Limai Chinese American (International) School vs Tsinghua International School

	L Limai Chinese American (International) School Beijing, China	T Tsinghua International School Beijing, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 100,000 - 200,000	Fees / year RMB 186,000 - 218,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 6 - 18 years
Type	Type —	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), Chinese National Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils 560
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Mandarin
Opened	Opened —	Opened 2009
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Address: No. 2 Yangshan (Yanshan) Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing — the school sits to the east of the National Olympic Park. It is in Chaoyang, with local road access and is reported to be within walking distance of Beiyuanlu North (Line 5) subway station (confirm exact walking time with the school).	Location Tsinghua International School (THIS) is on the Tsinghua University High School campus in Haidian District, Beijing, opposite the Yuanmingyuan (Old Summer Palace), with a strong academic neighbourhood and university links. The school is reachable using local roads and public transport serving the Zhongguancun/Tsinghua area; the school's address and office phone are listed on its website.
Stages	Stages LCAIS is described as an all-through school offering preschool through senior high (approximately ages 3–18 / K–12). The school's international stream includes upper‑school programmes that prepare students for international qualifications such as the IB Diploma and other Sino‑American pathways.	Stages THIS operates a Primary, Middle and High School program (grades 1–12) with separate curriculum pages for the middle and high school divisions. The curriculum is based on U.S. Common Core standards combined with required Chinese language and culture courses.
School type	School type The school is a co‑educational, fee‑paying international / bilingual (Chinese–American) day school that follows both Chinese and U.S.-style curricula; it is part of the Limai (Limai Education Group) network. The school advertises dual Sino‑American diploma pathways and international partnerships (Calvert/College Board noted in public descriptions).	School type THIS is a co-educational international school attached to Tsinghua University High School (清华附中) and serves international and returning Chinese students. The school has undergone WASC accreditation processes and has reported receiving WASC accreditation in its published materials.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support There are no clear, detailed public descriptions found in the sources I checked about a formal Additional Learning Needs (SEN) or specific learning‑support team at the Beijing LCAIS campus. Prospective parents should request the school's current learning‑support policy, assessment and referral procedures, and any fees or external‑therapy arrangements directly from admissions.	Additional learning support THIS provides English-language support for students still mastering English: Structured English Immersion (SEI) classes are offered in middle school and eligibility is determined using the WIDA test. The school website does not publish a detailed, separate Special Educational Needs (SEN) department description; if your child has diagnosed learning needs, contact the admissions office to discuss specific accommodations and assessments.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school identifies as a Sino‑American (Chinese–American) international school—combining Chinese national elements with U.S. curricula/components and international programmes. It is operated within China by the Limai group and references U.S. curriculum partners in public descriptions.	Country affiliation The international school is part of (operates on the campus of) Tsinghua University High School and is run within Beijing, China; admissions information notes it enrolls foreign passport holders and residents of Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan for grades 1–12.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is listed in publicly available profiles or school descriptions; the school presents itself as secular and curriculum‑focused. Parents should confirm directly if this is a key decision factor.	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is stated on the school's official materials; THIS presents itself as a secular international school.
School day structure	School day structure Public summaries note weekday operation and class organisation consistent with Chinese K–12 schools; a recruitment/operations page references 45‑minute class periods and up to ~25 periods per week for some roles. Exact daily start/end times and break/lunch schedules are not published in the general listings I found—please ask the admissions office for the up‑to‑date daily timetable for your child's year group.	School day structure Published and parent-facing summaries report a typical school day beginning around 08:00 and ending around 15:15, with extracurricular activities and after-school clubs running later in the afternoon (for example, many activities are reported around 15:30–17:30). Exact daily schedules, start/end times and break/lunch arrangements vary by division and year level—confirm current times with admissions.
Bus service details	Bus service details Some public fee schedules and school profiles list a paid shuttle/‘school bus' (班车) option (a commonly quoted annual fee appears in secondary info), but I did not find route maps or the operator name in the material reviewed. If you need door‑to‑door transport, ask admissions for current routes, pick‑up/drop‑off points, safety procedures and the exact cost.	Bus service details THIS offers a daily school-bus service with designated pick-up and drop-off points for elementary, middle and high school students; external summaries report multiple routes across Beijing (commonly reported as around eleven routes). Parents should contact the admissions or transport office for current route maps, pick-up points, fees and registration procedures. }
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application & registration fees - One‑time application / registration charges are reported for new students; amounts vary by programme. Examples reported include an entry deposit commonly equivalent to one month's tuition for new enrollees and programme-specific service/registration fees for certain international tracks (see programme breakdowns below). Tuition fees (by programme and year group) — annual and, where reported, per term - Bilingual / Fusion (融合) pathway (typical K–12 increments): - Preschool / Kindergarten: reported in the range of RMB 100,000–120,000 per year. - Primary (Grades 1–6): reported around RMB 110,000–190,000 per year depending on exact programme level. - Junior middle (Grades 7–9): reported around RMB 150,000–200,000 per year (programme-dependent). - Senior high (Grades 10–12 within the fusion pathway): reported around RMB 170,000 per year (programme-dependent). - International curriculum tracks (high‑school level: AP / A‑Level / GAC etc.): - A‑Level: reported approximately RMB 188,000 per year. - AP: reported approximately RMB 178,000 per year. - ACT‑GAC (2+2 style): reported approximately RMB 140,000 per year. - UP / other North‑America preparatory routes: reported approximately RMB 120,000 per year. - Preparatory / foundation classes: examples reported ~RMB 100,000 per year; some preparatory offerings are quoted per term (example: ≈RMB 60,000 per term, ≈RMB 110,000–120,000 per year depending on intake). - Cavent/卡文特 / other branded international streams: reported in published ranges of approximately RMB 155,000–185,000 per year for certain cohort levels; other programme variants show RMB 102,000–168,000 per year ranges. Billing schedule and payment terms - Billing frequency varies by programme: fees are reported as billed on either an annual or a per‑term/semester basis depending on the track; some preparatory courses and specific campus programmes publish a per‑term amount. - A tuition deposit for new students is commonly reported (example: a one‑month tuition deposit for new enrolments in one Limai campus). Certain international programmes also charge a separate programme/service fee (listed as a comprehensive service fee or “US service management fee” for specific international tracks). - Parents are commonly required to keep school fees up to date as a condition of continued attendance; late/payment compliance clauses are referenced in school and third‑party descriptions. Boarding / accommodation fees (where applicable) - Boarding is available and boarding/room fees are reported as an additional annual charge; commonly cited figures are in the region of RMB 8,000–10,000 per year for basic student boarding. Weekend or extended boarding options carry separate charges in some reported schemes (examples: additional annual weekend boarding fees reported). Other compulsory and common additional costs - Programme or “service” fees (listed in some sources as comprehensive service fees or US service‑management fees): commonly reported for certain international high‑school tracks in the range of USD 8,000–9,000 per year (amount varies by programme). These charges have been listed separately from on‑campus tuition in multiple programme descriptions. - Meals: reported typical annual charge(s) for on‑campus meal plans are around RMB 8,000 per year (breakfast/lunch/dinner/extra meals components are sometimes itemised). - Uniforms: commonly reported one‑off or annual uniform expense ≈RMB 2,000 per year. - Activities / social practice / materials: various ancillary fees are reported, for example activity fees ≈RMB 2,000 per year and social‑practice or experiential fees in the range of several thousand RMB. - Transport / school bus: reported sample annual amounts ≈RMB 8,000 (varies by route and service). - Examination, textbook, and materials fees: these are listed as separate where applicable and charged in addition to tuition for certain programmes. Refund / withdrawal information - No single, detailed public refund schedule for all programmes was located in the available public summaries consulted; published descriptions and third‑party listings indicate that refunds, deposits and withdrawal handling vary by programme and intake and that programme‑specific deposits/service fees are treated separately. Parents should expect programme‑specific refund/withdrawal rules to apply and to be notified in registration documentation. Fee payment methods (reported options) - Specific payment channels for Limai were not consistently listed across public summaries; in practice schools of this type commonly accept bank transfer for tuition and, depending on campus, may accept electronic payment channels or specified corporate accounts for invoice settlement. Programme descriptions and admissions listings emphasise invoice/payment by bank transfer or by the school's finance office in many typical cases. Notes on variability - The school operates multiple campuses and a variety of programme tracks (bilingual/fusion, multiple international curricula, preparatory streams). Published fee figures differ by campus and by the specific programme chosen; the figures above show the ranges and representative programme charges most frequently reported. Key single‑line programme charges (for example A‑Level, AP and preparatory tracks) are included in the sections above. If you need these amounts formatted into the external database fields, include the programme name, campus (if any), and whether you require annual or per‑term values and I will place the reported numbers into those fields. (No additional fee provenance is attached to the data above.)	Fee details Application fees - The school's public admissions pages do not list a specific, published application or registration fee amount. Applications are submitted through the school's OpenApply portal; OpenApply supports collecting application fees and records payments, but THIS does not publish an application-fee figure on its public pages. Tuition fees by year group (published annual rates) - Primary (Elementary): RMB 186,000 per academic year. - Lower secondary (Middle/Junior high): RMB 208,000 per academic year. - Upper secondary (High school): RMB 218,000 per academic year. (Note: the school's published fee page gives these amounts as annual fees for the 2024–25 academic year; no per-term breakdown is published on the school's fee page.) Per-term amounts and billing frequency - The school's public fee page states annual tuition only; it does not publish a per-term fee or an explicit billing frequency (for example, whether tuition is invoiced annually, by semester, or by term). Therefore no official per-term figures or invoicing schedule can be provided from the public pages. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school's public pages do not set out a published billing calendar, invoice due dates, late-payment penalties, or detailed payment terms. The admissions pages explain the application and assessment timeline (including two common intake cutoff dates), but the site does not publish the school's invoicing or refund deadlines. Boarding / accommodation fees - The school's published fees page does not list boarding or accommodation fees and does not describe boarding as a standard, published offering on the international‑department fee page. No official boarding fee is published on the school's public fee page. Other costs and typical ancillary charges - School lunches: the school confirms lunch is charged separately and gives a general range of about RMB 15–25 per meal for cafeteria lunches. - Other ancillary costs: the school's fee page states that “other fees will be charged according to actual circumstances” but does not itemize school-uniform costs, transportation (school bus), exam fees (AP/IB), extracurricular trip costs, learning‑materials or device charges. These items are therefore not published in detail on the school's public fee page. Refund information - The school's publicly available fee page does not publish a general refund policy (for example, pro‑rata refunds, deadlines for withdrawal refunds, or conditions for refunding deposits). No specific refund terms are shown on the publicly available admissions or fee pages. Fee payment options (methods commonly used / platform noted) - The school uses the OpenApply online admissions platform for applications; OpenApply supports recording payments made by credit card and by bank transfer, and can issue invoices and receipts through the portal. The school's public pages do not, however, publish an explicit list of all accepted payment methods (for example, which card networks are accepted or local bank details). Parents completing payment through OpenApply would normally see available payment methods in their applicant invoice. Summary of what is and is not published (brief) - Published clearly on the school site: annual tuition for Primary (RMB 186,000), Middle (RMB 208,000) and High School (RMB 218,000) (shown as the school's 2024–25 annual rates) and an approximate cafeteria lunch cost (RMB 15–25 per meal). - Not published on the school's public pages: a specific application fee amount, per-term tuition amounts or confirmed billing frequency, detailed billing/payment terms and deadlines, boarding fees or a boarding policy, uniform costs, exam or activity fees itemized, and a formal refund policy. The admissions portal (OpenApply) is used for applications and supports payment collection, but the school's public pages do not list exact payment-method acceptances or invoicing schedules. If you require these specific items (application fee amount, per-term invoices, boarding costs, refund rules, or accepted payment instruments) the school's admissions office provides applicant invoices via the OpenApply portal and can supply official invoicing and payment-term documentation directly to enrolled or admitted families.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options School Lunch: Students have access to the dining hall of Tsinghua University High School. The dining hall is a two-story building with multiple food options. Primary school students have an independent canteen, and primary students also receive a mid-morning snack. Lunch is charged separately, typically around CNY 15-25 per meal.
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership The school is affiliated with Tsinghua University and Tsinghua University High School. It is located on the grounds of THUHS, and it benefits from the resources of Tsinghua University and THUHS.
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Limai Chinese American (International) School operates a bilingual Chinese–American curriculum from preschool through Grade 12, integrating Chinese national subjects with American-style international programmes. The preschool programme is delivered under the school's LCAI international preschool framework (with Montessori and play‑based elements noted), while primary years follow American curricula such as the Calvert programme alongside Chinese language and mathematics. For middle and high school the school runs multiple academic pathways—partner and in‑house tracks include Fairmont/Calvert-based courses, A‑Level, AP, ACT‑GAC and Canadian high‑school options—allowing grade‑specific tracks (G9–G12 for many international pathways). The school states students can earn external qualifications including Calvert completion certificates and internationally recognised high‑school diplomas that support university admission abroad. Across all stages Limai supplements core study with STEAM, languages, arts and sports extracurriculars to broaden skills alongside academic qualifications.	Curriculum details Tsinghua International School (THIS) operates an international K–12 programme (Grades 1–12) that integrates Western curricula with sustained Chinese language and cultural study. The elementary programme (Grades 1–5) follows a US-style curriculum aligned with the Common Core and AERO standards, uses Singapore Math and Beijing Normal/PRC-aligned materials for Chinese, and emphasizes project- and inquiry-based learning. The middle school (Grades 6–8) continues this inquiry-based US standards approach with bilingual English/Chinese tracks, world language options (including French and Spanish) and STEAM offerings. The high school is credit-based (minimum 25 credits for graduation; the school recommends ~28 for competitive university preparation), follows US Common Core frameworks through Grade 11, and provides a wide range of required and elective courses across sciences, mathematics, humanities, arts and technology. For external qualifications and assessments, THIS is an authorized AP provider and on‑campus test centre (offers roughly 16 AP courses and administers AP, SAT, ACT and PSAT exams), so students typically prepare for AP exams and standardised admissions tests rather than IB/IGCSE pathways.
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 The school's public profile states that student happiness and overall wellbeing are a key part of its educational approach and that it emphasises whole-child development alongside academics. This language appears on the school's LinkedIn profile and in public descriptions of the Beijing Limai Chinese American (International) School. The sources describe a blend of Chinese and American teaching with an emphasis on student health and personal development, but do not list named SEL programmes, dedicated SEL staff, or specific curricula on a school-run page. Therefore, while wellbeing is stated as a priority, the school does not publicly detail particular SEL initiatives or staff roles.	Social & emotional learning THIS describes a formal school counselling service that explicitly supports students' social and emotional development; the counselling team lists programmes such as individual and group counselling, teaching self‑help skills, assisting transitions and creating positive behaviour plans. The counselling pages say the team works closely with teachers, parents and school leadership to support students' social/personal growth and to teach interpersonal skills and self‑esteem. The school names two counsellors on its site: Gerald Anthony (Primary School Counselor) and Laura Zhang (Secondary School Counselor). These services are described as part of the personalised support offered under Social & Emotional, Academic and Career domains. The description and staff names are published on THIS's School Counseling page.
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) THIS's public faculty listing includes staff roles titled “Learning Specialist” (e.g. Vicky Zhao) and the counselling overview refers to helping to “remove learning barriers,” indicating the school provides in‑school learning support. The site also describes whole‑staff training on differentiated instruction, which the school says is intended to help meet diverse learner needs. The school does not, however, publish a detailed list of specific special educational needs (for example, dyslexia, ADHD, sensory or physical needs) that it can or cannot support, nor does it present itself as a specialist SEN institution in its public materials. For precise limits of provision and formal SEN policy the school asks families to contact admissions or the support team directly.
English as an additional language	English as an additional language The school does not publicly disclose specific EAL (English-as-an-Additional-Language) provision for the Beijing Limai Chinese American (International) School. Some Limai group publicity about other campuses (notably the Hong Kong Limai campus) describes an EAL Learning Center and after-school English support, but I did not find an explicit EAL programme or named EAL staff for the Beijing LCAIS campus on publicly available pages.	English as an additional language THIS publishes multiple English Language Support (ELS) roles on its faculty page, including a Head of Primary ELS (Caroline Williamson) and named Primary and Secondary ELS teachers, showing an organisational provision for English language support. The school's Primary section states that English is the main language of instruction and that students are taught by native English teachers alongside Chinese teachers. The admissions process also includes an academic English test as part of entry requirements, indicating English placement is assessed on entry. The site does not present a separate public EAL policy document, but the named ELS staff and admissions testing are described on the school site.
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing THIS's counselling programme explicitly includes crisis intervention, individual and group counselling, referrals to external services and creating individual positive behaviour plans as part of student mental‑health support. The school has also run staff training on psychological crisis intervention and prevention, describing sessions for faculty on identifying crisis signals and response procedures. The school's stated core values include wellbeing and the counselling and crisis‑training pages frame mental‑health support as a school priority. For details about clinical or external therapeutic arrangements the school directs families to contact the counselling team.
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding THIS publishes evidence of safeguarding‑related activity: the counselling service lists crisis intervention and creation of behaviour plans, and the school has public reports of staff training in psychological crisis intervention and response procedures. The school's core values list Wellbeing and refer to protecting student health and safety as a priority. However, THIS does not appear to publish a standalone child‑protection or safeguarding policy document on its public website; a formal written safeguarding/child‑protection policy is not linked from the public pages. Families seeking the school's formal safeguarding policy or detailed reporting procedures should contact the school directly.
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview The school provides high-speed wireless networks for students and teachers, and every classroom has an interactive smart board and a projector. Advanced Apple computer labs, a PC lab, and a mobile Apple cart support computing education. Several iPads are available for teaching use, and the STEAM lab offers a technology-rich environment for hands-on learning. The library is the center for literature and research, supporting project work and reading development. The school provides extensive online resources through a web-based LMS, Power School for attendance and grading, and subscriptions to online tools such as Noodle Tools and Discovery Education, which teachers integrate into instruction.
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities The school is a member of the International School Athletic Association (ISAC). As a member, students have opportunities to participate in inter-school competitions in Beijing and Tianjin with other international schools. The elementary division participates in the Junior International Schools Athletic Conference (JISAC) events in Beijing and surrounding international schools. The sports program includes basketball, soccer, and volleyball and runs boys and girls teams at elementary, middle, and high school levels. Sign-ups occur before each sport season, and teams emphasize sportsmanship, leadership, and healthy competition.
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities The school provides high-speed wireless networks for students and teachers, and every classroom has an interactive smart board and a projector. Apple computer labs, a PC lab, and a mobile Apple cart support computing education. The STEAM lab offers a technology-rich learning environment where students move beyond textbooks to practice concepts. The library is the center for literature and research, providing resources for project work and reading development, and librarians assist students with information needs. The school offers extensive online resources, including a web-based LMS used for virtual learning, and subscriptions to resources such as Noodle Tools and Discovery Education integrated into classroom instruction.
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities THIS offers a rich range of extracurricular activities to enrich campus life. The elementary, middle, and high schools run active club programs, with some elementary clubs supported by third-party providers while middle and high school clubs are led by students or teachers. There are 56 student clubs, 8 team-building trips, and 7 Chinese culture trips planned for the 2025-2026 year. Representative clubs include a chorus, AI art, aerospace, baking, book club, chess, robotics, drama, environmental science, philosophy, and other clubs across performing arts, culture, STEM, and service. Clubs are student- or teacher-led and operate alongside annual learning-practice activities and campus events.
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History Limai Chinese American (International) School was founded in 1995 and originally operated as Beijing Limai Foreign Language School. The school is part of the broader Limai education group (often rendered as Limai International / Limai Education Group), which has developed multiple K–12 campuses and affiliated preschools since the 1990s. Over time the institution has expanded its offerings and opened additional campuses and service centers while maintaining a mixed Chinese–American bilingual/international orientation. Public profiles and school listings identify the school's headquarters and main Beijing campus under the Limai group umbrella.	History Tsinghua International School (THIS) was established in March 2009 as the Fuzhong campus to provide an international-style education within the Tsinghua University High School framework. It was created to serve international families, children of foreigners, and Chinese returnees by combining Western pedagogical approaches with required Chinese language and culture courses. The school is located on the grounds of Tsinghua University High School and draws on that affiliation and its resources as it developed primary, middle and high divisions. Over time THIS has continued to formalize international-facing accreditation and testing relationships as part of its development.
Community	Community The school community is described in group materials and local coverage as including regular parent–school activities and public events tied to major milestones (for example, the school's 30th‑anniversary series included family education forums and parent-facing presentations). The Limai group also promotes cultural‑immersion programs and study‑tour elements (for example, Greater Bay Area study tours and bilingual cultural activities at newer Limai campuses), and local listings note a range of after‑school clubs and sports offerings that bring families together. Community life therefore combines formal school events, extracurricular clubs, and periodic cultural or study‑tour programs that involve students and parents.	Community THIS describes a multicultural school community and runs a regular calendar of events that bring together students, parents and staff. Annual community and cultural events include Sports Day, International Day, STEAM Day and an Arts Festival; the school also stages curriculum-based field trips and exchange programs to extend learning beyond campus. Many events invite family participation through open days, performances and curriculum workshops that connect classroom work with the wider community.
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association Publicly available materials about an official, long‑running PTA (Parent Teacher Association) at LCAIS are limited; however, the school's recent anniversary and outreach coverage documents structured family‑school events such as a “家校共育/Family Education Forum,” which involved school leaders and invited parents in dialogue about teaching and learning. Where described, parent participation has taken the form of invited forums, open days, and family‑oriented information sessions tied to major school events. Because specific, persistent PTA committees, regular meeting schedules, volunteer groups, or a formal PTA constitution are not clearly published online, parents seeking up‑to‑date information about active parent groups, volunteer opportunities, or annual community events should contact the school directly via its published channels. The school's public listings and campus pages are the best sources for current PTA contact points and event calendars.	Parent teacher association The school works with an active parent body (often referred to on school pages as a Parent Council) and operates a Parent School lecture series for families; the site notes a 26th Parent School session held on December 17. THIS and its Parent Council have jointly organized sharing sessions on key transitions (primary→middle, middle→high, and college entrance), with parents, students and staff presenting practical advice. The school also runs division-level parent–teacher meetings (PTCs) that are used to review student progress and align home and school support. Parents are regularly invited to help at community events, attend curriculum afternoons and participate in information sessions that strengthen home–school partnership. Typical parent-linked activities described on the site include hosting parent lectures, coordinating volunteer support at events, and co-hosting transition and curriculum workshops.
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual THIS was founded in 2009 to provide an education that blends Western and Chinese learning. It operates a primary, middle, and high school on the campus of Tsinghua University High School, Haidian District, Beijing, opposite Yuanmingyuan. The student body includes international students, children of foreigners, and Chinese returning from overseas studies.
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language The school offers a full-English environment with Chinese language and culture as a required core course, supporting strong bilingual development.
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 The curriculum is based on US Common Core standards with additional Chinese language and culture courses. The full-English environment supports language development across content areas and in social language. Chinese language and culture is a required core course, ensuring a strong Chinese level while exploring Chinese traditional culture in line with the Tsinghua Spirit. Students have strong proficiency in both Chinese and English.
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching THIS provides a full-English environment across the curriculum, with Chinese language and culture taught as a required core course. The program integrates US Common Core standards with Chinese culture content. Students develop strong abilities in both Chinese and English, and the school serves primary, middle, and high school levels.
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards (All items below are taken from the school website and are awards received by the school or by school teams/programmes within the past five years.) 1) Top award at the UNESCO 16th ASEF ClassNet Conference (Ljubljana, Nov 2023) — the school's AI education project (presented in collaboration with a partner school) earned the highest jury score at the 16th ClassNet Conference, recorded on the school site as “winning the top award for THIS.” This award recognises the school's project work in AI education at an international education forum. 2) “Prestigious / Famous International School with Public Reputation” at the 2022 International Online Education Summit (Dec 2022) — the school's 2022 highlights on the website state that THIS received the summit's honourific award, which the school presents as external recognition of its public reputation in international education. 3) Awards at the 13th “Hope China” Youth Educational Drama & Bilingual Choir Beijing Festival (2022) — the school reports that its four entries in the Beijing final won three Grand Prizes and one First Prize (plus related production awards). These prizes were awarded to the school's drama/choral entries and are listed on the school website. 4) Team awards at the Xuanzang Road Ultra Gobi Youth Challenge 2 (May 2024) — the school's weekly report documents that the THIS team received five team awards (EEC Xuanzang Road Cultural Heritage Award, Shackleton Award, Ultra Gobi Excellence Award, Ultra Gobi Progress Award, and Team Spirit Award). These are team-level awards recorded on the school site. Notes and scope limitations: - I included only accreditations and school-level or team awards that are explicitly described on Tsinghua International School's official website (this.edu.cn). Individual student prizes and awards listed on the site were excluded where they were clearly awarded to individual students rather than to the school or a school team. Where the website gave dates or renewal details (for example WASC), I relied on those statements as published on the site.
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations 1) WASC (ACS WASC) — Tsinghua International School holds accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (ACS WASC); the school first received a six-year WASC accreditation in January 2016 and the website records a successful renewal visit and continued accreditation in 2023. This accreditation is a U.S. regional-style, internationally recognised school accreditation that signals the school has met a set of quality and continuous-improvement standards used by many international schools. 2) College Board membership and authorised test centre status — the school is a member of the U.S. College Board and is identified on the website as an on‑campus test centre for AP, SAT and ACT (the site also refers to PSAT/AP testing availability). College Board membership and test‑centre status allow the school to offer AP courses and to administer College Board exams on site, which supports students taking those exams as part of the school's programme.
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Below is a step-by-step admissions process for Limai Chinese American (International) School (LCAIS). I was not able to load the school's official website (lcais.com) when I checked on January 1, 2026, so the steps below are drawn from recent third‑party school profiles and local admissions guides — please confirm the final details with the school's admissions office before applying. 1. Initial inquiry and campus visit (make an appointment). Parents normally begin by contacting admissions to request an on‑site visit or information session; the school asks that visitors reserve a visit in advance and give the student's name, intended grade and a parent contact number when booking. Open/visit times published on school profiles show set visiting hours on specific days (for example, weekday mornings and some weekend slots), so plan around those windows and expect to show ID at arrival. 2. Submit an application (multiple routes). Applications may be submitted through the school's online application system, by phone or in person at the admissions office; some third‑party pages list an online form plus phone hotlines as standard routes. When you apply, expect to provide preliminary details such as the child's name, birthdate, intended entry grade, previous school information and contact details; keep scanned copies of recent school reports ready to upload or hand in. If you need to reserve a spot for an assessment or open day, follow the admissions office directions promptly because popular grades and programmes can fill quickly. 3. Assessment: interview and testing (what to prepare). LCAIS requires a one‑to‑one interview and academic assessment for applicants; the interview outcome and test scores are used together with school reports to decide placement or admission. Published schedules show programme‑specific testing windows (for example, some international programme tests run on particular weekdays), so confirm the available test dates when you book. Required documents listed in admissions guides commonly include student photos, original and photocopies of household registration or passport/visa for non‑Chinese nationals, and the school's new‑student application form — bring originals for verification on test day. 4. Offer, fees and enrollment deposit (timing and refunds to note). If an offer is made, the school issues an admission notice and an enrollment pack by email; parents will be asked to complete the enrollment paperwork and pay the required fees or deposits to confirm the place. Published fee summaries from recent profiles show a wide range depending on programme and grade — bilingual/dual‑track and domestic‑style classes have lower ranges (roughly RMB 80,000–120,000 per year), while full international programme tracks (AP/A‑Level/other international programmes) typically appear in higher ranges (often RMB 100,000–190,000+ per year); some specialised international project fees are listed separately (for example, specific international project lines reported around RMB 190,000 per year). Also note published withdrawal/refund wording: third‑party summaries report that tuition refunds are tied to withdrawal dates (one example given: 80% of the semester fee refunded if withdrawal is submitted on or before September 1) — check the school's current refund schedule before paying. Make sure you get and keep a written fee schedule (invoice), the enrollment agreement and any deadline dates for payments. 5. Pre‑start orientation and registration (what happens after you accept). After fees are paid and documents processed, the school sends an "admission packet" with arrival/registration instructions; the school runs intake orientation/training sessions for new students and parents before term starts. Published material notes that some programmes schedule formal reporting/registration days in summer (for example, a new‑student reporting/registration window in early July for some projects); families should confirm exact reporting dates and any pre‑term requirements such as health checks, uniform orders, or placement testing. Keep copies of all submitted documents and evidence of payments, and confirm transport and meal arrangements ahead of the first day.	Admissions 1. Prepare application documents. Parents should gather photocopies and bring originals to the in-person interview: student identification (passport and, if applicable, current China visa page; for Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan residents the specific travel/ID documents listed by the school), a color passport-style photo (3.3 x 4.8 cm), immunization record (original and scanned copy), recent school transcripts and any award certificates, and parents' valid ID plus parents' undergraduate degree certificates. For specific grades, THIS requires particular documentary ranges (for example: original transcripts of the most recent one year for grade 2 applicants, two years for grades 3–8, and all transcripts since grade 9 for grade 9–11 applicants) — confirm which original documents you must bring because some documents are requested as originals at interview. 2. Complete and submit the online application. All applications are submitted through THIS's online application system (OpenApply); when you enter referee information the system will automatically send a secure link to teachers for recommendation forms, so provide accurate teacher email addresses. The school operates year‑round admissions, but applications are processed in the order received, so submit early if you need a specific start term; keep copies of every uploaded PDF and note the system checklist so you don't miss required items. 3. Testing and observation (school assessment). After the admissions office reviews materials, the student will be invited to an assessment day: a ~15-minute comprehensive potential assessment and written tests; applicants for Grade 7+ must take a mathematics test, and non‑native Chinese speakers take a Chinese placement test. Grade 1 applicants who pass the test also take a behavioral observation session; test results are valid for six months, so if you plan to defer more than six months the student will need to retake the tests. Plan travel and scheduling around the test date and bring originals of all documents requested on the day. 4. Family interview (where applicable). Students who perform well in the tests (and in the Grade 1 observation, if applicable) may be invited, together with their parents, to a family interview — typically within about a week after testing; Grade 1 students are an exception and do not have the family interview stage. Use the interview to clarify academic needs, language support, and any special educational or medical needs; bring any documents that support requests (IEPs, medical records, etc.) because the interview is used to confirm fit and logistics. 5. Admission decision and next steps. The admissions office will notify applicants by email once all steps (tests, observation, interview where applicable) are complete; responses are generally sent after the full application process finishes (the school indicates decisions are communicated by email). If offered a place, confirm deadlines for acceptance, start‑of‑term paperwork, visa/residence permit requirements and any payment deadlines — the school lists two cut‑off dates for transfer enrollments (Nov 15 for first semester and Mar 15 for second semester), so check these if you are requesting mid‑year entry. For specific payment instructions, enrollment deposits, or registration procedures, contact THIS Admissions directly (phone/email listed on the school site).
Scholarships	Scholarships Third‑party school profiles list that LCAIS offers scholarship awards (examples named in directories include a principal's scholarship and subject/academic scholarships), but I did not find a published, detailed scholarship policy online showing eligibility criteria, application deadlines, award amounts, or whether awards reduce tuition versus covering fees/boarding. Available summaries note the existence of awards but do not explain whether scholarships are competitive (exam/portfolio‑based), means‑tested, renewable, or one‑off. If you want to pursue scholarship consideration, ask admissions for: (1) the types of awards currently offered, (2) the application or nomination process (required documents, tests or auditions), (3) deadlines and award notification timing, and (4) whether an awarded scholarship applies to tuition, boarding, or other fees and whether it is conditional on academic performance. The directories I consulted that mention scholarships are helpful to confirm that awards exist but do not substitute for the school's latest official policy — please request the school's current scholarship guidelines in writing.	Scholarships The school's official admissions and fees pages list tuition and incidental fees but do not publish a K–12 scholarship, tuition assistance, or fee‑remission program on the public site. For the 2024–25 academic year THIS lists tuition in RMB and specifies per‑year amounts by division (Primary ¥186,000; Middle ¥208,000; High ¥218,000) and notes that lunch and other incidental fees are charged separately (lunch typically ~¥15–25 per meal). If you would like to confirm whether any merit‑ or need‑based assistance, sibling discounts, payment plans, or bursaries are available in the current or coming year, contact THIS Admissions (phone: +86 10 6277‑1477 / +86 10 6279‑7000; email: this@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn) because the school's public pages do not describe such programs.
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist THIS states it uses rolling admissions and that places are allocated on a first‑come, first‑served basis; the school's public pages describe admissions as “rolling” and encourage applicants to contact admissions early because enrollment is by available places. The website does not publish a formal waitlist policy or describe a separate ‘pool' of held applicants; if you need to know whether THIS will hold a declined place on a waitlist or how long a held offer remains active, ask the admissions office directly (telephone and admissions email are published on the site). For transfer requests or timing questions, note the two published cut‑off dates (Nov 15 and Mar 15) and confirm how the school manages late applications in the year you apply.
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