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Curriculum American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Taught languages English, Chamorro
Typical class size 3
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Cultural and Language, Academic and Intellectual, Leadership and Professional
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction
Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province (QISS) is located in the Laoshan district of Qingdao on a 48,000 square meter campus set against the Laoshan mountain range.
Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province has typical class sizes of 3, instruction in English.
Location
QISS is located in the Laoshan District of Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. The campus address is 232 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101. The 48,000 square meter campus sits in the Laoshan area near the Laoshan mountain range.
Stages
The school provides education from Early Childhood through High School, with divisions for Early Childhood, Lower School, Middle School and High School.
Type
The school operates as an international school licensed by the Laoshan District Board of Education and designated for foreign-resident students. It is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Additional learning support
The English Language Learner (ELL) program supports students' English language development with scheduled classes, push-in and pull-out services taught by certified ELL teachers, and regular language assessments. An on-site educational psychologist provides wellbeing support.
Country affiliation
There is no formal country affiliation stated. The school serves students from many countries and is designated for foreign residents.
Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation is stated in official materials.
School day structure
The day includes start-of-day unstructured play, formal classes, a midday lunch with a post-lunch recess, and a cafeteria offering four daily lunch options.
Bus service
QISS operates a fleet of 10 school buses to transport students to and from campus, with a bus monitor on each vehicle for safety.
Fees
Annual tuition at Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province ranges from RMB 113,360 to RMB 157,000 for 2026/27.
Application and Registration Fees - New-student registration fee: RMB 30,000. - No routine registration fee is listed for returning students in the published fee summaries.
Tuition fees (annual and per-instalment by year group) - Pre‑K / Kindergarten (PreK–K): Annual tuition RMB 113,360. Semester option (x2): RMB 61,680 per semester. Quarterly option (x4): RMB 30,840 per quarter. - Grades 1–5 (Primary): Annual tuition RMB 135,000. Semester option (x2): RMB 72,900 per semester. Quarterly option (x4): RMB 36,450 per quarter. - Grades 6–8 (Lower Secondary): Annual tuition RMB 146,000. Semester option (x2): RMB 78,840 per semester. Quarterly option (x4): RMB 39,420 per quarter. - Grades 9–12 (Upper Secondary / High School): Annual tuition RMB 157,000. Semester option (x2): RMB 84,780 per semester. Quarterly option (x4): RMB 42,390 per quarter.
Billing schedule and payment terms - The school offers structured instalment plans: a two‑instalment (semester) plan and a four‑instalment (quarterly) plan with the per‑instalment amounts shown above. Families may select the instalment plan when arranging payment. Total initial costs for new students are presented to include registration plus tuition and other mandatory items. - Published fee summaries indicate that some ancillary charges (insurance, optional services) are included in the total cost calculations for invoicing, and optional services (such as bus and lunch) are added or removed according to family selection. Specific invoice dates and internal payment deadlines are set by the school's billing process and are shown on issued invoices.
Boarding fees - Boarding is not offered at Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province; the school operates as a day school. No annual boarding fee is listed.
Other mandatory or optional costs - Bus (school transport): RMB 8,500 per year (optional service). - Lunch (school meals): RMB 5,200 per year (optional service). - Insurance and activity charges: fee summaries indicate insurance and certain activity charges are included in overall invoicing for new or returning students; details are itemised on invoices. - Items commonly charged separately (not included in the core tuition): externally administered standardized test fees, optional international programs, some optional extra‑curricular trips and personal devices or technology purchases. These items are typically invoiced separately when applicable. - Uniforms and one‑off starter costs: no fixed uniform price is published in the publicly available fee summaries; uniform and school‑supply costs are additional and vary by family and supplier.
Refund information - Published fee summaries used for the fee breakdown do not present a detailed, itemised public refund policy in the fee summary pages. Refund terms for registration, deposits and tuition (including deadlines and refund percentages) are determined by the school's official financial and enrollment policies and are specified on formal enrollment documentation and invoices.
Fee payment options - The school processes applications through an online application portal. Tuition and associated school fees are invoiced and settled according to the billing instructions on those invoices. Publicly available fee summaries and the school's admissions links indicate online application processing and standard invoicing; banks transfers and the school's invoicing system are commonly used for settlement of tuition and ancillary fees. Specific accepted payment methods (for example: domestic bank transfer in RMB, international T/T, online portal card payments, WeChat/Alipay) are detailed on invoices and in the school's finance communications. Families should follow the payment instructions shown on official invoices when paying.
Academics
Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province teaches American Curriculum, Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum for students aged 0 to 0.
Curriculum
QISS offers Pre-K through 12 education with a US-based Core Curriculum aligned to the Common Core and College Board/AP standards, an on-site AP/SAT testing center, and a College Counseling program. Lower School (Kindergarten–Grade 5) uses four units of inquiry with authentic, performance-based assessments and language development in English and Mandarin. Middle School (grades 6–8) provides a fixed, inquiry-based program with courses in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Chinese, Physical Education, Visual Art, Music, Drama, Information Technology, Health and Communications Skills. High School (grades 9–12) centers on core classes based on US Common Core, College Board, and AP standards, with electives and a menu of AP courses including AP Calculus AB, AP Chinese Language and Culture, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Biology, AP Physics, AP Computer Science, AP Statistics, and more. The English Language Learner (ELL) program provides push-in and pull-out services, with WIDA screening and exit criteria to help students access mainstream classes.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
QISS implements a whole-school Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program through the Leader in Me framework, which is based on the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and emphasizes leadership for every student, a culture of student empowerment, and the development of the whole person; SEL is embedded across daily lessons, routines, and school life and is measured against CASEL competencies and ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors, with related parent workshops and wellbeing-focused activities.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Public information on specific SEN provision or whether QISS operates as a specialist SEN institution is not disclosed; the school emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of its community culture.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
QISS provides English Language Learners (ELL) support with scheduled classes, push‑in and pull‑out services, and collaboration between ELL and content teachers; the ELL program is taught by certified ELL teachers and uses a WIDA screener at enrollment with annual progress assessments to determine placement and exit criteria.
Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing is central to learning at QISS, anchored in Leader in Me and aligned with CASEL and ASCA Mindsets & Behaviors, with a school counseling program accessible to all students and staff, workshops for parents and students, and monthly PEP talks to support emotional health and balance.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding at QISS follows the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and ITFCP guidance; there are four designated safeguarding officers, annual safeguarding and child protection training for all staff, and thorough background checks (police clearance every two years) for applicants, with formal policies and contact points available for reporting concerns.
Admissions
FAQs
What curriculum does Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province follow?
QISS offers Pre-K through 12 education with a US-based Core Curriculum aligned to the Common Core and College Board/AP standards, an on-site AP/SAT testing center, and a College Counseling program.
What age range does Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province serve?
The school serves students from age 0 to 0.
What are the tuition fees?
Annual fees range from RMB 113,360 to RMB 157,000. Contact the school for the full fee schedule and any additional charges.
Is the school co-educational?
The school is described as co-educational.
Where is Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province located?
QISS is located in the Laoshan District of Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. The campus address is 232 Songling Road, Qingdao 266101. The 48,000 square meter campus sits in the Laoshan area near the Laoshan mountain range.
When was Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province established?
The school was established in 1998.
Who leads Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province?
The school is led by Dr. Brian Brumsickle.
Does the school provide learning support for students with special educational needs?
Public information on specific SEN provision or whether QISS operates as a specialist SEN institution is not disclosed; the school emphasizes diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of its community culture.
What languages are used for instruction?
English is the language of instruction; The English Language Learner (ELL) program supports students' English development with scheduled classes, push-in and pull-out services, and a year-long English Development course.
What extracurricular activities are available?
Fine Arts is a feature of QISS's co-curricular program. The Fine Arts page describes a focus on visual arts and a virtual art gallery where students create, critique, and display artwork.
What accreditations does Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province hold?
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) — QISS is fully accredited by The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges.
Is there a school bus service?
QISS operates a fleet of 10 school buses to transport students to and from campus, with a bus monitor on each vehicle for safety.
