The International Montessori School of Beijing

MSB is located in Chaoyang District, Beijing at Building No. 8, 2A Xiang Jiang Bei Lu (Xiangjiang Beilu). The school site and campus pages note it sits in a villa/residential area on the edge of Chaoyang (near the Chaoyang–Shunyi junction), with standard road access and on-site campus facilities; families typically travel by car or school bus.

MSB runs a full-age programme from early years to secondary: Little Bees (6–24 months), toddler/infant and preschool (roughly 18 months–6 years), elementary (Grades 1–6 / ages ~6–12) and middle/high school through Year 12. The site lists specific pages for each stage and fee bands up to Grade 11–12.

The International Montessori School of Beijing is a co-educational day school (no boarding is advertised on the school site). It is operated as an international school and appears under the Wisdom International Education Group umbrella.

MSB publishes a student-support programme that includes EAL (English as an Additional Language), reading and library support, classroom-level differentiated support, one-to-one and small-group learning support, psychological/behavioural assessment and, where required, full-time shadowing; some supports (for example individualized IEP tutoring or additional staff) may carry extra fees. The admissions policy notes trial/assessment periods for applicants with additional needs.

MSB does not state an affiliation to a single national school system; it identifies as an international school in Beijing and is part of Wisdom International Education Group. In 2025 the school also announced a partnership to develop an American-style high school pathway with a California school district (Placentia‑Yorba Linda USD).

The school website does not indicate any religious affiliation; programme and policy pages present MSB as a non‑religious, international institution.

MSB publishes an academic calendar with term dates, school events and holiday periods but does not publish standard daily start/end times on its public pages; parents are directed to the admissions or contact team for operational details. Office/contact information and the calendar are available on the site.

MSB operates an optional school-bus service run in partnership with Beijing BAIC Taxi Group (北京北汽出租汽车集团). Routes and stops are set according to demand and are adjusted annually; the school warns it may not be able to serve addresses far outside regular routes and that mid‑year moves can affect continued eligibility. For route details and booking the site links a bus-service document and gives a bus email (busservices@msb.edu.cn) and a contact (Joseph) via the main switchboard.

MSB delivers a Montessori‑based, individualized curriculum that spans early years through secondary education (ages 0–18). The school's age bands are infant/toddler 0–3, early childhood 3–6, primary 6–12 and secondary 12–18, with age‑appropriate Montessori and project‑based learning in each stage. The full curriculum covers core literacy and numeracy, cross‑disciplinary project work and specialist programmes in science, art, music and physical education (including weekly labs, exhibitions and performances). MSB operates dual streams (bilingual Chinese/English and a pure‑English stream); bilingual students learn subjects in an immersion model while every student receives a 40‑minute daily Chinese language class and EAL support is provided as needed. At secondary level the school integrates Montessori practice with a standards‑based academic middle programme and has announced the launch of a US‑style university‑preparatory high school in partnership with PYLUSD (announcement in 2025).

MSB states that Social and Emotional Learning is embedded across the curriculum using a virtues/character-education approach (the school uses the Virtues Project), with virtues explored in classrooms, playgrounds and assemblies and reinforced in weekly celebration assemblies. MSB says this work is integrated into daily learning rather than treated as a separate subject, and aims to develop students' self-regulation, resilience and interpersonal skills. The school also runs student leadership (Student Council) and regular community events which it cites as part of pupils' social development. (Sources: MSB news on SEL; Learning at MSB).

MSB publishes a Learning Support programme on its website that lists additional provisions including regular learning support, speech therapy, psycho-educational assessment, one-to-one or small-group teaching and the option of a full-time shadow. The school says it has on-site staff to provide tailored academic and counselling support and that counselling, assessments and observations used to guide teachers are provided free of charge, although additional manpower for admitted students with existing needs may incur fees. MSB also states that applicants with known learning needs are assessed during admissions and must supply past records to allow the school to determine if it can meet the child's needs; the admissions/enrolment policy notes a probationary period during which the school may withdraw a place if it cannot meet a student's needs. MSB does not describe itself as a specialist SEN institution; it frames support as part of its general learning-support provision.

MSB publishes an EAL programme and an English department structure (Reading, Libraries and an EAL team) on its Student Support page. The school describes initial English assessments in the first two weeks of term, small-group in-class and after-school EAL lessons, phonics-focused instruction for beginner learners, and an Individualised English Programme (IEP) for pupils who need intensive support (IEP places are fee-based). MSB also states that classroom teachers receive EAL training and that preschool EC1/EC2 receive formal EAL support from specialist EAL teachers while toddlers are expected to acquire English more naturally in the classroom environment.

MSB's Student Support material states the school offers psychological/counselling support, assessment and observation to meet students' social and emotional needs and to guide classroom teachers; the school says these services are provided without charge when initiated by the school. The school's job listing for a School Counselor outlines duties to facilitate social/emotional development, provide individual support (including for low-incidence needs and autism spectrum conditions), run group guidance and social-skills activities, and consult with teachers and families. MSB therefore presents counsellor-led support and school-initiated assessment/observation as part of its approach to student mental wellbeing.

The school's public website does not publish a standalone safeguarding or child-protection policy that could be located during this review. Therefore, MSB does not appear to publicly disclose detailed safeguarding/child-protection policy documents on its website. For specific, up-to-date safeguarding policies or designated safeguarding contacts you should contact the school directly (contact details are provided on the MSB website).

1. Initial enquiry and online application — Start by completing MSB's online application form (the site labels this “Apply Now”). Parents should prepare to upload the child's passport, both parents' passports and visas (or Chinese ID where applicable), school reports (if any), one teacher recommendation, any learning‑support documentation, and payment of the RMB 3,000 application fee. Only fully completed applications are reviewed, and MSB operates rolling admissions so earlier complete submissions increase the chance of timely consideration.

2. Admissions review and interview — After your complete application is received the Admissions Director will contact you to arrange an interview or meeting; if the family is overseas MSB accepts an additional teacher recommendation in place of an in‑person interview. Parents should expect the school to check documents and past records carefully and to ask clarifying questions about the child's learning needs and school history. If your family cannot attend an in‑person interview, plan to supply the extra recommendation promptly so the application can proceed.

3. Decision and formal offer — If the school offers a place you will receive written notification. MSB requires written confirmation of enrollment within 10 working days of the offer and expects payment of the Placement (security) Deposit to secure the place; if the deposit is not received by the invoice date MSB may reassign the place. Parents should watch the invoice deadline closely and understand the deposit rules before confirming acceptance.

4. Placement deposit and what it secures — The Placement Deposit is ¥20,000 per child (a one‑time, refundable, non‑interest deposit held while the student is enrolled). The deposit secures the student's place; MSB's website explains the deposit will be refunded (less any outstanding charges) when a student leaves, according to the school's withdrawal and refund policy. Note that, under local regulations, the school cannot issue an official fapiao for the refundable placement deposit—MSB will issue a deposit receipt instead.

5. Practical requirements and probationary period — For Early Childhood applicants MSB follows Beijing Municipal Education Commission rules: the student and at least one parent must hold foreign passports and the parent must have a valid work visa (permanent‑resident cases are handled via direct contact with admissions). All new students are subject to a 20 attended‑school‑day probationary period during which MSB may withdraw acceptance if the school cannot meet the child's needs; parents should therefore disclose any past assessments or support needs up front. Also, all Early Childhood applicants must be toilet trained before their first day, and class placement is based on educational background and the child's age as of October 1.

6. Fees, other optional services and next steps after acceptance — Before finalizing acceptance, review the published tuition rates for the relevant year (MSB lists year‑by‑year tuition bands on its Fees page) and check optional services (lunch, bus) for separate charges. After paying the placement deposit and completing enrollment paperwork you will receive guidance on payment schedules, optional service sign‑ups (lunch/bus), and the calendar.

MSB maintains a waiting‑list system and gives priority to certain groups, including returning students, siblings, applicants for full‑day classes, those previously enrolled in Montessori, and applicants who were on the previous year's waiting list. The school operates rolling admissions, and places are secured only after written confirmation and payment of the ¥20,000 Placement Deposit; if the deposit is not received by the invoice deadline MSB may offer the place to another applicant. The website does not publish a public, detailed algorithm or expected waiting times for the waitlist (for example, it does not state how positions are ordered within the waiting list or the typical time a family will wait), so families who want clarity on their current position or the likelihood of an offer should contact Admissions directly.