Welcome to Shanghai American School, where your child's dreams will take flight.
Thank you for your interest in Shanghai American School. By joining our community, your child will be supported by our mission-driven approach and nurtured in their journey towards becoming lifelong learners, compassionate individuals, and fearless dreamers. Everyone at SAS is deeply committed to student growth and development – both inside and outside of the classroom.
Our touring season has commenced. We invite you to schedule a visit and experience our campuses firsthand.
Kindly note, as the 2025-26 school year has now begun, seat availability is now extremely limited across many grade levels on both campuses. We highly recommend you contact our Admissions Team directly before submitting an application for 2025-26.
Welcome, future Eagles!
– Renee Gian, Director of Admissions + Enrollment
Are you eligible?
Families wishing to apply to Shanghai American School must meet the eligibility requirements set out by the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (SHMEC) for schools for children of foreign nationals. Eligibility to apply to SAS is dependent on the family’s passport, work and residence in Shanghai and meeting one of the four categories listed below:
Category 1: Child of foreign citizen
Category 2: Child born overseas to PRC citizens
Category 3: Child of Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan residents
Category 4: Child who is holding a SHMEC waiver letter
One mission, one vision, one team, one future.
Shanghai American School is the only international school in Shanghai where all revenue that comes into the school stays in the school – and it shows in our campuses. SAS has two PreK-12 campuses that provide modern and dynamic environments designed to inspire creativity and innovation. Both the Pudong and Puxi campuses offer a broad range of subjects, sports, student clubs and after-school activities.
Discover SAS
Are you ready to explore the possibilities with your child? At SAS, we are dedicated to inspiring a lifelong passion for learning in every student. Our engaging tours offer a unique opportunity to discover what makes our community truly exceptional. During each tour, our Admissions Team will share essential information to guide you through the application process, ensuring you have everything you need to make an informed decision.
No matter which tour you choose, you’ll get a glimpse of why SAS is so special! We can’t wait to welcome you!
Join us for a delightful introduction to our campus prekindergarten to grade 12. You’re sure to hit your step goal, so wear your comfy shoes! This comprehensive tour gives an overview of all three divisions – elementary school, middle school, and high school. Expect to spend around 1.5 hours exploring our grounds and learning about our exceptional programs.
Note: Due to the walking distance, this tour is not recommended for children aged 7 and under.
This tour focuses on prekindergarten to grade 5. Peek in on our interactive learning spaces and see firsthand how our curriculum nurtures creativity and critical thinking through play, hands-on activities, and project-based learning. Plan for about 1 hour of exploration. All children are welcome to join their parents!
This tour provides an in-depth look at grade 6 to grade 12. You’ll see specialized classrooms where students engage in advanced subjects and collaborative projects. Learn about the wide range of extracurricular activities that support student development, from athletics to arts. Expect to spend 1–1.5 hours for your visit. Middle school and high school-aged children are encouraged to join their parents.
Application Essentials
Requirements
- For Pre-K3, strong preference for those already three years old by the first day of the academic year or before mid-August, whichever is first
- Fully toilet-trained (Pre-K3/Pre-K4)
- Foundational English recommended
Additional information required with application
- Family Questionnaire Form
- Confidential School Recommendation Form if currently attending school
- School reports for current school year and previous two school years if currently attending school
Assessment and interview for selected applicants
- Student Interview
- Parent Interview
- English language proficiency test for Grade 1
Requirements
- Foundational English required
Additional information required with the application
- Confidential School Recommendation Form from current school
- School reports for current school year and two previous school years
Assessment and interview for selected applicants
- Student Interview
- Parent Interview
- English language proficiency test for students with non-native English proficiency
- Writing sample for students with native English proficiency
Requirements
- English proficiency
Additional information required with application
- Confidential School Recommendation Form from current school administrator or guidance counselor
- Confidential English Recommendation Form from current English teacher
- Confidential Math Recommendation Form from current Math teacher
- Student Information Form – completed by student
- School reports for the current school year and the two previous school years
Assessment and interview for selected applicants
- Student Interview
- Parent Interview
- NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment
- Math
- Language Usage
- Reading
- If the student has taken MAP assessments or other standardized tests (such as the SSAT, ERB, ISA, IOWA Basic Skills Test, or state tests) at their current school within the last 12 months, these results may be accepted in place of the SAS-administered MAP assessment.
- English language proficiency test for students with non-native English proficiency
- Writing sample for students with native English proficiency
Requirements
- English proficiency
- Once enrolled, the International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs have no additional admission requirements. The IB and AP is available to all Grade 11 and 12 candidates enrolled at SAS. For our IB Program Policies please visit the IB Program Policy Manual
- For courses available please review course catalogues (link HS catalogues)
- Note that the courses are subject to availability and post-admission placement testing
Additional information required with application
- Confidential School Recommendation Form from current school administrator or guidance counselor
- Confidential English Recommendation Form from current English teacher
- Confidential Math Recommendation Form from current Math teacher
- Student Information Form – completed by student
- School reports for the current school year and the two previous school years
Assessment and interview for selected applicant
- Student Interview
- Parent Interview
- NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment
- Math
- Language Usage
- Reading
- If the student has taken MAP assessments or other standardized tests (such as the SSAT, ERB, ISA, IOWA Basic Skills Test, or state tests) at their current school within the last 12 months, these results may be accepted in place of the SAS-administered MAP assessment
- Writing sample
How and when decisions are made.
SAS receives and reviews applications on a rolling basis. We encourage families to submit all required documents by the published submission dates so applications can be considered in the relevant decision round.
Seat availability.
If you are interested in joining the SAS community during the 2025-26 school year, please contact our Admissions team. Seat availability is currently very limited across both campuses. Please email admissions@saschina.org and we can recommend the best option for your family.
Discover SAS from Anywhere!
We’re excited to invite you to explore our website to learn more about our vibrant community and exceptional educational programs. You can also take a closer look at SAS's world-class facilities through our engaging 360° virtual tour! This interactive experience allows you to navigate each of our campuses at your own pace, making it easier than ever to get a sense of what makes SAS so special.
For those interested in visiting us in person, please note that our limited in-person tours fill up quickly. We also understand that many families from overseas may not be able to join us on campus, which is why our virtual tour is a fantastic option for everyone.
If you have any questions or need further information, our friendly Admissions Team is here to assist you. We can’t wait to help you learn more about the incredible opportunities awaiting you at SAS!
Get to know our community.
Once our students graduate, they go “from here to anywhere.” Which makes sense, considering that when they arrive, they come from everywhere. Families from over 45 countries on six different continents now call SAS home. Take a few moments to get to know some of them. Hear about how it feels to live in Shanghai, and learn about the SAS experience – all from the people who know it best.
As Shanghai’s only non-owned, not-for-profit international school, all revenue SAS receives goes into making the school even better.
