Ten years ago in August 2015, BASIS International School Shenzhen welcomed around 400 students and their families for the first time. As we celebrate the completion of our 10th anniversary year, we reflect on a decade of progress. We began with 83 dedicated faculty and staff members, one campus, and a bold vision: through the BASIS Curriculum and supported by excellent teaching and mentoring, to cultivate students who have broad intellectual capabilities, global perspectives, and the skills to think critically and solve problems, preparing them to lead in their academic and professional lives.
Today, BASIS International & Bilingual Schools · China is one of the leading networks of international and bilingual schools in the country. With 13 campuses spread across seven cities and five provinces, we currently educate over 10,000 students with the support of 3,800 employees, including 1,689 dedicated local and expat teachers from around the world. Our expansion from one school in Shenzhen to a nationwide network has been purposeful, guided by our commitment to educational excellence and our belief in what students can achieve when challenged, supported, and inspired.
A Decade of Results
Since our full inaugural graduating class of 2019, 910 students have earned BASIS International & Bilingual Schools · China diplomas. These graduates have received 5,409 admissions offers from universities and earned over US$22 million in scholarships. Among the 866 graduates who applied to traditional academic universities, 11% received 133 offers from Ivy League institutions and top-tier U.S. and U.K. universities, including Princeton, MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Oxford, and Cambridge.
- 69.5% of our graduates gained admission to the U.S. Top 30 and/or the U.S. Liberal Arts Top 10 and/or the U.K. Top 5 and/or Canadian Top 1 and/or Hong Kong Top 1.
- 95.6% of graduates admitted to the U.S. Top 50 and/or the U.S. Liberal Arts Top 20 and/or the U.K. Top 10 and/or Canadian Top 3 and/or Hong Kong Top 3.
These outcomes result from intentional planning, high standards, and a belief in what students can achieve when challenged and held to high expectations. From 2018 to 2024, our students have completed more than 13,000 Advanced Placement exams with a 91% pass rate, demonstrating their mastery of college-level material across all major subjects. This consistent exposure to rigorous coursework has given them the intellectual confidence and academic discipline that the world’s most selective universities recognize and reward with acceptances and scholarships.
A Faculty of Experts
What started as a small team of educational pioneers has grown into a diverse, world-class faculty committed to excellence. Our 1,689 local and expat faculty come from all over the world, including China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and dozens of other countries, bringing international perspectives to every classroom.
They are experts in their subjects and committed professionals focused on continually growing their own teaching practices. From day one, our faculty are immersed in a culture that values continuous learning and improvement. Annually, our teachers participate in at least 80 hours of professional development, which includes weekly collaborative sessions, dedicated training days, professional learning communities, and instructional coaching. New faculty complete an additional 34 hours of training at our network-wide Summer Institute, which features 250 sessions over the consecutive training days. Last year, our school managers participated in 50 hours of leadership training, collaborations, and site visits. For the upcoming year, more than 90 percent of our leadership positions were filled through internal promotion, reflecting the strength of our faculty and our commitment to professional growth.
A Network in Action
We have created something unique in international education: an authentic network where students and educators from different campuses collaborate, compete, and learn together.
Speech & Debate
Five years ago, our first speech & debate program began as a single elective at BASIS International School Shenzhen. Today, it is one of the largest and most competitive forensic networks in China, with over 1,000 student debaters participating in a network-wide competition circuit and international tournaments.
BIBS Speech & Debate 2021-2022
BIBS Speech & Debate 2024-2025
Athletics
Athletics have also become a significant part of our growing network. The BASIS International & Bilingual Schools · China Athletic League (BIBS • CAL) comprises Southern and Northern Conferences, culminating in a three-day tournament each spring. This year’s event brought nearly 1,000 students and coaches from nine campuses together to compete in volleyball, soccer, basketball, swimming, and track and field. These tournaments build on local leagues and enhance athletic excellence while infusing healthy doses of school camaraderie and pride in our campuses.
BIBS • CAL 2021-2022
BIBS • CAL 2024-2025
Arts
Over the past ten years our arts programs continue to expand into a vibrant, creative network. In 2021–22, we introduced the first BIBS · C Arts Festival (BIBS · CAF), exhibiting artwork from pre-kindergarten to Grade 12 from six campuses. This year, the festival included all 13 campuses and our sister school, Moreton Hall in the U.K., with live-streamed opening receptions connecting audiences across cities and continents.
BIBS · CAF 2021-2022
BIBS · CAF 2024-2025
This spirit of collaboration now includes every creative discipline and grade level. In 2024–25, we hosted eight network arts events in visual arts, drama, choir, and band—up from five the previous year. Students explored storytelling through a devised theater workshop and performance, celebrated creativity in our early childhood programs during International Dot Day, transformed recycled materials into sculptural works, and came together for large-scale masterclasses and performances in band, drama, and choir. These shared experiences are opportunities for students to think creatively, solve problems collaboratively, and find their voices as artists and individuals.
Ten Years and Forward
As we celebrate ten years of BASIS International & Bilingual Schools · China, we are reminded that our success is not measured solely by test scores or university offers but by the creativity, intellectual confidence, and critical thinking our students display every day. We believe that when students are challenged, supported, and taught by exceptional teachers, they develop the skills and mindset to exceed expectations and to shape the world around them. As we look ahead to the next decade, our beliefs continue to guide everything we do. The construction of BASIS Bilingual School Beijing, a new flagship campus, and BASIS Bilingual School Guangzhou, both scheduled to open next year, mark the next chapter in our growth—one that continues our commitment to cultivating future leaders.

BASIS Bilingual School Beijing Rendering

BASIS Bilingual School Guangzhou Rendering
Visit our careers website to learn more about teaching abroad with BASIS International Schools—a growing network backed by ten years of success in international education.