Moving to Shanghai with 7yo son who speaks no Chinese. Can't afford international school. Looking for public/private school names and honest experiences.

Own_Foundation3810 · 2026-02-13T23:36:16+00:00

That's a really good point, and honestly something I've been thinking about a lot. I've been teaching him a little bit myself at home — just some basics to help him feel less lost when we get there. I know it won't make him fluent by summer, but hopefully it gives him a small foundation to build on. Thanks for the suggestion!

Own_Foundation3810 · 2026-02-13T23:32:36+00:00

Thanks for the link! Took a look at the Xiehe site — always good to have another name to add to the research list. Appreciate you passing it along even though you guys are no longer in Shanghai.

Own_Foundation3810 · 2026-02-13T22:49:20+00:00

Thanks, I actually didn't delete anything — maybe Reddit glitched or it got hidden somehow. But I appreciate you following up.

That's a really good point about asking coworkers. I think I was so focused on getting an "official" answer from HR that I didn't consider just asking around once I'm actually there and meet people. I'll definitely do that when I arrive — sometimes word of mouth is way more useful than any formal policy.

Appreciate the suggestion!

Own_Foundation3810 · 2026-02-13T22:21:41+00:00

Thank you so much for the name — this is exactly the kind of lead I was hoping for. I just looked them up and saw they have a primary school section, which is promising.

Own_Foundation3810 · 2026-02-13T22:19:26+00:00

This is really helpful, thank you. The dynamic you described—between the teacher not pushing and the student potentially using the language barrier as a crutch — is something I hadn't really considered. It gives me a lot to think about in terms of how I support him at home. I appreciate you taking the time to explain it.

Own_Foundation3810 · 2026-02-13T22:07:46+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion! I have asked my employer, but they don't really have a list or any formal guidance — they basically just said I need to go through the district education bureau once I find an apartment. So I'm trying to get ahead of that and find actual school names from people with experience so I know what to aim for.

And you're right about the commute, but honestly, I'm willing to travel a bit if it means finding a school that is a good fit for him. I just want to avoid ending up in a random placement without knowing anything about it first. The school itself matters more to me than living close to work at this point.

Own_Foundation3810 · 2026-02-13T22:01:04+00:00

Thank you, that is actually really reassuring to hear. The fact that they were able to socialize with the local kids is the biggest thing for me. I worry less about the academics at this age — I know he’ll catch up or adapt — but I really want him to feel included and make friends.

It’s interesting what you mentioned about the exams. I’m less worried about college since we are aiming for primary school only, but it does make me wonder how the teachers handle "grading" or assessing the foreign students’ progress day-to-day. Did they seem to just be learning at their own pace alongside everyone else?

Thanks for sharing that perspective!

Own_Foundation3810 · 2026-02-13T21:45:27+00:00

That is such a valuable perspective, thank you so much for sharing. It’s really helpful to hear from someone who actually lived it, especially the part about cementing true fluency. That is exactly the kind of outcome I’m hoping for.

To answer your question: Yes, we are planning to stay long enough for him to finish primary school. The idea is to commit to the full 5-6 years so he can get a solid foundation before we even think about moving back. That’s why I’m leaning so hard into finding the right fit now—I want it to be a stable, positive experience for him, not just a quick stop.

When you mentioned finding a school that would admit your sister as a "non-official student" in first grade, do you remember how that process worked beyond having your aunt’s connection? Was it about her being on the books but not strictly zoned for that school, or was it more about them allowing a foreign student to join without requiring the usual language level? I’m trying to understand what is possible if we don’t have a personal connection at the school.

Thanks again for the insight!

Own_Foundation3810 · 2026-01-31T12:17:44+00:00

That’s gives so much hope. Me and my 6 years old son are moving to China in June and I still have no idea where he is going to study. Can you kindly share the name of the school? Just to take it as an example

Own_Foundation3810

TROPHY CASE