Cities / Beijing / Beijing City International School
Beijing City International School
A non-profit, full IB continuum school in central Chaoyang - one of the few international schools genuinely accessible from the CBD without the Shunyi commute. The IDEATE arts, design, and technology pathway is a notable option at Grade 11 to…
In brief
Full-IB continuum from toddler to grade 12 in Baiziwan in Chaoyang, founded in 2005. One of the few large IB schools sitting inside central Beijing rather than out in Shunyi, which is the whole point of choosing it.
Around 1,300 to 1,400 students across PYP, MYP and Diploma, capped at roughly 20 per class, with mandatory Mandarin through Grade 6. CIS and WASC accredited. Long waiting lists are normal, especially in the lower years. 2024 senior tuition was around 290,500 RMB.
BCIS has a settled reputation for a genuinely diverse student body and a collaborative culture rather than a hothouse one. Families based in the CBD pick it primarily because the commute to Shunyi-cluster schools is brutal, and because the IB delivery is solid across all three programmes. The school is not for parents looking for British-style structure or rankings-table pressure. The MYP and DP results are strong without being marketed that way, and university destinations skew US and UK.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toddler | 2 | Annual | CN¥244,000 |
| Nursery | 3 | Annual | CN¥265,000 |
| Pre-KG | 4 | Annual | CN¥285,000 |
| KG | 5 | Annual | CN¥285,000 |
| Grades 1-5 | 6 | Annual | CN¥298,000 |
| Grades 6-8 | 11 | Annual | CN¥323,000 |
| Grades 9-10 | 14 | Annual | CN¥337,000 |
| Grades 11-12 | 16 | Annual | CN¥349,000 |
Reviews
- BCIS is consistently positioned in the second tier of Beijing international schools, behind ISB and WAB on facilities and reputation but above most others on curriculum and culture.
- Teacher community views are positive and consistent. One teacher comment said "I know people at BCIS and they're very happy"; another framed it as "good school. Non-profit. Small, but nice facilities. Good package".
- SEN support draws specific praise. One teacher said "they provide good support to SEN students, which says a lot about the school".
- The downtown Chaoyang location is widely flagged as convenient, with the trade-off that the campus is smaller than ISB or WAB.
- A minority of teacher comments flag inflexible hiring practices and salary structures that do not match advertised rates; this sits in the staff-facing pool and is not a parent-facing concern.
Head of school
Tom Egerton
Tom Egerton is the Head of Beijing City International School (BCIS), bringing over 30 years of experience in international education across Australia, Singapore, the Philippines, Myanmar, Germany, and China. Currently in his 17th year as a Head of School and 4th year at BCIS, Tom’s career was inspired by his diverse upbringing in Papua New Guinea and teaching experiences in Fiji and England. He is a passionate advocate for future-focused education, believing that schools must empower students with the mental flexibility and emotional intelligence to navigate a rapidly changing world. Tom holds a degree in education and focuses on fostering inclusive communities where students can realize their potential through personalized and collaborative learning. Outside of work, he is an avid runner and reader with a keen interest in leadership development.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 02
Academic results
- IB Average (2025) 34.0
- IB Candidates (2025) 52
- IB DP Pass Rate (2024) 83%