Xi'an International School

Xi'an International School is located in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, in the Yan Ta District (Yan Ta Qu). The address is Yan Ta Qu Yu Dou Lu

188, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710065. The school serves international families and is located in an urban Xi'an district with standard transport access.

The school serves Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade. It includes Elementary and Early Middle School, followed by High School (Grades 9–12) with AP and AP Capstone Diploma options.

Private, international day school. It is co-educational.

An English Language Program (ELP) provides targeted English language support for students, including after-school ELP for Elementary and Middle School and for High School during Elective periods; cost is RMB 18,000 per year. The school also provides 1 Special Education Paraprofessional, an ESL Coordinator, and a School Counselor to support students with learning needs; a School Nurse provides health services on campus.

The school has no official country affiliation.

No religious affiliation is listed.

The day includes a morning start with advisory/homeroom, class time until about 3:30 p.m., then After School Activities from 3:45–4:45 p.m. Lunch periods run 11:00–11:57 (Elementary) and 12:00–12:50 (Secondary).

XIS offers a school bus service. Bus fees are 11,000 RMB for a full year (normal time) or 8,000 RMB for one semester; transportation after ELP or ASA brings the total to 13,000 RMB (full year) or 9,000 RMB (semester). Bus routes comply with Chinese regulations, and families may opt to use XIS-arranged bus services.

XIS offers Pre-K through 12 on an American-style curriculum with an immersive English environment; daily core classes in English, Chinese, math, science, and social studies are taught in small classes (about 15 students) with at least 250 minutes per week devoted to English and math. Elementary uses Math-in-Focus (Singapore-based) for Pre-K–7; 8th–12th follow tracks including Algebra I/II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB/CD. Science is NGSS-aligned: Pre-K–5 uses Into Science; 6th–12th offers iScience-based courses plus AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science; Health is included for 6–10. Social Studies uses an XIS-created curriculum with AERO standards for Pre-K–5; 6th–12th includes World Studies, US History, Economics, and Government using AERO standards. ELA uses Reading Street for Pre-K–5 and My Perspectives for 6th–12th, with Wordly Wise 3000 and Writing Coach for vocabulary and grammar. The High School program includes six AP courses (Biology, Calculus BC, Chemistry, Statistics, US History) plus AP Capstone; graduation requires 22 credits and on-site SAT and AP testing. Chinese instruction runs through the Marco Polo program across all grades, with advancement tests and credit-bearing Chinese courses in Grades 9–12.

XIS supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a weekly Advisory Program in which all students and teaching staff participate; during the first 10 minutes of each school day, students work in small groups with a staff member using an Advisory Workbook, covering topics such as emotional health and well-being, stress reduction, healthy hobbies, technology use, and career/college planning.

The site does not publicly disclose information about SEN provision, including which kinds of needs XIS can support or whether it is a specialist SEN institution.

The English Language Program (ELP) was established in October 2018 and is overseen by the XIS Superintendent and Principal, Paul Wendler, and Miss Harris; it offers interactive, small-group instruction focused on reading, speaking, writing, vocabulary, grammar, and content vocabulary, with Elementary/Middle after-school sessions and High School elective offerings, at a cost of 18,000 RMB per year.

Mental wellbeing is supported through the Advisory Program's focus on emotional health and well-being, and through Nurse Care, which provides annual health checks and cares for students' physical, mental, and social well-being.

Safeguarding is addressed via a formal Child Protection system, including a clear code of conduct and MTSS, a dedicated Child Protection Team, a flowchart for action, a Child Protection reporting form, and reporting channels (staff, students, and the Warrior Voice Box) with contact details.

1. Eligibility and initial documentation: XIS accepts applications from eligible students regardless of race, gender, religion, class, or economic status, but applicants must hold a passport issued by a country other than the People's Republic of China. This means you'll need to confirm the family's citizenship status and gather required documents for review. The document check list includes a passport/visa info page, transcripts or academic records from previous schools, any special learning needs documentation if applicable, and medical documentation if applicable. Having these items ready helps streamline the intake review before moving to testing and interviews. Evidence of eligibility and documents is reviewed as part of the admissions flow.

2. Application submission and registration start: Submit the application and ensure all required documents are prepared, then proceed to Begin Registration Process. The Document Check List items—passport/visa pages, previous school records, special learning needs documentation, and medical documentation—should be in hand for quick review. The school provides a portal for initiating registration, which consolidates the submission and next steps. Completing this step is necessary before language testing and interviews can occur.

3. Language testing and early interview options: For G1–G12, a Standard English Proficiency Test covering speaking, listening, reading and writing is required. For Pre-K and 1st Grade 5, there is a question-based student interview. If English skills are low, admission will not be offered at this time; students with moderate English proficiency may be admitted if they enroll in the after-school English Language Program for an additional fee.

4. Principal interview: Parents and students are required to have an interview with the school principal prior to enrollment. This interview is an opportunity to learn about XIS philosophy, curriculum, and facilities, and to have any additional questions answered. The interview also helps align expectations between family and school before formal enrollment.

5. Entrance exam and placement evaluation: All new students take a basic entrance exam that covers reading, writing, grammar and punctuation, as well as speaking and listening. The Admissions Committee uses the test results to assess proficiency and determine appropriate placement to ensure the school can meet each student's needs. This step directly informs class assignment and supports proper placement.

6. Admissions decision and placement: Following testing, the Admissions Committee evaluates proficiency and uses the results to assist placement decisions. Placement recommendations aim to align student needs with XIS curricula and programs. Families should expect a placement outcome based on test performance and demonstrated readiness.

7. Visa and enrollment processing: XIS can provide student visas after students are officially enrolled. This step follows enrollment confirmation and is necessary for international students to study in China. Families should coordinate visa documentation as part of the enrollment process.

8. Fees, payment, and early enrollment incentives: Prices listed are for the 2025-2026 school year and may change. Early enrollment discounts are available if all admissions policy steps are completed and payment is made in full, with deadlines of May 23, 2025 (10% discount) and June 20, 2025 (5% discount). New student registration is ¥5,000 (non-refundable, payable upon acceptance). A separate ¥1,000 placement and English Language Proficiency test fee is required prior to testing. Additional fees include a school bus option (full year ¥11,000 or semester ¥8,000), English Language Program ¥10,000 per semester, IEP/LEP tuition ¥15,000 per semester, and ASA fees (to be determined). Full-year tuition ranges by grade are listed (e.g., Pre-K ¥100,500; 1st Grade 5–5th Grade ¥137,300; 12th Grade ¥165,500). No discounts apply for one-semester enrollment. Bank transfer details and related deadlines are provided for discount eligibility.

The school does not publish traditional scholarships.

The admissions materials do not describe any waitlist or pool policy.