BASIS International School, Guangzhou

In Brief

BASIS is the right choice if you want a demanding American curriculum with strong AP results and university outcomes, and your child can handle a high academic workload. The Science City location and boarding programme make it particularly well suited to families relocating to Huangpu or those happy with the boarding option.

BASIS International School Guangzhou runs the BASIS Curriculum - a rigorous US-aligned programme that pushes students through advanced subjects earlier than most international schools. The Class of 2024 produced 267 university acceptances across 47 graduates, with 51% gaining places at US Top 30 institutions and US$1.12M in scholarships. Acceptances included Cambridge (physics) and Stanford (biology). The AP programme in Grades 9-12 is a genuine strength for families targeting North American universities.

The school opened in 2017 as the first boarding school in the BASIS network and currently houses around 450 boarding students. The Science City campus is green and spacious, in a suburban setting a 30-to-45-minute drive from central Guangzhou. Current head Dr. Erica Smeltzer leads the international school division. The campus is in transition - the school has announced plans to build a new purpose-built facility on the same site, with the bilingual and international schools sharing a new campus from 2026 during construction.

Parent and teacher commentary consistently notes that the BASIS Curriculum is intense. It works well for self-motivated, academically strong students but is not designed for those who need a gentler pace. Teacher salaries are competitive at around US$60K plus housing, but the workload is significant. Some teachers note that the environment has improved in recent years. Fees run from CNY 211,200 (K2) to CNY 280,500 (Grades 9-12) - comparable to AISG and ISASC at senior level.