Compare International Schools in Xiamen, China

Xiamen International School is located in the Jimei District of Xiamen, Fujian, PRC. The campus address is 262 Xinglinbei San Lu, Xinglin, Jimei District, Xiamen 361022. The 33,000-square-meter Pre-K to 12 campus opened in August 2002 and features facilities such as a library, science labs, arts spaces, and multiple sports amenities; it is about 25 minutes from central Xiamen City with convenient access to major roads. Most students access XIS by the school's own bus fleet.

XIS is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PK-5), Middle Years Programme (6-10), and Diploma Programme (11-12).

Independent, not-for-profit, co-educational day school.

Student support includes English as an Additional Language (EAL) for grades 1-9, dedicated EAL teachers in elementary and secondary, reading support in elementary, counseling services, college guidance, and an advisory program in middle and high school.

No formal country affiliation.

No religious affiliation.

The 2025-2026 calendar shows the first day of school on August 12, 2025 and 184 instructional days; the school year runs August to June. The XIS school day begins at 8:30 AM; after-school activities run on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 4:30 PM, with shorter days on Wednesdays and Fridays.

XIS operates a bus service with a modern fleet; most students travel to campus by bus, and transportation routes are coordinated by the Transportation Coordinator (email: wendylin@xischina.com.cn).

The school is a day school; boarding is not offered.

The school is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, including a parent representative selected by the community. The Board sets policies aligned with the school's mission and purpose, ensures fiscal stability, and is not involved in daily operations.

XIS follows the International Baccalaureate continuum with the Primary Years Programme for Pre-K to Grade 5, the Middle Years Programme for Grades 6–10, and the Diploma Programme for Grades 11–12. The language of instruction is English, with English as an Additional Language support for Grades 1–9 and a comprehensive language program including Mandarin and Korean. The curriculum is inquiry-based and transdisciplinary; Grade 10 students complete a Personal Project as part of the MYP, and the program emphasizes global perspectives and community engagement. In High School, students may pursue the IB Diploma or IB Courses alongside an XIS High School Diploma, with some language pathways enabling bilingual IB Diploma outcomes (e.g., Mandarin Language A and Korean Language and Literature A). The school offers multiple language pathways, including Mandarin, Korean, and additional languages for Grades 11–12, plus Spanish Ab Initio online via Pamoja. XIS is a WASC-accredited IB World School and the only IB Continuum School in Xiamen, with a track record of university placements and bilingual IB Diploma results.

Not publicly disclosed.

Publicly published exam results are not detailed; however, XIS highlights university acceptances and bilingual IB Diploma outcomes, indicating strong progression to higher education.

XIS graduates have attended universities worldwide; the school reports university acceptances during 2016–2021 and a history of placing students in reputable universities.

XIS supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) through a robust wellbeing framework that includes counseling, college guidance, English as an Additional Language (EAL), reading support in the elementary school, and an advisory program in the middle and high schools. The elementary school has a dedicated counselor for Pre-K to Grade 5 who provides education, identification, and intervention strategies for social-emotional purposes to students, teachers, and families, supporting academic success and awareness of career opportunities. The secondary school counseling program serves Grades 6–12 by helping students acquire competencies in college and career planning and exploration, knowledge of self and others, and educational development through individual planning, advisory, individual counseling, and support services. Counselors work directly with students individually, in small groups, and within classrooms, and they collaborate with parents in the college planning and research process. An advisory program in the middle and high schools further supports student well-being, aligning with XIS's emphasis on social-emotional growth as part of IB-based learning.

XIS publicly discloses English as an Additional Language (EAL) support and elementary reading support as part of its student support system, but does not publish details of a dedicated SEN department or a broader list of Special Educational Needs (SEN) provisions beyond EAL and reading support. EAL is provided with dedicated teachers in the Elementary School (one per grade 1–5) and a dedicated secondary course (grades 6–9) to support identified learners, with placement based on assessment of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The school describes multilingualism as a resource for learning and integrates EAL within its IB framework, collaborating with homeroom and specialist teachers to differentiate instruction. The lack of publicly disclosed information about a separate SEN center or broader SEN categories suggests that XIS does not present itself as a specialist SEN institution on its website. The counseling program also supports social-emotional needs as part of its holistic approach to student support.

EAL at XIS is integrated into the school's support system and is framed around language development with consideration for students' language profiles. The school recognizes multilingualism as a fact, a right, and a resource for learning, and aims to support language development across diverse language backgrounds and needs. Placement in EAL programs depends on assessment of reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills prior to enrollment to ensure students have the minimum English skills to be successful in a given grade level. Elementary School has a dedicated EAL teacher for each grade (1–5), who collaborates with homeroom and specialist teachers, while Secondary School provides a dedicated EAL course for Grades 6–9 to develop literacy and communication in social and academic contexts. The EAL philosophy and practice are embedded within the IB framework and emphasise language development as part of overall learning and identity.

Mental wellbeing is integrated into XIS's IB framework, with emphasis on social-emotional wellness as a core part of student development. The school explicitly states that social and emotional growth is as important as academic growth, and this is supported by elementary and secondary counseling services. Elementary School Counseling focuses on education, identification, and intervention strategies for social-emotional issues, supporting academic success and career awareness. Middle and High School Counseling addresses college and career planning, self-knowledge, and educational development through advisory and individual counseling, with direct student support in various formats. The mission and core values of XIS underscore balanced learning that attends to the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual aspects of students, reinforcing a holistic approach to wellbeing.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding safeguarding or child protection policies on its website. Publicly available materials describe a Health Clinic with nurses and a Counseling program that supports student wellbeing, including contact details for the Health Clinic and the Secondary Counselor, which indicates availability of welfare services on campus. For example, the Health Clinic is staffed by nurses and reachable via the Health Clinic contact information, and Paula Zhou serves as the Secondary Counselor supporting student wellbeing and college guidance. If safeguarding specifics are required, contact through the published school channels (e.g., Health Clinic or Counseling staff).

1. Inquire about XIS and gather information. Begin by using the Inquiry Form or contacting the Admissions Coordinator to learn about XIS programs, admissions requirements, and the overall process. XIS presents itself as an English-language international day school serving expatriate children and children from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, and it uses IB program frameworks. The Admissions Coordinator is Ms.

2. Submit your application. When you're ready, submit the application through the APPLY link (OpenApply) to have your materials reviewed by the admissions team. The Admissions page confirms the APPLY option and directions for initial communication.

3. Review timelines and next steps. Applications for the current year are accepted up until the end of April of that school year, and applications for the coming school year open in December each year. After submitting, you can expect further communications from the admissions team as they review your materials.

4. Admissions communications and sign-off. The Head of School/Admissions processes are conducted through the Admissions Coordinator, with formal correspondence from Ms. Julia Su. Information about programs, timelines, and next steps is provided by the admissions team as part of the application flow.

5. Enrollment steps and initial fees (upon admission). If admitted, families proceed with enrollment and payment of a registration and tuition, per the school's fee schedule.

XIS does not publish any scholarship program.

There is no published waitlist or pool policy for XIS in their admissions materials.