Dalian American International School

DAIS follows an American programme throughout. Elementary students work to Common Core State Standards and AERO standards; middle school adds quarterly Applied Studies courses built around design thinking; and high school offers more than 24 Advanced Placement courses authorised by the College Board, six A Level subjects and dual-enrolment classes through Syracuse University Project Advance, so that students can shape a pathway towards universities in the United States, the United Kingdom or elsewhere. The school publishes AP results and AP Scholar recognitions each year, and an academic and university counselling team supports applications. Performing arts are taught in collaboration with The Juilliard School through the Nord Anglia network.

The school runs a continuous programme from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12. The Early Years and Elementary School cover the youngest grades, where students follow Common Core and AERO standards with specialist lessons in art, design, music, Mandarin, physical education and library. The Middle School covers Grades 6 to 8 and adds quarterly Applied Studies courses alongside the core subjects. The High School covers Grades 9 to 12 and offers Advanced Placement courses, A Level subjects and university dual-enrolment classes, with academic and university counselling to prepare applications abroad.

DAIS states that it exists to give every student the chance to achieve personal excellence and to contribute to the global community. It describes itself as committed to an inclusive, positive and nurturing environment that promotes learning and discovery and looks after the health and wellbeing of every child, with student-teacher ratios kept low enough for individual support. Academic teams oversee academic performance, personal development and safeguarding together, and counselling and student services run alongside the academic programme.

The campus occupies 166,500 square metres in the Golden Pebble Beach National Resort and is designed around flexible learning spaces. Facilities include indoor and outdoor sports areas, a heated 25-metre swimming pool, science laboratories for different age groups, design labs equipped with 3D printers, and studios for art, dance, yoga and drama. Three libraries serve the school: the Elementary Library, the Secondary Library and a Bilingual Library, each with print and digital collections and research guides. Boarders live in small dormitories with rooms for two or four students and have access to a gym. A climbing wall and a small soccer pitch were added in the 2026 round of campus works.

Tuition is designed to be inclusive and already covers many extra-curricular activities and the global collaborations of the Nord Anglia network; it can be paid in one, two or three instalments. School lunches are charged separately, as is transport: five bus routes serve the Dalian Development Area and two serve Dalian city, with a late bus for students staying for activities. Learning support is available on request, and counselling and student services cover both pastoral care and university guidance. A nurse forms part of the boarding team. Discounts apply after three consecutive years of enrolment and for a family's third child.

DAIS is one of the few international boarding schools in north-east China and offers five-day and seven-day boarding. Students live in small dormitories with rooms for two or four, supervised by dormitory teachers, and the school describes the aim as a safe home away from home where boarders build friendships and independence. Seven-day boarders join a supervised activity programme every Saturday, compulsory for Grades 7 to 10, and evening life includes cooking, crafts, yoga, jiu-jitsu, film nights and use of the gym. Sign-out rules require parents to collect students in person during the week and to notify the dormitory office in advance of any travel.

Many extra-curricular activities are included in the tuition fee, among them the Soccer Club and the Sea Dragon Choir. Teams compete under the Sea Dragons name in ACAMIS competitions, including volleyball, and the school reports results from its spring athletics season. Weekend and summer programmes add VEX robotics for Grades 4 to 11, science clubs for Grades 3 to 10, Saturday School and a summer camp, as well as a summer camp for gifted students. Boarders take part in evening and weekend activities that include cooking classes, do-it-yourself projects, yoga, jiu-jitsu, film nights, games and workouts in the gym. Model United Nations has an established place in school life.