The American International School of Guangzhou (AISG) is an independent, not-for-profit, coeducational day school, founded in 1981, offering an educational program from preschool through grade 12. The 180-day academic year comprises two semesters, from August to December and from January to June.
Organization: AISG is governed by a nine-member board of governors. Six members are appointed: one by the U.S. Consul General and five by the outgoing board of governors, which come from the following background: one from among the Consular Corps of Guangzhou, one from among the business community in Guangzhou, and three from among the community at large in Guangzhou. Three are elected from the members of the American School Association of Guangzhou. Membership is automatically conferred on the parents or guardians of children enrolled in the school.
Curriculum: An international curriculum is offered in self-contained classrooms through grade 5 and in a departmentalized middle and high school setting for grades 6-12. The medium of instruction is English. AISG is authorized by the International Baccalaureate Office to offer the Primary Years Program in the elementary grades and the Diploma Program in grades 11 and 12. AISG is applying to start the Middle Year Program (MYP). While AISG offers ESL support at each campus, it does not enroll into the secondary school children with limited English language proficiency. The school also offers limited learning support at each campus. AISG enjoys a technology rich environment in which digital teaching and learning thrive. Technology includes shared and 1:1 iPads in the elementary school and 1:1 laptops in the middle and high schools. AISG provides professional development to support each teacher’s own understanding and skill development in this area. The school expects teachers to employ an appropriate range of digital technology in each class. AISG is a member of the Council of International Schools, the East Asia Regional Council of Schools, the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools, the Asia Pacific Activities Conference, and the Southern Delta Regional Conference. AISG is accredited through the Western Association of Schools.
Faculty: In the 2022-2023 school year, AISG has 223 total staff including 114 teachers, 54 of whom are U.S. citizens, 13 host-country nationals, and 26 third-country nationals. Eighty-four faculty members have at least a master’s degree.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year, enrollment was 1,100 students, including 316 U.S. citizens, 0 host-country nationals, and 784 third-country nationals.
Facilities: The elementary school is located on Ersha Island in the Pearl River near Guangzhou’s Diplomatic and Commercial District. Facilities include a large library, two art rooms, two music rooms, a gym, and 55 classrooms. The middle school and high school are located in Science Park and have 50 classrooms, science and computer labs, three art rooms, a library, separate music building, a theater, two gyms, and a playing field. All classrooms are air-conditioned and have wireless Internet access.
Finances: In the 2022-2023 school year, over 97% of the school’s income is derived from regular day school tuition and fees. The application fee (K-grade 12: RMB 2000) applies only to the school year in which the student is applying. The annual comprehensive tuition fee is PS: RMB187,000; K-grade 5: RMB210,000; grades 6-8: RMB225,000; grades 9-12: RMB260,000. The cost of transportation and school lunches are the responsibility of the parents. (All fees are quoted in RMB.)
Special Needs: Download the Special Needs Profile (2023 Special Needs- China, Guangzhou) for this school to learn more about their capability to support students with exceptionalities.
This Fact Sheet is intended to provide general information. Prospective users of the schools may wish to inquire further of A/OPR/OS or contact the school directly for more specific and up-to-the-minute information. Information and statistics are current as of September 2022 and are provided by the school.