Schooling and childcare in Shanghai

International schools

Shanghai has one of the largest international school markets anywhere, with British, American, IB, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Singaporean options spread across Pudong, Minhang and the western suburbs. These schools admit foreign passport holders and require documentary proof of it, usually the child's passport and the parents' residence permits. The concentration of campuses in specific suburbs is the main reason families end up living where they do.

• Proof of foreign nationality for the child and residence permits for the parents are standard requirements.
• Campuses cluster in Pudong (Jinqiao), Minhang (Hongqiao) and the western suburbs — the commute drives the housing choice.
• Most schools run their own bus networks with defined catchment routes; check yours is served.
• Apply six to twelve months ahead; assessments and previous school reports are standard.

Bilingual and local private schools

A large and growing tier of private bilingual schools teaches the Chinese national curriculum alongside substantial English instruction, and these admit Chinese nationals as well as foreign pupils. They are cheaper than the international schools, more academically pressured, and a serious option for a family staying long enough for a child to become properly bilingual. Entry is competitive and usually involves assessment in both languages.

Public schools

Some Shanghai public schools accept foreign children, subject to district rules, a valid residence permit and a registered address in the catchment. Teaching is in Chinese throughout and the academic pace is demanding. It is free or close to it, and for a young child arriving with time to acquire the language it can work extremely well. For a teenager it is rarely realistic.

• District education bureaus set the rules; they differ between districts and change.
• Residence permit and registered tenancy in the catchment are the baseline requirements.
• The academic year starts in September, with a long summer break.

Younger children and the ayi

Kindergartens run from roughly three to six and come in international, bilingual and public forms, with the international ones charging fees comparable to primary school. Below that, most working families employ an ayi — a domestic helper who may cook, clean and look after children, engaged either full-time or by the hour. It is a normal, mainstream arrangement in Shanghai, usually found by word of mouth or through an agency, and it is what makes two full-time careers workable here.