Comparing 3 schools side by side in USD.
The Tianjin International School campus is at 4–1 Sishui Dao, Hexi District, Tianjin 300222, China. The campus sits in Hexi District and is a three‑floor facility housing the Early Childhood Center (ECC), Elementary, and Secondary divisions. It features 75 modern classrooms, two libraries, a STEAM wing with science labs and a robotics lab, art studios, an indoor gym, an outdoor soccer field, and a 350+ seat auditorium.
The school serves Foundation Class–Kindergarten, Elementary Grades 1–6, and Secondary Grades 7–12.
Co-educational; day international school.
English Language Support (ELS) services A and B are available for students needing additional language support. Secondary offers Learning Support with a Learning Support Teacher and Co-teacher. The school describes Academic Special Needs provisions in the admissions materials with services adjusted to the level of need.
There is no formal country affiliation noted; the school is part of the LifePlus international school network.
No religious affiliation is stated in official materials.
The school day runs from 8:00 to 16:00, Monday through Friday.
A bus service is provided with multiple routes. Morning pick‑up routes include Apple, Litchi, Grape, Orange and Mango lines with published times; tracking is via the iBusChina app.
The school has a cafeteria on campus. The Landing coffee shop provides on-site refreshments.
Tianjin International School in Tianjin, China provides Pre-K through Grade 12 education in English and follows an American curriculum, with Cognia accreditation. The school is organized into Early Childhood (FC–K), Elementary (Grades 1–6), and Secondary (Grades 7–12). Elementary focuses on sustained language development with a Daily 5 Literacy program, solid mathematics instruction, and deliberate character development, complemented by learning beyond the classroom and active parent partnerships. Secondary offers a broad Advanced Placement (AP) program, with about 15 AP courses and a Dual Enrollment option, and includes the AP Capstone Diploma. Across divisions, university and career planning and a robust co-curricular program support leadership development and lifelong learning.
Tianjin International School supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a dedicated counseling team and advisory teachers within a safe, caring community. The counseling team addresses emotional and social difficulties, helps students build emotional resilience, navigate interpersonal relationships, and manage stress. Follow-up and collaboration sessions are arranged to plan long-term social-skill training and self-esteem building. The environment is designed to be safe and supportive, with on-site health staff and counseling as part of student well-being. The school emphasizes SEL as an ongoing practice supported by counseling services and student-support structures.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision, including types of needs supported, staff qualifications, or whether a dedicated SEN unit exists.
Tianjin International School provides Pre K–12 education in English. The Early Childhood Center uses English immersion to support language development, and the Elementary program emphasizes sustained language development and language arts to support reading, writing, listening and speaking. Language development is presented as a central feature of the curriculum across the lower grades. Explicit EAL staff, programs, or targeted EAL classes are not detailed in publicly available materials.
Mental wellbeing is supported through a school counseling team and advisory teachers who care for students and provide social-emotional support. Counselors address emotional and social difficulties, help students develop resilience, navigate relationships, and manage stress, with follow-up sessions for ongoing social-skill training and self-esteem building. A Health Office with a trained healthcare professional is on duty daily from 8:00 to 17:00. The school monitors air quality daily at 8:00 under nurse guidance and adjusts activities to protect health, including for students with asthma. Safeguarding and child-protection practices are integrated into school routines through established policies and designated staff.
Safeguarding is underpinned by Child Safety Policies and a Code of Conduct, with regular training for staff, volunteers, and students. Two staff members in each school are designated as Child Safety Specialists to raise awareness and respond to concerns. Policies and Procedures (English) govern safeguarding, with confidentiality maintained when concerns are raised. A confidential channel to raise concerns is available via an online form, and responses are handled by designated staff. The safeguarding framework integrates with on-site Health Office procedures to support student safety.
1. Step 1: Submission. Tianjin International School uses a rolling admissions policy and accepts applications throughout the year. To start, complete and submit the online application form. This step focuses on collecting basic information about your family and your child as a precursor to the rest of the process.
2. Step 2: Paperwork. The school will request supporting documents for both the applicant and the child. Typical documents include copies of your passport and visa or residence permit, and your child's immunization record, as well as previous school records or transcripts. All documents must be in English or translated into English. An Enrollment Deposit is required to reserve your child's space.
3. Step 3: Assessment. You will be invited to come to the school for an interview, and your child may be asked to take an assessment test in math, reading, and language. The admissions office will schedule any required tests as needed. This step helps the school assess readiness and fit with the program.
4. Step 4: Decision. After the process is complete, you will be notified within about one week of the decision. The outcome can be an acceptance, a decline, or placement of your child's name in the waiting pool. If accepted, you will be asked to pay the enrollment deposit and prepare to start school. Age-based placement uses September 30 as the cut-off: FC must be 3 by Sept 30, JK 4, K 5, and Grade 1 6 in the enrolment year.
Tianjin International School offers the TIS Scholars Award for secondary students. The scholarship targets tenth-grade applicants and provides either a full or a partial tuition scholarship for the eleventh and twelfth grades if accepted. Applicants must complete an essay about themselves, create a video detailing their accomplishments and efforts, and participate in an interview with a scholarship panel. The award is for up to two years, and recipients may later present the award to universities along with the school's confirmation. In 2025–2027, four scholarship recipients were celebrated, including both internal and external applicants.
The admissions process can result in placement of your child's name in the waiting pool if the application is not immediately accepted. The waiting pool is part of the decision pathway described in the final step, indicating that you may be offered a place when vacancies arise.
The school is located at No. 72, Third Avenue, TEDA, Tianjin, China 300457. It sits in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) in the Binhai district, a residential area with an expatriate population. The campus is in a residential section of TEDA, about ten minutes from Tanggu and about fifty minutes from central Tianjin by road.
The school serves students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. It is organized into Pre-Kindergarten, Primary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12).
TEDA International School is a government-owned, non-profit, non-sectarian, coeducational day school. It operates as the international division of TEDA International School within the Binhai-area public school system and is open to foreigners residing in TEDA.
English language learners receive additional support from specially trained teachers. Students with mild learning and social-emotional needs receive support from specialized staff. High school language support is not available.
There is no country-specific affiliation. The school is government-owned and part of the Binhai-area public school system in Tianjin, China.
The school is non-sectarian and has no religious affiliation.
The school provides a full-day program for Pre-K through Grade 12. The divisions are Pre-Kindergarten; Primary K-5; Middle School; and High School. Start/end times are not published publicly and are communicated to families during the admissions process.
A dedicated school bus service is not listed on the official pages. Transportation details should be confirmed with the admissions team.
The school is a day school; no boarding is provided.
The school is government-owned, non-profit, non-sectarian and coeducational. It was established in 1995 to serve foreign nationalities in the TEDA area and operates as the international division of TEDA International School within the Binhai-area public school system. It is governed by the Binhai Culture and Education Development Office and receives legal oversight and financial approval from the Superintendent of TEDA International School. The Headmaster leads the school; Administrative and Academic Leadership Teams handle decision-making; the Steering Committee, comprising parents, teachers, and a TEDA representative, oversees policy development and financial decisions. All programs are funded by tuition fees, with no subsidies from the local government.
TEDA International School teaches in English and uses a U.S.-influenced, college-preparatory curriculum from Pre-K through Grade 12, with English-language learner support. Pre-Kindergarten uses HighScope, a play-based, developmentally appropriate curriculum, and exposes students to Chinese, music, library, dance and fitness to develop language, social and cognitive skills. Primary K-5 focuses on growth in character and learning through a differentiated cross-curricular program that includes the arts, and implements the Virtues in Action program (VIVA) within a Positive Discipline framework. Middle School follows developmentally appropriate standards and benchmarks, with an emphasis on strong teacher expertise and relationships to prepare students for high school and beyond. High School offers a wide array of Advanced Placement courses and an American diploma, with electives in visual and performing arts, computer technology, social sciences and physical education. The school notes small class sizes and a global university pathway, with 12 AP courses and destinations such as Boston University, UCLA and the University of Toronto.
SEL is integrated through a social-emotional framework based on the Positive Discipline model, with English-language support and specialized staff for diverse learners.
SEN support is provided by a learning support team for mild learning differences and by language support teachers to assist English learners; language support teachers work with regular classroom teachers to provide accommodations and ensure access to learning.
English language learners receive specialized support through an immersion-style program, with language support teachers working alongside regular teachers to develop academic English proficiency.
Guidance Counseling provides support for academic, social and emotional needs, including stress management and coping skills, and college/university planning.
The school requires teachers to commit to child safeguarding and protection and to uphold the UN Rights of the Child.
Step 1 — Eligibility and fit: The school enrolls children from age 2 years 9 months through 18 years and requires a passport from outside Mainland China. Citizens from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau are eligible for admission. Priority is given to returning students and to siblings of currently enrolled students. Understanding these eligibility rules helps families determine whether the school is a fit before preparing an application.
Step 2 — Admissions criteria: Admissions is selective and seeks an appropriate match between the student and the School. Decisions hinge on several factors, including the child's age and birthdate, developmental readiness, prior academic and social success, English language proficiency, confidential recommendation forms, admissions test scores, and family interview results. It also considers any specialized learning or developmental needs and the current grade level capacity.
Step 3 — Additional needs: Applicants with mild developmental, learning, emotional, or physical disabilities may be admitted based on available support and program capacity. Applicants who lack proficiency in English may be admitted based on grade level and available support, though no language support is available at the high school level. This helps families understand the school's inclusion approach and what supports might be available.
Step 4 — Application process: The admissions period is rolling; families may apply at any time. A complete application and admissions file are required before an offer of admission can be made. For admissions during the school year, start dates may vary by grade level and program needs. Students transferring during the school year must have maintained continuous enrollment at a school in another region or country for that school year.
Step 5 — Visit or inquiry: Families are invited to arrange a visit or ask questions. The admissions team can be contacted by email and by phone at +86-22-6622-6297 to schedule a tour, discuss individual learning needs, or clarify any part of the process.
Step 6 — Offer and enrollment: After the admissions file is complete, the school makes an admission decision and an offer of admission may be issued. Families then coordinate enrollment and any required start dates, noting that start dates can vary by grade and program needs.
The admissions information does not describe any waitlist or pooling system.
71 Third Avenue, Tianjin TEDA (Economic-Technological Development Area), Tianjin 300457, People's Republic of China. The campus is in the Tianjin TEDA development zone, an area known for international education resources. The Maple Leaf Education District in Tianjin encompasses Maple Leaf schools in the region, including the TEDA campus.
The school serves students from Kindergarten through Grade 12, with a structure that includes elementary, middle, and high school divisions. The Tianjin TEDA campus explicitly notes programs across these three levels within the Maple Leaf system.
The campus is part of a private international school network; it operates as a co-educational institution. Maple Leaf International Schools provide a boarding option, with on‑campus housing and meals; the TEDA campus follows the same model.
ESL is a core component of Maple Leaf's curriculum, with dedicated ESL instruction and materials for elementary, middle, and high school levels. The school also provides full-time counsellors and student-support staff to assist with independent study and overall student well‑being.
The school is not government‑affiliated; it is part of Maple Leaf Educational Systems, a private international school group. Maple Leaf International School–Tianjin TEDA is described as an international boarding school within the Maple Leaf Education Group.
No religious affiliation is indicated.
Start and end times are not published publicly; families receive the daily schedule as part of admissions materials.
Public information on a school-provided bus service for the TEDA campus is not published.
The school is a full-time boarding school. On-site facilities include dormitories, a cafeteria, and a gym, with a mature boarding-student management system supporting daily life. Primary, middle, and high school divisions are offered with boarding available for students across these grades.
There are on-site dining facilities (a cafeteria) to serve boarding and day students.
The school is part of the Tianjin Maple Leaf Education District, established in May 2020 within Maple Leaf Education Group. The district comprises Maple Leaf School – Tianjin TEDA, Maple Leaf School – Huayuan, and Maple Leaf Kindergarten. Maple Leaf Educational Systems operates in China as part of the Maple Leaf Education Group.
Maple Leaf School Tianjin TEDA (Tianjin TEDA Maple Leaf) offers a K–12 program blending Chinese and Western educational philosophies, with instruction delivered in English and Chinese and a multilingual language program from Kindergarten onward. The Kindergarten curriculum is a multilingual, theme-based program featuring arts, physical education, science, and language development. The Elementary program follows the Nine-Year Compulsory Education framework, with an emphasis on English and a broad range of elective courses to support holistic development. The Middle School curriculum continues under the Nine-Year framework, with a strong focus on English proficiency (target vocabulary around 5,500 words) and integrated Chinese–Canadian program elements. The High School follows Maple Leaf's World School/OSSD pathway, offering Ontario Secondary School Diploma recognition and a slate of AP courses, IELTS preparation, Mandarin language and culture, and Chinese/English language integration; external AP exams and internal language/math assessments support university admissions globally.
The school supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through structured mental health and life-skills education. On March 1, 2024, the school hosted a psychological health and life education lecture delivered by external specialists including 6Q Education mentors, a senior family-education facilitator, a psychological counselor, and a child-education lecturer, with the session attended by both secondary and younger students. The initiative is described as strengthening minors' psychological safety and self-protection awareness. External safeguarding events, such as law-education discussions, are used to promote student safety and social-emotional wellbeing. The school has been visited by Tianjin Municipal Education Commission experts to supervise the mental health education program, indicating formal oversight. Maple Leaf's boarding program also provides trained counsellors who offer full-time student support outside class time.
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding SEN (Special Educational Needs) support.
Maple Leaf is an English-intensive education system. All Maple Leaf schools provide extensive ESL instruction in preparation for the Maple Leaf World School Program (MLWSP). At elementary and middle school levels, students study Maple Leaf English and Maple Leaf English for Young Learners, with at least 12 English classes weekly, half of which are taught by native English speakers. All ESL teachers hold degrees and ESL certification. For students not yet ready for full immersion, there is an ESL Foundations and ESL Bridging pathway designed to transition students into the MLWSP. The program aims to help students think in English to support academic work in high school.
Mental wellbeing support at MLS Tianjin includes structured mental health education and related activities. A March 1, 2024 session on psychological health and life education was delivered by external experts, targeting both upper and lower school groups. The school has had supervisory visits from Tianjin Education Commission officials to review mental health education, reflecting formal oversight. The approach includes inviting qualified professionals to address students' mental health and safety needs. These efforts sit alongside broader safeguarding activities aimed at student wellbeing.
Safeguarding and child protection are supported through targeted safety education activities. On March 6, 2024, a police officer led a safeguarding-focused law-education session on campus to promote safety and self-protection. The school also conducts campaigns addressing telecom scams and campus bullying as part of its safeguarding efforts. External oversight, including visits by Tianjin Education Commission experts, accompanies these activities to review safeguarding and mental health education provisions. The combination of law-enforcement education and external supervision demonstrates the school's commitment to student safety and protective practices.
1. Initial consultation: The Admissions team begins with an in-person meeting or an email-based discussion to understand your family's goals and the student's needs. Language support is available in Chinese, English, Korean, Russian, and Japanese to facilitate the conversation. This step helps determine program options (e.g., CSL in a Chinese program or MLWSP) and sets expectations for next steps, timelines, and required documents.
2. Submit application: Submit a completed application form (available from the admissions office or as a downloadable file) along with the required documents: the student's passport copy, birth certificate copy, guardian's passport copy with signature, school transcript with English or Chinese translations, any graduation certificate if applicable, two passport-sized photos, and a non-refundable application fee of 100 USD.
3. Application evaluation: Applicants from non-English-speaking backgrounds undergo an entrance examination covering English, Chinese, and Math. Applicants from English-speaking backgrounds have their academic history reviewed by the MLWSP Principal or a designated administrator, with testing in Chinese and Math and a comprehensive English assessment as part of the process.
4. Admission: If admissible, options depend on the chosen pathway. For Foreign Nationals Schools (BC system), admission to the CSL intensive year or the appropriate grade level is offered, with full tuition payment required to obtain the GW202 visa form and an official acceptance letter provided. For Elementary and Middle Schools (Chinese system), admission to the CSL intensive year or appropriate grade level is offered, again with full tuition payment required for the GW202 visa and an acceptance letter issued. For High Schools (MLWSP), admissible students may enter the Foundations Program, the Bridging Program, or the Full Academic Grade 10 Program, with the same requirement for full tuition payment to support the GW202 visa process and an acceptance letter issued.
5. Arrival and school registration: On arrival, families present the acceptance letter, an authenticated birth certificate, an authenticated guardian's notarized document if the guardian is not staying with the student in China, the Foreigner Medical Examination results, any required residency permits, and evidence that tuition has been paid.
6. Begin classes: Students start classes after completing registration and arrival formalities. Application Deadlines are Fall semester (August 22) or Spring semester (February 27), so families should plan accordingly to ensure placement for the desired term.
7. Fees: Upon admission, full payment of tuition is required to support visa documentation (GW202).
Scholarship programs exist within Maple Leaf China. One notable program is the Zhou Enlai Class, which includes a tier of scholarships—specifically a Scholarship Zhou Enlai Class supported by the Sherman Jen Educational Foundation. Details can be obtained by downloading the MLES Scholarship ZEL Program Profile. Additionally, Maple Leaf China describes broader Scholarship Programs as part of its partnerships and programs, indicating that there are institutional awards and potential student selection support in collaboration with university partners.
There is no published waitlist or pool policy described in Maple Leaf's China admissions materials.
