Why choose SCIS or HIS?

International schools share many characteristics, and yet each also contains distinctive features that help make up the school’s culture. What makes our schools unique?

Strong Leadership
Our administrative team inspires staff to pursue the achievement of our high standards with every student. They are an enthusiastic team that develops positive student, staff, and parent cultures through the building of trust, mutual respect, and open communication.

Comprehensive Programs
We develop the whole child and help children develop into responsible, confident contributors to the world around them by stressing - in addition to academics - the social, emotional, and ethical growth of each child. SCIS provides opportunities for students to participate in special interest activities, community building, the arts, and athletics both during the school day and in our after-school activity programs. Support services are offered for students who are English language learners.(A ratio of 80% fluent English speakers and 20% ESOL students is maintained within the schools.) A dedicated college guidance counselor assists our Upper School students with pursuing university entrance after graduation from SCIS.

Diversity and Individuality - Finding the strength in every child
Within our accredited curriculum, we aim to have our system fit around a child’s needs instead of making children fit into one system. While we do not create modified curriculum, in the lower school we do teach the academic subjects of spelling, reading, writing, math, and mandarin on a continuum basis rather than at prescribed grade-levels. Children excel in different ways: academics, leadership, interpersonal skills, organization, friendship skills, etc. Our staff builds on the strengths of children, but also encourages and supports students to take risks outside of their areas of comfort.

High Level of Communication

From preschool to upper school, parents can expect to receive qualitative feedback on a regular basis about the development of their child. Each student creates his or her own portfolio that is evaluated regularly to help document, communicate, and foster self-awareness in the learning process.

Making Each Day Special
Learning is serious business. Our staff understands this, but also knows that the more children experience learning in fun, creative, and hands-on ways, the faster they learn and the more that they’ll remember.

Positive, Welcoming Atmosphere - Parents as Partners
It is often said that our schools have the best school spirit and the most positive community support in the city. Parents are actively involved in joining with staff and students to create a strong learning environment. On each campus, active parent groups (Parents and Friends Association, PAFA) organize volunteer opportunities as well as community events. These activities enrich the students’ lives, support and improve the school environment, and contribute to the fun feel of an involved international community.

Cultural Opportunities and Community Involvement
We are fortunate to have families from all over the world; cultural diversity offers valuable experiences for our students in the classroom. We offer an international curriculum within an American framework. The emphasis is not on duplicating an American experience but on taking advantage of our unique opportunity. In order to increase our students’ involvement in the community, each grade level helps to sponsor at least one community outreach program. Class trips occur regularly throughout the year and our upper school students have yearly trips planned outside of Shanghai. These and other initiatives aim to show students that they are in a unique position to understand the world around them – one that they would not be able to experience back in their ‘home’ country.

If you are interested in pursuing a challenging academic program within a nurturing environment, then SCIS or HIS might be the place for you. We wish you well on your search for the right international school for your child.