Cities / Shenzhen / Shen Wai International School
Shen Wai International School
A full IB Continuum school in Nanshan - the only school in Shenzhen holding both CIS and WASC accreditation. Around 1,080 students across 46 nationalities, from Pre-K through Grade 12, with strong facilities including a 25-metre indoor pool, 200-metre running…
In brief
Shenzhen's first government-invested international school, fully IB across PYP, MYP and DP, sitting in Nanshan with both CIS and WASC accreditation.
SWIS opened in 2011 on a purpose-built 24,000 square metre campus on Baishi 3rd Road in Nanshan, with around 1,080 students aged 4 to 18. The school is one of very few in Shenzhen authorised for all three IB programmes, and the only one carrying both CIS and WASC accreditation. Daniel Legault leads the school. Mandarin is woven through the day rather than treated as an add-on.
Parents and teachers describe SWIS as well resourced and properly run, with strong facilities, a serious commitment to inquiry-based learning and a more diverse student body than the older Shekou schools. The school sits in a more central Nanshan setting than the Shekou cluster, which suits families who do not want to live inside the expat enclave. Fees run from RMB 127,500 in Pre-K to RMB 229,400 in upper secondary, broadly in line with IB peers in the city.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-K (age 4) | 4 | Annual | CN¥127,500 |
| Kindergarten - Grade 5 (age 5-11) | 5 | Annual | CN¥175,300 |
| Grades 6-10 (age 11-16) | 11 | Annual | CN¥191,200 |
| Grades 11-12 (age 16-18) | 16 | Annual | CN¥229,400 |
Reviews
- Government-invested IB Continuum school in Nanshan, Shenzhen, opened 2011. Public material is consistently positive on package and facilities; depth of independent parent voice is limited.
- Teacher threads describe SWIS as one of the better Shenzhen options, with a 2024 commenter quoting a 40,000 RMB monthly salary plus housing for a master's and experience. The package and the well-resourced campus are the strongest positive signal.
- Pre-COVID colleagues described in a 2023 r/Internationalteachers comment said students were competent, requests for resources were usually fulfilled and admin did not micromanage; the same commenter noted their previous school was poor, which may colour the comparison.
- The most pointed critical account is from an alumna who alleged the school over-predicted her IB Diploma scores by three points across two subjects. The post frames itself as a critique of IB rather than the school but names SWIS as the first graduating class affected.
- Reviewers on internationalschoolsreview.com flag that the school is government-affiliated rather than a traditional international school, with predominantly local students and open admissions. One contributor described it as tier 3 in that sense; teachers in forum threads place it closer to tier 2.
- Independent parent voice is sparse. Most public commentary is either teacher-recruitment-side or school-controlled material.
Head of school
Daniel Legault
Daniel Legault is the Head of School (Academics) at Shen Wai International School. He has extensive experience as an educational leader and teacher, having served in international schools across China, Japan, Korea, and Venezuela. He holds a Master of Educational Leadership from Michigan State University, along with degrees and certificates from institutions in Canada and Australia. Daniel is highly active in the international school community, frequently serving as a visiting team member and chair for both the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS) accreditation processes. Additionally, he is an authorized IB Educator with a track record of developing International Baccalaureate programs in multiple China-based schools.
Accreditations
- Council of International Schools 01
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 02
Academic results
- Result IB DP avg 35.5 points 2024
- Result one student scored 45 points 2024
- Result >25% scored 40+ points 2024.