Do your children attend a local Chinese public or private elementary school?

Since I have not received any feedback, I will contribute what information I have found. I would appreciate it if others would add their findings, particularly regarding information on individual schools.

Chinese Public Schools：
Chinese public schools can be divided into regular and "zhongdian“ or central public schools. Entry into zhongdian and other schools with the best reputations is highly competitive. In order to be automatically eligible for a local school one has to own property in the school district. To attend a school outside of once's district requires a 30,000 RMB payment. However, because of high demand, entry into the most competitive schools requires both having guanxi and providing them with a hongbao. Entry into the most competitive schools can cost up to 100,000 RMB. In many schools, teachers also expect a hongbao. Entry as a foreign citizen, let alone non-Chinese foreigners, into these schools can be difficult, because schools are unwilling to waste space on foreigners and because foreigners lack guanxi. I was told by a Chaoyang Experimental School (considered to be one of the best schools in Chaoyang) official, for example, that they will probably not have space for foreigners in the next two years due to issues of space. That said, all Beijing public schools are now authorized to accept non-Chinese students, and many regular public schools are far less competitive. Haidian and Dongcheng districts are known to have the best schools. Many families move their children to Haidian schools for junior high school. Zhongguancun 1, 2, 3, for example, Tsinghua and Beijing U primary schools are considered to be of the best in the city. Chaoyang district parents frequently complain that the schools in Chaoyang are poor. Public schools teaching positions are considered stable jobs that provide a residency permit and are generally preferred to private school positions. As a result, private schools tend to rely more heavily on non-Beijinger teachers and also recruit early retirees from the public school system aged 50-60.

Chinese Private Schools：
Private Chinese schools have emerged in the past decade. Virtually all provide boarding facilities which is an attraction for working parents. Private schools have a colored reputation with a history of scams and image linked to local migrant schools. As a result, especially non-boarding private schools are generally considered riskier alternatives to public schools. While opinions differ, the best private schools are often considered to be better than most local schools (which do not require extra payment) but perhaps not as good as the best local schools (which generaly require exam scores, connections, and hongbao). Some private schools like Jingshan (known to school the children of many officials) are also know to require connections and payment, however. Private schools like New Talent and Jing Cheng tend to have a higher percentage of students who are on track to study outside of China for university, including foreign passport holders. Entry is relatively straightforward, involving an exam and payment of tuition.

What is a Good School?:
Western parents frequently complain about the rigidity, test-focus, and heavy academic load of Chinese schools. In understanding the trade-off between different types of schools it is also helpful to understand how Chinese parents view schools. Chinese parents, especially those well educated, also recognize the importance of creativity and preserving individuality. If their children are to remain in the Chinese higher education system, however, they must also consider the requirements of passing the gaokao entrance exam, for which intense discipline and test practice and cramming seem unavoidable. Even Chinese parents who expect to send their children overseas for university (this usually means switching to an international school in junior high school) or who are more progressive in their thinking, however, are concerned about rigor and discipline, and there is a wide perception that Western international schools are lax, do not encourage good study habits, and lack academic rigor. Many Chinese parents are also concerned that their children receive a solid foundation in Chinese and math. The Chinese math curriculum is generally seen as superior to those of international schools, and the level of Chinese at even the best bilingual schools is understandably lower than in local Chinese schools. Fangcaodi's international section, for example, is generally considered academically weak by many Chinese and returnee parents. At the same time, many Chinese parents complain about the lack of control they have over their children's education in public schools stemming from lack of communication by teachers, variability in teacher quality, and the hongbao system and the conformity and heavy workload demanded.

Given the heavy workload of Chinese primary school, it is difficult for children to enter the system after Grade 1 and often requires significant parental supervision and help of homework.

Schools Visited:
Jingcheng Experimental Primary School is a private school founded in 2001 and has two branches - one in Hepingli/Chaoyang and a newly opened international branch East of the city. The international branch has large, new facilities while the main branch has an older and smaller campus. The school has 30-40 foreign passport holders and is considered fairly rigorous by Chinese academic standards. Class size is around 20 and does not exceed 30. Tuition is 10,100 RMB per semester, and no extra payments are expected.

New Talent is a private boarding school modeled on Eton located near the Airport. 70-80% children are boarders. Class size is 20-30. The school has excellent facilities with an olympic size pool, indoor basketball courts, pianos, etc. Some Chinese parents have indicated that there is high turnover among teachers - although this is a complaint at many private schools. Children take a nap in the afternoon and end the day at 6pm which is an issue for some foreign parents, particularly given the school location.

Daystar is a bilingual pre- and primary school located in Shunyi. Half day is Chinese which is classroom style following the Chinese Chinese and math curriculums. Half day is English following the Montessori curriculum. The campus is environmentally friendly, beautifully designed, and the food is organic. Half of the students are non-Chinese and 70-80% are foreign passport holders. Tuition is expected to be around 100,000 RMB for the 2012-13 school year. Application involves submitting recommendation and progress reports.

Public school recruitment begins in March/April and most private schools expect a deposit by May.