The Western International School of Shanghai

The Western International School of Shanghai (WISS) is a forward-looking school that has been inspiring young people from around the world since 2006. Our diverse and compassionate community is unique and provides the ideal environment for students to explore their passions, to develop holistically, and to succeed.

WISS is a leading international school in Shanghai and the first and only full continuum IB World School in mainland China offering the four programmes of the International Baccalaureate (IB): The Primary Years Programme (IBPYP), the Middle Years Programme (IBMYP), the Diploma Programme (IBDP), and the Career-related Programme (IBCP).

We continually strive for high standards of professional performance in international education and hold WASC Accreditation. Additionally, WISS was recently granted membership in the Council of International Schools (CIS), which is the first step towards obtaining CIS Accreditation.

Our small student-teacher ratio allows our students a personalized and flexible learning experience. WISS places an emphasis on student-centered learning, both inside and outside the classroom walls. As part of our balanced curriculum, our students are able to choose from a wide variety of creative arts courses and athletic offerings.

At the Western International School of Shanghai, we offer a globalized international education for students ages 2.5-17+. Throughout these age groups, our academics place a strong focus on student-centered learning. We combine academic rigor with a focus on Creative Arts through our Visual Arts, Music, Drama, and Film and Media programs.

As an international school in Shanghai, China, we believe our student’s learning experience should reflect the globally-minded, diverse, and technological world we live in. Following the IB philosophy, we nurture our students to inquire, think independently, and drive their own learning. WISS cultivates healthy, balanced, confident and ethical people; striving to challenge and stimulate students to inquire, wonder, discover, and create each day. We aim to send into the world brave, compassionate, internationally minded global citizens with the skill and intellect to help shape the future.

Located on the western side of Shanghai, close to many popular housing compounds in the expatriate community, WISS has one of the largest international school campuses in Shanghai with facilities for Early Years, Primary and Secondary spread out over 18 acres. Our Early Years building is a purpose-built facility specially designed for our youngest learners by Weimar Architects of the Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany.

The modern campus features open plan, bright classrooms equipped with ceiling air purification units, a well-resourced library with areas for Early Years, Primary, and Secondary, a large cafeteria, two cafes, and a multi-function community room. WISS also boasts state of the art science and technology labs equipped with 3Dprinters, and laser cutters as well as the most up to date hardware and software for design. Primary students use the Jungle for science and cooking and the Da Vinci Innovation Space for robotics and engineering.

Our Creative Arts program boasts spacious art studios, a black box classroom theatre, the Orsini Theatre, and sleek music studios. Sports facilities include both grass and Astroturf football fields, a running track, basketball courts, a gymnasium equipped with a rock-climbing wall, and two swimming pools.

Afternoon Activities are a mandatory part of the school day for Early Years and Primary students at the Western International School of Shanghai. Afternoon Activities are teacher-driven and based on our teachers sharing their hobbies, passions, and expertise with our students. Various activities are offered and led by our teachers ranging from yoga to rock-climbing to cake boss. The activities run on a 6-week block schedule giving students the chance to sample 4 different activities throughout the year. These activities are built into the school day to give students the opportunity to try new activities and encourage them to embrace the IB learner trait of being a risk-taker in trying something new.

WISS offers a vibrant array of extra-curricular activities and is home to world-class academies, such as the ISTA Performing Arts Academy and the Stoke City FC Football Academy as well as offering unique opportunities to develop leadership such as GAIL, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, and MUN. After School Activities are intended to extend the students’ opportunities to further develop their passions and skills. These activities are student-driven and represent a cross-section of local and school-based providers. There are many after-school activities offered daily and on weekends. Some of the activities available include a variety of sports, mother tongue language clubs, Student Government, Community Choir, Community Orchestra, instrument lessons, drama, Little Chefs, Robotics, and many others.

Our school is a member of the China International School Sports Association (CISSA), Shanghai Schools Sports Association (SSSA), Shanghai International Schools Athletic Conference (SISAC), and the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS).

The WISS community represents over 50 different nationalities, offering a truly international learning environment, while still fostering an appreciation and respect for our host country through our well-developed Mandarin language and literature classes and the relationships we’ve built by being actively engaged in our local community.

Our community service programs enable our young people to help others and by doing so, acquire a greater understanding of what it means to be an inspiration to those around them. Whether our students are with us for a year or two or stay through to graduation and move on to the university of their dreams, we want our young people to look back on their time at WISS as a time when their love of learning was awakened, and they began to touch the lives of those around them. WISS is uniquely placed to promote new perspectives and broaden the minds of the children in our care, as well as deepen their sense of understanding and wonder.

WISS prizes academic achievement, communication, holistic learning, and intercultural awareness. Our goal is for each child to enter the world as a well-balanced global citizen with a desire to contribute to the future as a leader.

Inspiring minds to shape the future.

Ages: 2.5-17+

Curricula: The Western International School of Shanghai is a leading international school in Shanghai and the first and only full continuum World IB School in mainland China offering the four programmes of the International Baccalaureate (IB): The Primary Years Programme (IBPYP), the Middle Years Programme (IBMYP), the Diploma Programme (IBDP), and the Career-related Programme (IBCP).