Best International Schools in Chengdu: 2026 Guide for Families

What are the best international schools in Chengdu? Chengdu has roughly eight schools for expatriate children in our directory. QSI International School of Chengdu (ages 3 to 18, AP or IB tracks, about 200 students) suits small-class seekers, Chengdu International School offers an American AP curriculum, Léman follows IPC and IB, and Malvern College Chengdu adds British boarding in Xinjin.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Anyone researching the best international schools in Chengdu will notice that the city's schools cluster in three different parts of a very large metropolitan area, and that they teach in three different national traditions: American, British and the International Baccalaureate. Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan and one of western China's main commercial centres, and its expatriate schools tend to be small, with class sizes to match.

What follows is a practical comparison for families who have a posting offer or a visa application under way: where the schools are, who is allowed to enrol, what each one teaches and how to approach the cost question when fee schedules are rarely public.

Chengdu's school geography and enrolment rules

The main schools sit far apart. Chengdu International School is in Jinjiang District, and QSI International School of Chengdu is off the south section of the Third Ring Road in the American Garden area, so the two serve families living in the southern and central districts. Léman International School is in the Tianfu New Area, a newer southern development, while Malvern College Chengdu's campus is in Xinjin, next to a high-speed rail station and a metro station according to the school's own description. Chengdu's traffic means a nominally close school can be a long commute, so test the route at the hour you would travel.

One rule applies to almost every school on this list. China's 1995 interim regulations for schools established for the children of foreign personnel, issued by the Education Commission of the People's Republic of China, say such schools enrol the children of foreigners who hold residence certificates in China and must not enrol the children of Chinese citizens, and they treat doing so as a violation. In practice that means a foreign passport for the child is normally required, and families with a Chinese-national parent should ask the school directly about eligibility before paying any fee.

Curricula on offer

American (AP): Chengdu International School delivers an American curriculum with Advanced Placement courses and says it is Cognia-accredited. QSI Chengdu offers AP courses or the IB in its secondary school.
IB and IPC: Léman International School teaches the International Primary Curriculum and the IB, and is part of the Nord Anglia Education group.
British: Malvern College Chengdu is the Chengdu campus of a British school, with day and boarding places and plans to extend to K12.

For reference, the IBO gives the PYP as ages 3 to 12, the MYP as 11 to 16 and the Diploma as 16 to 19.

Four schools to compare

QSI International School of Chengdu

QSI Chengdu is an independent, coeducational, non-profit day school from prekindergarten (ages 3 and 4) to Grade 12, part of the Quality Schools International network. Its website describes class sizes of 10 to 14 in kindergarten and elementary, 12 to 16 in middle and secondary school, with a lead teacher and an assistant in each early years class. Secondary students follow either the Advanced Placement or the IB Diploma track, and the school year runs from mid-August to mid-June in five quintiles.

English is the language of instruction and an Intensive English programme supports students below age-level English, with Chinese, French and German teachers on staff. The school says applications are accepted throughout the year but space is limited at the start of each school year, and oversubscribed classes can mean a wait list. Families who want small classes and a flexible entry point are the natural fit.

Chengdu International School

Chengdu International School teaches Pre-K to Grade 12 in English and describes itself as the largest and longest-established American-curriculum international school in the city. It says its average SAT score is 1,410, with graduates accepted at 108 university destinations, which are the school's own claims and worth checking against the most recent graduating class. It is a member of SENIA, a network for inclusive education, and says it supports students with special educational needs.

The AP route suits families aiming for United States universities, and the Jinjiang location is convenient for central districts. Ask about class sizes at the grade your child would join, as the largest schools can feel different from QSI's smaller classes.

Léman International School Chengdu

Léman belongs to Nord Anglia Education, which describes a family of 66 schools in 29 countries. The school teaches IPC and the IB and talks about personalised learning plans and a growth mindset. For internationally mobile families, the appeal is that a Nord Anglia place can sometimes ease a later move to another school in the group.

The Tianfu New Area location is a newer part of the city, so check where your employer is based and how the school bus routes run before assuming it is convenient.

Malvern College Chengdu

Malvern College Chengdu offers both day and boarding options in Xinjin, and says its campus can accommodate 1,200 students once fully operational and that it will extend its education offering to K12. The campus was designed with input from the Tsinghua University Architectural Design Institute and includes a heated swimming pool, an indoor sports hall and a theatre, according to the school's description.

The Xinjin location suits families who want boarding, or who live near the rail and metro connection, but it is a long way from the city centre. Ask which year groups are currently open, because a campus still growing may not offer every stage.

Fees in Chengdu

Fees are charged in renminbi and, with the exception of a few schools, are shared on request rather than published online. Directory bands are not available for these four schools, so any figure here would be a guess; ask each school for its 2026-27 schedule by grade.

Application and assessment fees: normally non-refundable, charged per child.
Enrolment or capital levy: a one-off payment at some schools.
Bus, lunch and uniform: often billed separately from tuition. QSI Chengdu offers lunch plans and busing.
Boarding: priced separately at Malvern College Chengdu.
Exams: AP, IB and IGCSE fees usually come on top in the final years.

The legal point matters for the budget as well: confirm eligibility with the school before you pay any application fee or deposit.

Choosing among them

Work back from university. If you want United States universities, an AP school like Chengdu International School or QSI Chengdu is direct. If you want the UK or Europe, an IB or British route is more usual.

Weigh size against choice. QSI Chengdu says it has around 200 students and class sizes of 10 to 16, which means attention but fewer electives. Larger schools offer more courses and activities.

Decide where to live first. With campuses in Jinjiang, the south ring road, Tianfu and Xinjin, your home address and school should be chosen together.

See the wider ranking

For a broader comparison, see the best international schools in Sichuan ranking on International School Advisor.

More guides to schools in Chengdu

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best international school in Chengdu for American university entry?

Chengdu International School teaches an American AP curriculum and says it is Cognia-accredited, with an average SAT score of 1,410. QSI International School of Chengdu also offers AP courses alongside the IB Diploma. Ask each for recent university destination lists rather than relying on headline averages.

Can Chinese citizens attend international schools in Chengdu?

Generally not. China's 1995 interim regulations for schools serving foreign personnel's children say they enrol children of foreigners with residence certificates and must not enrol Chinese citizens' children. Families with a Chinese-national parent should ask each school about eligibility before paying an application fee.

How many students are in Chengdu's international schools?

Sizes vary widely. QSI International School of Chengdu reports about 200 students and class sizes of 10 to 16, while Malvern College Chengdu says its Xinjin campus can hold 1,200 students once fully operational. Ask each school for current enrolment in your child's year group.