courses in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Chinese, Physical Education, Visual Art, Music, Drama, Information Technology, Health and Communications Skills. High School (grades 9–12) centers on core classes based on US Common Core, College Board, and AP standards, with electives and a menu of AP courses including AP Calculus AB, AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Computer Science, AP Statistics, and more. The English Language Learner (ELL) program provides push-in and pull-out services, with WIDA screening and exit criteria to help students access mainstream classes.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Step 1: Submission. ISQ Qingdao maintains rolling admissions and accepts applications for new students throughout the year. First, you should complete the online application form provided on the admissions page. After you submit, the admissions team will acknowledge your inquiry and begin reviewing your materials. This step sets the stage for the rest of the process and signals that your family is in the queue for consideration. Step 2: Paperwork. The school reviews supporting documents for both the applicant and the child. Typical documents include copies of the applicant's passport and visa or residence permit, the child's immunization record, and previous school records or transcripts. Preparing these documents promptly helps keep the process moving. If additional documents are needed, the admissions team will request them. Step 3: Assessment. An interview with a Teaching + Learning Principal is conducted to get to know the student. If the child's native language is not English, an age-appropriate admissions assessment is also conducted to evaluate language and aptitudes. The admissions office will arrange any tests as needed and share next steps once testing is complete. Step 4: Decision. After completing the application and assessments, ISQ Qingdao will notify you within one week about whether your child is accepted, declined, or placed in the waiting pool. If accepted, you will be asked to pay the enrollment deposit and prepare for the start of the school year. If there is no immediate place, the child may be placed in the waiting pool for a future opening.	Admissions —
Scholarships	Scholarships ISQ Qingdao does not publish a scholarship program within its admissions materials.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist ISQ Qingdao uses a rolling admissions approach, meaning applications are reviewed as they come in throughout the year. If there isn't an available place when a file is reviewed, the child's name may be placed in the waiting pool.	Waitlist —
	View full profile →	View full profile →