International Schools in Shenzhen

Ages 4-18 · British · Longhua · Not disclosed students

Merchiston is the only full British boarding school in Shenzhen and the right choice for families who specifically want that tradition - IGCSE, A-Levels, boarding houses, and the heritage of Merchiston Castle School. Be clear-eyed about the Longhua location and ask pointed questions about management and staff stability before you sign.

Ages 2-18 · British · Qianhai, Nanshan · ~800 students

Harrow Shenzhen is the most prestigious British-curriculum option in the city - Forbes-ranked top 10 in China, boarding available, and a track record building fast. At CNY 291K to CNY 360K it is expensive even by Shenzhen standards, and the Qianhai location is a real consideration for families based in Shekou or Futian.

Ages 2-18 · IB · Shekou, Nanshan · ~850 students

SIS is the default choice for families landing in the Shekou bubble, and for good reason - 35-plus years of track record, genuine IB delivery, and a community that knows how to receive new arrivals. Ask about current enrolment trends and the new leadership team before signing.

Ages 3-18 · American · Nanshan · ~1,500 students

BASIS Shenzhen is the standout American curriculum school in the city - academically serious, well resourced and operating from a purpose-built campus since 2023. Families drawn to the AP pathway will find little to argue with here, as long as the fees fit.

Ages 1.5-18 · International, Bilingual · Xili, Nanshan · Not disclosed students

Avenues is the most distinctive curriculum option in Shenzhen - genuinely bilingual, NEASC and WASC accredited, and connected to a global network with serious university outcomes. It is not cheap and fees are not published, so you will need to contact the school directly. Worth the conversation if a bilingual environment matters to your family.

Ages 3-18 · British, Bilingual · Qianhai, Nanshan · ~500 students

King's Canterbury's Shenzhen campus is a credible British boarding and day school with genuine heritage behind it, but it is still finding its feet - no published results, small enrolment, and no parent reviews on any platform. Worth a serious look if you want British A-Levels and boarding in Qianhai; go in with realistic expectations about what a seven-year-old campus offers.

Ages 14-18 · British · Futian · ~1,800 students

If your child is heading to a UK or top US university and is academically serious, SCIE is the strongest option in Shenzhen - and by some measures in all of southern China. It is a high school only, so factor in where your child is doing their earlier years.

Ages 3-18 · IB, Canadian · Nanshan · ~800 students

If strong IB results matter to your family and your child holds a foreign passport, ISNS is the sharpest academic choice in Shenzhen right now. The Xili location is inconvenient from Shekou and Futian, so sort out the commute before you decide.

Ages 3-18 · American · Shekou, Nanshan · ~300 students

SAIS is the strongest American-curriculum option in Shekou for families who want a smaller school, a genuine outdoor learning environment and flexibility on upper-secondary pathway. At CNY 158K to CNY 278K it is mid-market, and the small cohort size is both the appeal and the honest limitation.

Ages 2-18 · American, IB · Shekou, Nanshan · ~455 students

QSI is the most accessible and welcoming option in Shekou for families arriving mid-year or with younger children - small, responsive, and genuinely easy to join. At 455 students it lacks the breadth of the larger schools, and the facilities are functional rather than impressive.

Ages 4-18 · IB · Nanshan · ~1,080 students

SWIS is the straightforward IB choice for families settling in Nanshan who want the full continuum from Pre-K to Diploma, CIS and WASC accreditation, and a school with genuine facilities. The student body skews heavily toward Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan passport holders, so if a truly diverse international community matters, factor that in.

Ages 4-16 · British · Shekou, Nanshan · ~78 students

Recognise is the right school for a very specific family: one that wants British National Curriculum, tiny class sizes, a deeply personal approach and is not looking for a large school community. If that description fits, the testimony from families who have been through it is as positive as you will find in Shenzhen. If you want breadth, scale or facilities, look elsewhere.