Thank you for your interest in our school. Below is a list of frequently asked questions from parents. If you have any additional questions not covered here, please feel free to reach out by completing the request info form and we will respond as soon as possible.
Sias IS officially opened in August, 2020.
Sias International School enrolls students from the Toddler program (ages 2.5+) through Grade 12. The school will grow gradually, adding upper grades over the next several years, and welcomes qualified students aged 2.5 to 18.
Any child with a foreign passport or Permanent Residence card is eligible to attend Sias IS. The school aims to build a global community through its international student body and diverse faculty.
For 2024-2025 grade level placement and detailed admissions information, please refer to 2024-2025 Grade Level Placement and Admissions section.
Shawn Chen, the founder of Sias University, also established Sias International School. Sias University, the first American-owned post-secondary institution in Central China, is in Xinzheng, about one hour from the Sias IS campus in Zhengzhou. With a visionary curriculum blending Chinese and Western educational philosophies, Sias University features an international campus, foreign faculty, and English as the language of instruction. Both institutions emphasize a holistic learning program, integrating STEM, arts, and sports while fostering students’ creativity and innovative thinking.
Sias IS boarders appointed Dr. Sam. Mills as the Head of School. Dr. Mills has Doctors’ degrees both in Law and Educational Leadership. He has nearly 20 years of educational practice and management experience before joining Sias IS. Dr. Mills selects dynamic and experienced leadership team from Chinese and American schools. This team will work to establish high quality educational frameworks and academic structure, and have been recruiting an outstanding teaching faculty. Meet our growing Sias IS Faculty team.
Admission requirements will differ slightly, depending on the grade level of the applicant. Please refer to the “Apply” page for the application process.
A qualified student is one who is well-prepared to succeed in an English-speaking environment, adapt to boarding life, and thrive in a university-preparatory program. Depending on the applicant’s age, Sias IS evaluates this through various methods. We seek students who bring unique qualities to their grade, distinguishing themselves through their potential, academic achievements, and performance on different components of the admissions process. For more detailed admissions information, please refer to the Admissions Criteria.
The curriculum at Sias IS is cumulative. There are established units and objectives at each grade level—in English and in Chinese—that build upon knowledge and skills attained in the course of the year. We feel that entering at the start of a school year best facilitates a student’s learning and transition into our program. Despite the cumulative nature of our curriculum and the timeline of our admission process, it may be possible, in rare circumstances, for us to admit students mid-year. Families should contact the admission office with questions about mid-year entry.
We assess students every semester using the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP), developed by the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA™), the largest educational evaluation institution in the U.S. and a global nonprofit education service. The MAP test is aligned with the rigorous Common Core State Standards (CCSS), helping us track students’ academic growth and identify areas for additional support. Parents will be sent their child’s MAP test results to stay informed about their progress.
The Sias IS curriculum is based on the Common Core program used in the United States, which sets high-quality academic standards in mathematics and English language arts/literacy (ELA). These standards define what students should know and be able to do at the end of each grade to ensure readiness for college, career, and life.
Additionally, the curriculum includes K–12 science content standards, following the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to enhance science education for all students.
Sias IS is dedicated to providing a multicultural learning environment that respects and embraces all cultural backgrounds, regardless of a student’s native language. For students who are not native English speakers and need to improve their language skills, we offer an English as an Additional Language (EAL) program to provide the necessary support.
Students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 have a daily Chinese class, while students in Grade 6 and above attend Chinese classes two to three times per week. The curriculum uses textbooks approved by the Ministry of Education of the P.R.C. and is divided into levels based on students’ proficiency in Chinese. Homework is also assigned to reinforce learning.
Sias IS graduates are well-prepared to apply to leading English-speaking universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. While these destinations are popular among students, the educational foundation at Sias IS also enables them to pursue higher education opportunities in China and other countries. The school provides comprehensive support throughout the university application process.
Please refer to “TUITION & FEES” page for detailed tuition and other fees.
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