Nord Anglia Chinese International School vs Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School

	N Nord Anglia Chinese International School Shanghai, China	S Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School Shanghai, China
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year RMB 154,000 - 240,000	Fees / year RMB 164,000
Age range	Age range 6 - 18 years	Age range 15 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Co-educational (boarding)	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Chinese National Curriculum, IB (DP), Australian Curriculum	Curriculum Cambridge IGCSE, IB (DP)
Pupils	Pupils 2,500	Pupils 190
Typical class size	Typical class size 25	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language Mandarin, English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2016	Opened —
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service No
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location The school campus is at 1399 Jinhui (Jinhui) Road, Huacao Town, Minhang District, Shanghai (Minhang). The site is in the suburban Minhang area, roughly 15 km from Shanghai city centre and close to the Hongqiao transport hub (airport and large rail interchange).	Location Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School is located in Minhang District at No. 3233 Hongxin Road (near Caobao Lu / Caobao Road). The campus is in the Qibao area of Minhang and is commonly reached by local roads and taxis (about 10 minutes from Xingzhong Road in local listings).
Stages	Stages NACIS serves primary and secondary year groups (generally listed as Grades 1–12 / ages about 6–18). Senior students follow an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (and international pathways in upper years).	Stages The school is an upper-secondary/high school serving grades 10–12.
School type	School type The school is co-educational and operates as a day school with boarding options noted in public listings (day & boarding). It is part of the Nord Anglia Education group.	School type Co-educational; the school offers both day-school places and boarding options for its high‑school cohorts.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix —	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support As part of the Nord Anglia network, the school is reported to provide learning-support and English/Chinese language support and in-class differentiation for students who need it; network schools typically operate inclusion or learning-support teams. NACIS's public pages do not publish a detailed SEN policy online; if your child has diagnosed or complex additional needs, contact the school's admissions or learning-support team to discuss assessments, available specialist support and any external-therapy arrangements.	Additional learning support Public-facing school listings and directories do not provide detailed descriptions of a specific SEN/learning‑support programme or named facilities. Parents should contact the admissions office to ask about assessments, individual education plans (IEPs), on-site specialists, or external referrals — admissions@qibaodwight.org. (Summary of what was found: directory and school summaries list curriculum and boarding/day options but do not publish a clear SEN policy or staff listing for additional‑needs support.)
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The school is located in China and delivers a bilingual programme that blends the Shanghai national curriculum with international elements (Chinese and English mediums). It is not an embassy or church school and does not carry an affiliation to another country.	Country affiliation The school is a Sino–U.S. cooperative venture: it was established in partnership between Shanghai Qibao High School and the Dwight Schools (U.S.).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is stated in the school's public materials; NACIS is presented as a non-denominational, secular bilingual school.	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is listed in the school's public descriptions or directory entries; the school is presented as a secular, international secondary school.
School day structure	School day structure Public information shows a typical school day beginning in the morning (students usually register between about 08:00–08:30) with classes running through the day and a normal finish time around 15:30 (exact times vary by year group and by term). The day includes a morning break and a lunch period; after-school activities and later bus departures are commonly offered on select days.	School day structure Published listings state a typical school day runs Monday–Friday, approximately 08:00–15:30, with the usual mid‑day lunch and break periods; families should confirm the current daily schedule with admissions as times can change.
Bus service details	Bus service details The school operates a student bus service; public listings indicate school-provided buses and set routes (details, stops and fees are managed by the school). For exact route maps, pickup/drop-off points, fees and registration procedures contact NACIS Admissions directly — these arrangements are updated each academic year.	Bus service details Public listings do not clearly state a school‑run bus network or specific route details. Parents relocating from overseas should contact admissions to ask whether the school operates a bus service, which routes are covered, the provider, costs, and how to register (admissions@qibaodwight.org).
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - No school-specific application, enrolment or resourcing fees for Nord Anglia Chinese International School (Minhang) are published in the public sources consulted. The school's publicly listed fee pages examined include only tuition figures. Tuition fees (by year group) - Grade 1 to Grade 5: RMB 154,000 per year. - Grade 6 to Grade 9: RMB 180,000 per year. - Grade 10 to Grade 12: RMB 230,000 per year. (These figures are presented as the school's published annual tuition amounts by year group.) Billing schedule and payment terms - Nord Anglia schools operate a three-term academic year (Term 1 late August/early September to December; Term 2 January to March; Term 3 April to June). School fees are generally payable in advance on or before the first day of each term. Where advance payments cover multiple terms, income is recognised across those terms. A full term's notice of withdrawal is commonly required for refund of prepaid tuition at a majority of group schools. Boarding fees (if applicable) - Boarding is indicated as available at the Minhang campus; however, no specific boarding-fee amounts for Nord Anglia Chinese International School (Minhang) were published in the public fee pages reviewed. Other costs (uniform, transport, meals, trips, exams) - The school's published public fee details reviewed list only tuition by year group and do not include itemised charges for uniform, bus, lunch or trip fees for Minhang. Note that other Nord Anglia campuses commonly publish optional/compulsory additional charges (e.g., school bus, uniforms, residential trip or lunch provider charges) as separate line items; those examples are illustrative of the group but are not specific Minhang figures. Refund information - The Nord Anglia group's published terms indicate that, at the majority of group schools, a full term's notice of withdrawal is required for refund of prepaid tuition; this is the group-level practice identified in the materials reviewed. No Minhang-specific refund schedule or refundable deposit amounts were published in the sources consulted. Fee payment options - No Minhang-specific payment method instructions were published in the public fee pages located. Nord Anglia schools commonly accept bank transfers and provide bank details on campus fee pages; for example, other Nord Anglia China campuses publish bank account details for RMB and USD payments. Parents should note that payment timing (advance, termly) follows the term schedule above.	Fee details Application fees - The school does not publish a separate non‑refundable application fee in its public admissions notices; applications are submitted via the school admissions platform. Tuition fees (Grades 10–12) - Annual tuition: RMB 164,000 per year. - Per‑term/semester rate: RMB 82,000 per semester (two semesters per academic year). Billing schedule and payment terms - Tuition is charged on a per‑semester basis (semester amounts shown above). Parents are billed by semester and required to settle fees before the term begins as part of enrollment/registration procedures. Boarding fees (where applicable) - Boarding (dormitory) fee: RMB 5,600 per year (RMB 2,800 per semester) for students who use the school's boarding service. Day‑student option is available and boarding is an additional charge. Other costs and typical additional fees - School meals: sample pricing noted in published school materials and third‑party school profiles — breakfast approx. RMB 15; lunch/dinner approx. RMB 25 per meal (meal plans billed separately). - Typical extra costs (not included in tuition): textbooks and learning materials, uniforms, optional trips and co‑curricular activity fees, local health/accident insurance, and transport (school bus) if used. Specific amounts for uniforms, transport and some miscellaneous items are not publicly itemized in the school's general admissions summaries. Refund information - Refunds for tuition/fees are handled in accordance with standard Shanghai school refund practices; district guidance for schools specifies refunds are calculated on a monthly basis (pro rata) with partial‑month rules applied (e.g., less than half‑month treated as half‑month). Exact refund mechanics and any administrative deductions are set by the school's published terms. Fee payment options - Common methods used by Shanghai schools include bank transfer/online bank payment and the school's online payment channels; some Shanghai schools also accept designated bank payment systems (for example ICBC online payment is commonly used by local schools). Parents should be prepared to use bank transfer/online payment channels; specific accepted methods and bank account details are provided by the school on billing notices and registration communications.
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 Nord Anglia Chinese International School (NACIS) Minhang is a bilingual school for ages 6–18 (Grades 1–12) that combines the Shanghai National (Chinese) Curriculum with international programmes. For Primary and Lower Secondary (Grades 1–9) NACIS delivers the Shanghai National Curriculum integrated with international approaches, taught bilingually in Mandarin and English across core areas such as Chinese, English, mathematics, science, arts, physical education and STEAM. In Upper Secondary (Grades 10–12) students follow internationally recognised qualifications: the school runs Cambridge/IGCSE-style courses in the 14–16 phase and then offers choices between Cambridge A‑Level and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for the final two years (the school also references its own NACIS High School Diploma pathway). The IBDP is taught in the standard six‑subject configuration with the DP core (Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and CAS), while A‑Level is provided as the two‑year, subject‑specialist route; NACIS supports external exam entry and university preparation. The formal curriculum is complemented by extensive co‑curricular and partnership programmes (for example collaborations with The Juilliard School, MIT, UNICEF and IMG Academy) and differentiated, level‑based assessment to support bilingual progression.	Curriculum details Shanghai Qibao Dwight operates a three‑year high school (Grades 10–12) that integrates the Chinese national curriculum core with international programme options. Grade 10 functions as a bridging/pre‑IB year with IGCSE preparation—particularly IGCSE English and IGCSE Mathematics—and foundation/online summer work. In Years 11–12 students can follow the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme or pursue Cambridge A‑Level/Cambridge routes, and the school also provides access to Dwight Global/AP online courses. Domestic (Shanghai‑registered) students continue to study the Chinese national subjects—Chinese language, history, politics and geography—and must pass those assessments to qualify for the Shanghai graduation certificate. Depending on programme choices and assessments, graduates may receive the Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School diploma and, where applicable, a Dwight (American) diploma and the IB Diploma.
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 1. Be prepared to say which year/grade you are applying for and your preferred start month; Shanghai regulations mean the school will also ask for parental/guardian details early in the process. The school publishes that applications are open year‑round on a rolling basis, so early contact helps clarify current availability. 2. Discover the school — Parents are invited to visit the campus (open days and one‑to‑one visits are available) to see facilities and meet staff; use the visit to confirm whether day or boarding (the school offers both) fits your family. During a visit you can also ask for a copy of the full fee schedule, transport routes, meal arrangements and any grade‑specific entry guidance. Keep notes from the visit (key contacts, deadlines, any special entry requirements) because these are used later in the application and interview stages. 3. Apply for a place — Complete and submit the online application form and upload the required supporting documents; the online form requires two parent/guardian profiles and allows you to save progress and return later. Required documents differ for mainland and non‑mainland applicants — examples include passport/ID pages, household registration or residence permits, recent school reports, birth certificate and (for certain grades) a Chinese/English personal statement — so check the grade‑specific list before you submit. Filling the form fully and attaching the correct documents speeds processing; the school's online form explicitly states incomplete parental information will delay progression. 4. Application review and interview — Once the application is complete the Admissions team will review documentation and contact you to arrange a family interview (and any age‑appropriate assessments if required). Be ready to discuss your child's academic history, language levels (the form asks about English and Chinese proficiency) and any additional educational needs so the school can assess appropriate placement and support. Ask at this stage what assessment format (subject test, interview, or classroom‑based activity) applies to your child's year level so you can prepare. 5. Offer of place — If the application and interview are successful the school will send an official offer by email; the offer letter will set out the place offered, the fee terms, and any conditions (for example final documents or medical/registration paperwork). Read the offer carefully for acceptance deadlines, payment deadlines and notice periods; some administrative steps (e.g. government registration for mainland students) must be completed separately and on time. If you need clarification about any clause in the offer (refundability of deposits, refund conditions, or start date), contact Admissions before paying. 6. Confirm enrolment and pay tuition — To secure the place you must follow the payment instructions in the offer (the school lists annual tuition rates on its site: Primary ¥154,000; Middle ¥180,000; High School ¥240,000). After payment you will receive confirmation and further joining instructions (uniforms, bus registration, lunch account setup, start‑of‑term timetables and any mandatory health/registration forms). If you expect to need a payment schedule, sibling discounts, or flexible arrangements, raise these with Admissions before you accept so they can confirm what (if any) options are available.	Admissions 1. Initial inquiry and online application. Start by contacting the Admissions Office to request the current application form and any year-specific instructions; the school publishes an admissions contact (email and phone) for inquiries. Parents should confirm whether the intake they want (day student vs. boarder, Grade 10–12) has open places before completing the full application to avoid unnecessary fees and delays. For contact details and the school's admissions channel, see the school listing and directory information. 2. Submit required documents with the application. Families should be prepared to upload or deliver standard documents: student passport (or ID), copies of parents' passports/ID, recent academic transcripts (current year plus at least one previous year), and any school reports or recommendation letters. Non-native English speakers may be asked to provide an English-proficiency report (IELTS/TOEFL) and applicants are commonly asked for a personal essay (Edarabia cites a 300-word minimum as an example). Always check the admissions checklist from the school because exact document lists and minimum documentation may vary by year and by nationality. 3. Admissions office review and scheduling of assessment. Once an application is complete the Admissions Office or Committee will review the file and, if the student meets the basic entry requirements, schedule an entrance assessment; this is a standard next step. Parents should confirm how long the review typically takes and whether any outstanding items (e.g., translated transcripts or notarized documents) must be provided before an assessment is booked. If you need the school to vet visa timing, raise that at this stage so assessment and enrollment dates can align with visa processing. 4. Entrance assessment and interviews. The school's entrance process normally includes written assessments (English and mathematics) plus an oral interview or oral English component; for students applying to Grades 11–12 (IBDP) there is often an additional interview with the principal and/or the IB Diploma coordinator. Parents should prepare their child by confirming the assessment format, permitted reference materials, and whether the assessment can be taken remotely if travel is constrained. If your child has special educational needs or requires assessment accommodations, notify Admissions well in advance so arrangements can be considered. 5. Committee decision and offer. After assessment, the Admissions Committee reviews the full file and then issues a decision; one published summary indicates families may receive a decision within about a week after assessment, though timing can vary by season and grade. Parents should ask at application time for the school's current decision timeline and whether offers are conditional (for example, conditional on final grades or visa approval). If an offer is issued, clarify the deadline to accept the place and the amount and terms of any enrollment deposit or first payment—these financial deadlines are important and policies differ between schools and intake years. 6. Fees, billing and visa steps. Published fee summaries for Qibao Dwight list a tuition figure often cited at RMB 164,000 per year (with separate accommodation and meal charges shown in directory listings); families should confirm the current, official fee schedule with Admissions before accepting an offer. Ask the school for the full cost schedule (tuition, boarding, meals, uniforms, insurance, activity or exam fees), accepted payment methods, billing dates, and refund or withdrawal terms—these details are not consistently published on third-party directories. If your child requires a student visa, request the school's visa-letter process and timeline so you can start immigration paperwork without delay. 7. Enrollment, placement and arrival. After acceptance and payment, the school will confirm course placement, orientation dates and (for boarders) move-in procedures; expect placement or level-testing in some subjects if transcripts come from a different curriculum. Parents should also check immunization/health form requirements and whether the school needs original documents on arrival; boarding families should confirm dorm rules, parent communications and weekend/holiday arrangements. If anything in your child's academic record or health needs has changed since submission, update Admissions immediately to avoid surprises at registration.
Scholarships	Scholarships NACIS Shanghai's public admissions pages (English and Chinese) do not publish a school scholarship or bursary programme on the pages we reviewed. The site and the online application materials focus on required documents, entry procedures and tuition information rather than on financial aid. If you want to explore scholarships, fee assistance or any special reductions (for example for exceptional circumstances or sibling arrangements), ask Admissions directly at apply@nacis.cn — they can confirm whether any internal or Nord Anglia group‑level opportunities are available and explain eligibility and the application process.	Scholarships Directory listings for Qibao Dwight list several named scholarships that appear to be awarded by the school, including a Chairman's Scholarship, Seven Virtues Honor Scholarship, Excellence in All Subjects Scholarship, Specialized Scholarship and Outstanding Freshman Scholarship. These names are cited in local school listings and directories; however, those sources do not publish the eligibility criteria, award amounts, application deadlines or whether awards are automatic (merit-based) versus application-based. If you are interested in scholarship opportunities, ask the Admissions Office for the school's current scholarship policy, including (1) which scholarships are available for incoming versus continuing students, (2) whether awards are renewable, (3) whether a separate scholarship application or additional assessments are required, and (4) typical award ranges and how scholarships interact with tuition billing. For the latest and binding scholarship details, request written policy or the scholarship application from Admissions.
Waitlist	Waitlist The school's website states that applications are accepted on a rolling basis but does not publish a formal waitlist policy or pool mechanics on the public admissions pages. If a specific year group is full, the Admissions team is the best source to explain whether they operate a waiting list, how they prioritise offers, and whether any holding deposit or timed offer acceptance applies. For clarity about current availability and any waitlist practice, contact apply@nacis.cn or the Admissions phone contacts listed on the site.	Waitlist Publicly available school listings and profiles for Shanghai Qibao Dwight do not publish a formal, detailed waitlist or “wait-pool” policy. Major local directory summaries and third-party admissions guides that cover the school (e.g., Jingkids, SmartShanghai, Edarabia) describe the application and assessment steps but do not provide an official waitlist protocol or statistics. Because many schools treat waitlists or wait pools as operational (and variable by year and grade), the most reliable approach is to ask Admissions directly whether they maintain a waitlist for the specific grade and intake you are applying to, and if so what the family must do to keep the application active (frequency of updates, deposit requirements, etc.). To confirm current practice and any expected timelines, contact the school's admissions email or phone before assuming a place on a waitlist.
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