Shanghai Community International School (Hongqiao)

Shanghai Community International School is a non‑selective, fully IB international school with Hongqiao and Pudong campuses serving Nursery–Grade 12 students in Shanghai. SCIS Hongqiao offers the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) in a diverse, close‑knit community of around 1,800 students system‑wide from over 60 nationalities.

Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) – Hongqiao Campus is a fully authorized IB Continuum World School serving students aged 2–18 on the west side of Shanghai. As one of Shanghai’s earlier international schools, SCIS offers the complete IB pathway—Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP)—within a single, connected community. The Hongqiao campus emphasizes rigorous, inquiry‑driven learning alongside strong arts, athletics, and service, all in a multicultural environment that brings together over sixty nationalities. With small classes, individualized attention, and a calm, family‑oriented feel, SCIS is designed for families who want a balanced IB education: academically ambitious, but also focused on well‑being, character, and genuine engagement with both local and global communities.

SCIS’s mission is “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring learners who contribute positively to their communities.” At Hongqiao, this mission shows up in classrooms where students are encouraged to ask questions, connect ideas, and reflect on their own learning, not just memorize content. Teachers work to build not only knowledge and skills, but also empathy, integrity, and a sense of responsibility for others, whether through everyday classwork, performing arts, athletics, or service and community engagement projects.

SCIS’s vision is to be “defined as a school of excellence” by students, staff, parents, and the wider Shanghai expatriate community. The school imagines graduates who are well‑rounded, confident contributors, equipped with the academic and personal skills to succeed and who “see the relevance and purpose” in their learning. For families, this vision translates into a school culture that values student voice, teacher growth, strong parent communication, and a clear sense of belonging to both the SCIS community and to Shanghai as a city.

SCIS frames its philosophy around developing the whole student and offering individualized education. While academics and IB examination outcomes matter, equal attention is given to fine arts, physical education, and community service, on the belief that each contributes to a healthy, meaningful life. Teachers are expected to recognize that each student brings particular strengths and areas for growth; the goal is to highlight and extend those strengths while giving structured support where needed. The resulting experience is designed to be challenging, but also personal, relational, and responsive to who each learner is becoming.

Curriculum Description

At Hongqiao, SCIS delivers the full International Baccalaureate continuum, providing a consistent, inquiry‑based journey from Nursery through Grade 12. Young learners begin in the PYP, exploring transdisciplinary themes that connect language, mathematics, science, and social studies with art, music, and physical education. In the MYP, students deepen subject knowledge and develop research, communication, and critical‑thinking skills while making connections to real‑world issues. In Grades 11 and 12, all students take IB Diploma courses and over 90% pursue the full IB Diploma, supported by a dedicated DP team and college counseling. Across all stages, Mandarin and English are core, and the curriculum is intentionally international, aiming to build global citizenship, intercultural understanding, and reflective, self‑directed learners.

The SCIS Hongqiao day typically starts around 8:00 a.m. and finishes in the mid‑afternoon, with staggered timings by division. Students begin with homeroom and move through a mix of IB subject blocks, inquiry units, language learning, arts, and physical education, with a morning break and lunch built into the day. After school, many students stay on for school‑sponsored activities, sports practices, rehearsals, or service projects, supported by late buses. The overall rhythm is structured but not frantic, aiming to balance academic focus with time for relationships, reflection, and play—especially in Early Childhood and primary.

Student experience

For most students, SCIS Hongqiao feels friendly, multicultural, and manageable in scale. The IB emphasis on “learning by doing” means that students are often working in groups, presenting, creating, and reflecting, rather than only listening to lectures. The school places clear value on the arts and sport, so performances, exhibitions, and games are regular features of the year. Service and community engagement are also woven through school life, giving students chances to think about impact beyond themselves. Families often comment that there is enough challenge to prepare for university, but within an environment that still feels personal and child‑centred rather than overly pressurised