Saint Paul American School is a private, residential school program dedicated to meeting the educational needs of international students at the middle and high school level. SPAS is guided by the standards, policies, and procedures of the Nacel International School System, which manages international programs all over the world. Located near the Olympic Village Park and partnered with Beijing No. 2 High School Attached to Beijing Normal University. SPAS offers both an American curriculun and intensive study in Chinese language and culture. This arrangement provides a unique dual diploma system that is fully accredited by the NCA (North Association on Accreditation and School Improvement). SPAS’ inter-cultural program currently serves students from 20 countries around the world.
Founding date: 2007
Age range: 13-18
Grades offered: Grade 7-12
School type: International school
Number of students: 281
Is the school accredited by the Ministry of Education? Yes
Accreditations: NCA
Tuition fees (2014-2015 Academic Year):
• Application fee: USD 100 (around RMB 610)
• Grade 7-8: USD 21,013 (around RMB 128,600)
• Grade 9-12: USD 21,666 (around RMB 132,600)
• Uniforms: USD 415 (around RMB 2,500)
Lunch offered: Wide variety of Chinese, Korean, and Western cuisine, as well as other international dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Nationality of students: China, South Korea, US, Russia, Spain, Mexico, Thailand
Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes
Local Chinese students accepted? Yes
Primary teaching language: English
Other languages taught: Chinese
Average class size: Maximum 25, minimum 5, average 15
Average teacher/student ratio: 1:10
School hours: 8.15am-5.35pm (regular hours), 6.30-8.30pm (study hall)
After-school activities: Art club, basketball, book club, ping pong, soccer, jazz band, student council, volleyball, and yearbook. Following the regular school day, each student participates in a club or activity of their choice from 3-4pm.
Extra help offered? Student Help Center (daily tutoring) and nightly study hall with two instructors as well as peer tutors
School facilities: Over 30 classrooms, two dormitory buildings, a newly-renovated library, laboratory, computer and technology center, full-sized gymnasium, Olympic-sized swimming pool, cafeteria, outdoor multi-purpose courts, and a soccer field.
School nurse or doctor available? Yes
Contact: 18 Guan’aoyuan, Longgang Lu, Qinghe, Haidian District (Admissions Director Vanessa Wu: 158 1085 5695, spas.admission@gmail.com) www.stpaulschool.cn 海淀区清河宝胜里观澳园18号
Word from a Parent:
“For my son’s 15th birthday, I traveled from Colorado to Beijing and saw firsthand how his life at SPAS was going. I was able to meet some of his teachers, the staff, the principal, and his classmates and his roommates. I ate lunch with the students in the cafeteria, hung out in his dorm room, saw where he played sports, and even took the bus with some of the students. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating that I felt like I was part of the SPAS family. Back home in the US, Johnny’s family was missing him terribly he was doing extremely well. He had good friends, supportive teachers and staff, and good facilities. As parents, we chose to send Johnny to China for high school so that he could learn the Chinese language, appreciate other cultures, and not compromise his academics. While we had concerns about our objectives being away from home, I now know we don’t have to worry.”
– Bob Barron (US), father of John (age 14)