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China, Shanghai
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A group of U.S. individuals—backed by multinational corporations, American expatriates, U.S. foreign-service personnel and the People's Republic of China—began planning the school in 1997. Educators from Hong Kong International School were sent to Pudong and Concordia opened in September 1998. The school began under Head of School Dr. Allan Schmidt with 22 students and 14 staff. Concordia was founded in the tradition of LCMS schools, maintains formal connections with sister schools (Hong Kong International School and Concordia International School Hanoi), and operates independently in China rather than as part of other Concordia groups.
Concordia's community is internationally diverse, with families representing more than 30 nationalities. Parents and staff engage through an active Parent Support Organization and regular school communications; typical community occasions organized or supported by parents include Back-to-School events, an International Festival and an annual Christmas Bazaar. The school also highlights student-led service and applied-learning projects—most recently the student social enterprise Xiaohusai, which earned external recognition—showing community engagement extends beyond on-campus events.
All parents of enrolled students are automatically members of Concordia's Parent Support Organization (PSO). The PSO provides leadership opportunities (PSO Board positions) and plans major community events such as the Back-to-School Bash, International Festival and the Christmas Bazaar. It coordinates volunteer-run committees and sales—examples include Used Book Sales, Treat Sales and Used Uniform Sales—that both build community and raise funds. The volunteer-run Phoenix Shop, created by five parents in 2006, operates on campus to sell Concordia spirit wear and is staffed by parent volunteers during lunch and after school. The school runs parent meetings, Parent Connect sessions and parenting workshops (with recent meetings held via Teams), giving parents ways to connect, volunteer and access resources. The PSO also raises funds to support yearly activities and the PSO Program Grant that funds school projects and programs.
Concordia International School Shanghai opened in 1998 and is a co-educational day school serving Preschool through High School students in the Jinqiao area of Pudong. The school follows an American-style curriculum with Advanced Placement (AP) course offerings and membership in Global Online Academy; it also highlights a multi-level Mandarin program from preschool to grade 12. The single-campus site in Jinqiao reports energy-saving campus systems (including geothermal heating/cooling) and provides optional bus transport and school lunch options. Concordia publishes tuition by grade band (tuition listed in RMB) and reports PS–12 enrollments in its school profile. The Head of School is Dr. Eric Semler.
