Cities / Guangzhou / ISA Science City International School
ISA Science City International School
ISASC is a purpose-built IB World School in Huangpu's Science City district, serving around 2,200 students aged 2 to 18 across the full PYP-MYP-DP continuum. The campus - opened in 2020 - holds WELL Gold v2 certification, the only K-12…
In brief
A 2,200-place IB World School at the junction of Guangzhou Science City and Tianhe District, opened in August 2020 by ISA International Education Group. Authorised across PYP, MYP and Diploma Programme.
Lee Sanders leads. The senior team was assembled from established names including Wesley, Harrow, Singapore UWC, Chinese International School and the English Schools Foundation, and prior head David Edwards brought 26 years of international leadership to the launch. Boarding sits alongside day. The Class of 2025 secured 149 university offers with around 721,000 USD in scholarships, including Pomona, UCLA, UCL, LSE, Tsinghua, Peking and the Hong Kong top three.
Parent comment runs warmly on facilities, IB delivery and the broader culture of the school. The Science City location is its own reason for choosing the school: families based in the Huangpu and eastern Tianhe corridor avoid the long bus run that comes with the Baiyun and Panyu campuses. Hurun ranked the school in its top ten for China in 2023.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| FS1 (Early Years 1) | 2 | Annual | CN¥220,000 |
| KG1 / FS2 (Early Years 2) | 3 | Annual | CN¥220,000 |
| KG2 / Year 1 | 4 | Annual | CN¥250,000 |
| G1 / Year 2 | 5 | Annual | CN¥270,000 |
| G2 / Year 3 | 6 | Annual | CN¥270,000 |
| G3 / Year 4 | 7 | Annual | CN¥270,000 |
| G4 / Year 5 | 8 | Annual | CN¥280,000 |
| G5 / Year 6 | 9 | Annual | CN¥280,000 |
| G6 / Year 7 | 10 | Annual | CN¥310,000 |
| G7 / Year 8 | 11 | Annual | CN¥310,000 |
| G8 / Year 9 | 12 | Annual | CN¥310,000 |
| G9 / Year 10 | 13 | Annual | CN¥320,000 |
| G10 / Year 11 | 14 | Annual | CN¥320,000 |
| G11 / Year 12 (IB DP Year 1) | 15 | Annual | CN¥328,000 |
| G12 / Year 13 (IB DP Year 2) | 16 | Annual | CN¥328,000 |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | CN¥3,000 | |
| Admissions Deposit (refundable) | One-time | CN¥30,000 |
Reviews
- Reviews on dedicated platforms lean positive, anchored on the IB three-programme offer, the new-build science campus and university outcomes. iSchoolAdvisor and edarabia carry parent quotes naming dedicated staff, an innovative IB curriculum and visible gains in pupil confidence.
- The clearest independent signal sits, where one international teacher recommended sticking with ISA Science City over a sister ISA campus described as still in startup phase and best avoided. The same poster framed Science City as the more stable ISA option in Guangzhou.
- Outcomes-side data sits on the school's own publishing. The Class of 2025 reported 149 university offers with around 721,000 USD in scholarships. Hurun ranked the school in its Top 10 international schools in China in 2023. These are school-published numbers, not independently audited.
- Logistics matter for prospective expat families. The campus sits at the junction of Guangzhou Science City and Tianhe District, around 25 minutes by car from Pearl River New Town. Capacity is set at 2,200 pupils across the IB PYP, MYP and DP.
Head of school
Lee Sanders
Lee Sanders is a visionary British educator and senior leader with over 25 years of experience driving excellence in state, private and international schools. Currently serving as Head of School at ISA Science City International School, Lee has a proven track record of transforming institutions—restructuring high school programmes, boosting college admissions, and reducing operational costs while maintaining high standards. Previously, Lee held leadership roles in various contexts and across the ability range of students. His first experience in China was at YK Pao School where he constructed the high school programme, leading IB, CIS and WASC accreditations, and pioneered blended Chinese and International curricula which has become recognised as one of the best schools in the country.
Academic results
- Result IB DP avg 37 points (out of 45)
- Result 95% Full Diploma Pass Rate
- Result 44% 38+ IB Points
- Result 5.8 Average Subject Score
- Result 44% Bilingual Diplomas (most recent published)