Cities / Shenzhen / Maple Leaf International Academy Shenzhen (MLIAS)
Maple Leaf International Academy Shenzhen (MLIAS)
Canadian BC dual-diploma school on Baolong Road in Longhua, founded 2018 with around 1,500 students from Grade 1 through Grade 12 and AP options at the senior end.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| G1/Y2 - G5/Y6 | 6 | CN¥128,000 |
| G6/Y7 - G8/Y9 | 11 | CN¥146,000 |
| G9/Y10 - G12/Y13 | 14 | CN¥198,000 |
Reviews
- Maple Leaf operates the largest Canadian-curriculum chain in China; commentary about the network shapes views of the Shenzhen campus more than any specific Shenzhen-only review pool.
- Network-level reputation among teachers and ISR is poor. One teacher said Maple Leaf is "literally the worst international school in China"; another, from the Tianjin campus, said any teaching "will be on your own initiative."
- Glassdoor sits at 3.3 of 5 across 38 Maple Leaf reviews, with positives on benefits, holidays and on-time pay, and negatives on professional development, communication and student support.
- One teacher with broader experience said colleagues "really disliked" Maple Leaf relative to other Canadian schools in China.
- The Shenzhen campus itself is a BC-accredited boarding school in Longgang with small classes and a high teacher-student ratio on paper, but no consistent independent parent review pool surfaced.
Positives
- Compensation and benefits. Glassdoor reviewers note BC-aligned pay, paid on time, three months paid holiday and free meals.
Considerations
- Network reputation among teachers. Repeated criticism and International Schools Review of weak pedagogy, business-first management and poor support across Maple Leaf campuses.
- Teaching environment. Reports of overworked staff, weak professional development, and limited behavioural support for students.
- Parent commentary. No substantive Shenzhen parent review pool found; one Edarabia comment praises the Canadian curriculum.
Leadership
Zhisong Lian
Principal Zhisong Lian is a Chinese Canadian who holds a Provincial Teacher Certificate from British Columbia, Canada. He has more than thirteen years of experience within the Maple Leaf system, previously serving as an AP Calculus teacher and Head of the Mathematics Department at campuses in Dalian and Shenzhen. For over four years, he has served as the World School Principal at Maple Leaf International Academy-Shenzhen. He has successfully mentored students for various international science and mathematics competitions and has seen graduates admitted to world-class institutions such as Oxford, Stanford, Imperial College London, and the University of Toronto.
Accreditations
- Cognia 01