Shenzhen American International School

What Shenzhen American International School does

Shenzhen American International School (SAIS) [深美外籍人员子女学校] is a private K-12 international school founded in May 2005 in Shekou, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China, following approval from the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education. The school serves foreign-national families, students from Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan, and Qianhai-area returnees whose qualifications are certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, providing education from Early Years (ages 1.5-5) through Grade 12. SAIS operates as a Cognia-accredited IB World School authorized for the IB Primary Years Programme and currently candidate status for the IB Diploma Programme, integrating IB, AP, Common Core State Standards, Singapore Mathematics, and Chinese national curriculum across its four academic divisions.

The school's core technology stack centers on a third-party learning management and parent-engagement ecosystem: ManageBac for student information, attendance, timetabling, and academic status; SchoolsBuddy for after-school activity scheduling; NWEA MAP for twice-yearly standardized academic growth assessment; a 1:1 MacBook program for Grade 5+ students (shared iPads and MacBooks below Grade 5); and an in-house Makerspace equipped with 3D printers and laser cutters for hands-on design and engineering. Pedagogically, SAIS uses an inquiry-based, student-led learning approach with class sizes under 20 and student-teacher ratios ranging from 1:7 (Early Years) to 1:20 (Middle/High School), supported by dedicated college counseling that has placed graduates in top-20 US and UK universities.

SAIS generates revenue primarily through recurring annual tuition (exact figures for 2026-2027 not publicly disclosed in source text) supplemented by ancillary recurring fees: school bus service tiered at 12,000-15,000 RMB depending on distance, an optional paid lunch program via catering partner Xinhui, and a paid ESL support service for Grades 1-8. A one-time capital levy is charged to new students for capital purchases and building maintenance, and uniforms are sold separately through an online shopping mall. The school operates a sales-led direct enrollment model with rolling admissions, multi-channel parent communication anchored on a WeChat official account (深美SZSAIS) and WeCom messaging, and a single Shekou campus with stated capacity for approximately 250 students and current enrollment of 200+.

Name

Shenzhen American International School

Legal name

Shenzhen American International School

Website

https://szsais.org.cn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shenzhen American International School is a private Cognia-accredited IB World K-12 international school in Shekou, Shenzhen, serving ~200+ foreign-national, Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan, and Qianhai-returnee families with inquiry-based, IB and AP-aligned education from Early Years through Grade 12.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAG

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.)

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDACADAK

International Curriculum Early Learning Academies (e.g., IB Early Years)

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Learning Academies & Montessori/Reggio/Steiner Programs

SECONDARYEDAJAGAB

English Learner (EL/ESL/ELL) & Bilingual Education Programs

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/K–12 Special Programs (Gifted, ESL/ELL, Remedial, RTI/MTSS)

Keywords

• International K-12 education
• IB curriculum programs
• College counseling services
• Early years education
• ESL language support

Headquarters

HQ city

Shenzhen

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Annual tuition charged to students for Pre-K through Grade 12 education. Pricing tiers available for different grade levels (Early Years, Primary, Middle School, High School)
2. School Bus Service: Annual bus fees charged based on service area: Shekou (within 3km) 12,000 RMB, Nanshan (3-10km) 13,500 RMB, Other (10+km) 15,000 RMB. Payable by semester or school year
3. Lunch Program: Optional hot buffet lunches and various lunch boxes (Chinese, Vegetarian, Korean) available for purchase from lunch company NomNom
4. Capital Levy Fee: One-time capital levy fee for new enrolled students, dedicated to capital purchases, building repairs and maintenance costs
5. School Uniform Sales: Parents purchase school uniforms including formal uniforms, PE kits, polo T-shirts, house T-shirts, and event T-shirts through online shopping mall

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Shenzhen American International School (SAIS) is a Cognia-accredited IB World School delivering Pre-K through Grade 12 international education to expatriate families, Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan students, and Qianhai returnees in Shenzhen. The school offers four core academic programmes (Early Years, Primary, Middle School, High School) built on inquiry-based learning aligned with IB, AP, Common Core, Singapore mathematics, and Chinese national curriculum standards, supported by college counselling, ESL support, after-school activities, and auxiliary services such as school bus, lunch, and uniform programs.

Product overview

Shenzhen American International School (SAIS) is a K-12 international school offering a comprehensive educational program from Early Years (ages 1.5-5) through High School (Grade 12). The school operates as an IB World School (PYP authorized, DP candidate) using an Inquiry-Based, student-led learning approach aligned with Common Core State Standards. The curriculum integrates IB and AP programs with Singapore mathematics and Chinese national curriculum standards. Core programs include Early Years, Primary (G1-5), Middle (G6-8), and High School (G9-12), supported by College Counselling, ESL Language Support, and After School Activities. The school also provides auxiliary services including school lunch (via Xinhui), school bus transportation, and a uniform program. Technology integration includes personal MacBooks for Grade 5+ and shared devices for younger students, with ICT and coding programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Years Programme IB-aligned Early Years programme for children aged 1.5-5 integrating international classes with foreign homeroom teachers and a Montessori approach, focusing on socio-emotional, physical, and cognitive development through inquiry-based and play-focused methodologies.
• Primary School Programme Grades 1-5 programme following IB philosophy integrated with Common Core Standards, featuring full-time foreign homeroom teachers, inquiry-based learning, extracurricular activities including golf and squash, and Singapore mathematics standard.
• Middle School Programme Grades 6-8 programme guided by Common Core Standards, emphasizing leadership skills development, critical thinking, creativity, and personal growth, with sports programmes including golf and squash alongside academic instruction.
• High School Programme Grades 9-12 programme offering Pre-AP and AP subjects, with college counselling support targeting admission to top 20 universities in the US and UK.
• College Counselling Personalized guidance programme with individual counselling sessions, workshops, and group activities to help students identify interests, strengths, and goals for college search and application strategy targeting US and UK universities.
• Language Support Services (ESL) Paid ESL programme for Grades 1-8 students requiring additional English language development, covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills delivered by experienced ESL teachers.
• After School Activities (ASA) Diverse programme offering 30+ activities including fencing, rolling skating, frisbee, basketball, Lego, Minecraft, Ping-Pong, and language classes, complementing the academic curriculum through activities and sports.
• Sports & Activities Athletic programmes including golf, soccer, basketball, and squash, with friendly matches against other international schools and student championship awards in golf and squash competitions.
• Fine Arts/Maker/Design Courses in painting, drawing, sculpting, digital art, and a Maker Design programme leveraging the SAIS Makerspace equipped with 3D printers, laser cutters, and digital fabrication tools for hands-on design and engineering experiences.
• Technology in the Classroom Technology integration programme from the earliest grades, with Grade 5+ students receiving personal MacBooks, Grades 4 and below using shared MacBooks and iPads, ICT classes for middle school, and basic technology for primary school.
• School Lunch Program Catering service provided by Xinhui offering nutritious hot buffet lunches and various lunch options (Chinese, Vegetarian, Korean) with menus designed by professional chefs and nutritionists blending Chinese and Western cuisine.
• School Bus Service Transportation service covering Shekou, Nanshan, and other districts with annual fees ranging from 12,000-15,000 RMB depending on distance, with bus monitors provided on each bus.
• School Uniform Program Uniform requirements for Mondays through Thursdays including formal uniforms, PE kits, polo T-shirts, house T-shirts, and event T-shirts, with Fridays allowing free dress code; uniforms purchased by parents through an online shopping mall.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates accepted to top 20 US and UK universities with TOEFL scores averaging 110 points
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• XinhuicoreOthersXinhui is the school's meal provider, specializing in high-quality nutritious catering services for schools, offices, and factories. They source fresh ingredients directly from farms, maintain strict food safety standards with QS managers supervising all kitchens, and offer diverse menus blending Chinese and Western cuisine.
• ManageBaccoreTechnology or IntegrationManageBac is the parent portal platform used by SAIS for student information management including attendance, timetables, school notices, and academic status. Parents receive welcome emails and can access through web or mobile app.
• SchoolsBuddycoreTechnology or IntegrationSchoolsBuddy is used for parents to sign up for after-school programs and access school events information. Available via web and mobile app (SchoolsBuddy 2.0 for iOS and Android).
• Shekou Youth CentercoreOthersPartnership with Shekou Youth Center provides specialized facilities for students including space within their building at the SAIS campus location.
• Shekou Sports CentercoreOthersPartnership provides access to specialized sports facilities including field track, basketball court, soccer field, badminton court, and tennis court for physical education and athletic programs.
• NWEA (Measures of Academic Progress)coreTechnology or IntegrationNWEA provides standardized MAP testing used to measure student academic growth. Students take MAP tests twice a year, normed against students worldwide and in the US. Testing covers Reading, Math, and for Grade 6+, Science.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Keystone Academy: International school near Beijing offering IB continuum (PYP/MYP/DP) with Chinese national curriculum integration. Comparable in pedagogical model and bilingual approach, though in a different Chinese city.
• BASIS International School Shenzhen: Premium international K-12 school in Shenzhen offering IB and AP curriculum to expatriate and local-international students. Direct competitor in the same Shenzhen premium international school segment.
• Yew Chung International School: Hong Kong-founded bilingual international school with a Shenzhen campus offering IB curriculum to expatriate families. Overlaps on bilingual IB model and Shenzhen/PRD market.
• Dulwich International High School Shenzhen: UK-founded premium international school in Shenzhen offering IGCSE and IB programmes to expatriate families. Comparable in target market, curriculum mix, and price tier.
• Shenzhen International Foundation School (SIFS): K-12 international school in Shenzhen serving both local-international and foreign-passport students. Comparable in scale and curriculum (IB/AP) in the same Shenzhen market.
• Shen Wai International School: Publicly-affiliated international school in Shenzhen offering IB curriculum to foreign-passport and Hong Kong/Macau/Taiwan students. Most directly comparable admission-restriction profile to SAIS.
• Harrow International School Shenzhen: UK-branded premium international school in Shenzhen offering IGCSE and A-levels to expatriate families. Comparable in premium price tier and target demographic, though with UK rather than US/IB curriculum focus.
• Nord Anglia International School Shenzhen: Premium international K-12 school in Shenzhen delivering IB curriculum with strong university placement track record. Direct competitor targeting the same expatriate family demographic.
• Shenzhen College of International Education (SCIE): Long-established international school in Shenzhen offering IGCSE, A-levels, and IB. Overlaps with SAIS on IB curriculum and expatriate student base in Shenzhen.
• Canadian International School of Shenzhen: International K-12 school in Shenzhen offering IB and Canadian curriculum for foreign-passport and local-international students. Similar positioning in Shenzhen premium international segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shenzhen-american-international-school

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shenzhen American International School