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United States, San Francisco
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CAIS opened on September 12, 1981, in the basement of a University of California Extension Building. Founder Carol Ruth Silver and director Shirley Lee led the school as it attracted national attention; in 1987 the U.S. Department of Education designated CAIS as the national prototype for Chinese language education in elementary schools and the school moved to the Presidio. Between 1992 and 1994, CAIS added middle school grades and began its first exchange trip with Shanghai No. 3 Girls' School. In 1997 CAIS moved to 150 Oak Street; the Early Childhood Center moved in 2010 to The Alice A. Carnes Center on Waller Street. From 1997 to 2015 the middle school population grew to about 120 students and the middle school moved to the 888 Campus; today CAIS educates more than 550 children on a 5.4-acre campus at 19th Avenue with facilities for arts, athletics, and teaching and learning.
CAIS traditions include Thanksgiving meals organized in individual classrooms, with families sharing traditional and Asian-inspired dishes. The Holiday Faire, held on a Saturday in early December, features gingerbread houses, games, food, and charitable drives. Mass Greeting is a Lunar New Year celebration led by K–8 students, culminating in a lion dance performed by the sixth grade. Grandparents and Special Friends Day brings guests to campus for a morning of performances and classroom visits in the spring. ShowCAIS is CAIS's annual fundraising gala held at a local San Francisco hotel.
Family School Alliance (FSA) coordinates CAIS family involvement. It organizes events such as the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Fall and Spring Family Camping Weekends, Holiday Faire, CAIS's participation in the San Francisco Lunar New Year parade, and the End-of-Year Potluck. FSA meets in-person or via Zoom on the first Thursday of the month for the 2025–2026 school year. Leadership works with grade liaisons to facilitate communication across grades, and room parent coordinators support volunteers and classrooms. FSA also runs fundraising and vendor partnerships, including CAIS Spiritwear Boutique and programs with Farm Fresh To You, Minted, Oliver's Labels, and Sports Basement.
