About SAS

Like the students we serve, life at Shanghai American School (SAS) is dynamic and ever changing. We would not have it any other way for in change there is growth, in growth there is development, and in development there is lifelong learning, all of which we believe are hallmarks of an excellent school community.

Roland Barth, former dean of the Harvard School of Education, describes a school as a Community of Learners; as a place in which "everyone is teaching and everyone is learning - simultaneously under the same roof."

One School, Two Campuses

Since the early nineties the parents, students and staff of Shanghai American School have worked together to transform a relatively small, yet developing program for 200 students into what is now a dynamic and sophisticated international school that serves 2,900 students from almost 40 countries.

SAS provides our students with a comprehensive educational program from Pre-Kindergarten through to Grade 12 on two state-of-the-art campuses - Puxi and Pudong. Technology, libraries, laboratories, playing fields and other learning resources rival those of the best international schools.

As a not-for-profit institution governed by parents, the Shanghai American School community has charted a vision to further develop outstanding educational opportunities for the expatriate community we serve.

Educational Objectives

Guided by our philosophy, the school shall make every effort to:

1. Develop in students a positive attitude toward education which will promote lifelong learning, a healthy lifestyle and an appreciation of esthetics.

2. Develop in each student a mastery of the skills of communicating and learning.

3. Develop responsible individuals who possess the ability to think clearly, logically and independently as participating members of a self-governing society.

4. Develop in each student an understanding and appreciation of ethical, cultural, social, scientific, economic and political ideas and practice throughout the world.

5. Encourage students to have a realistic understanding of themselves, while striving to reach their potential.

Curricular Objectives

The curriculum will:

1. Reflect a coherent and orderly progression of objectives from pre-kindergarten through grade 12.

2. Be designed to develop in the students a broad understanding of different cultures.

3. Be integrated across subject areas to promote holistic learning.

4. Permit students to enter Shanghai American School and subsequent schools with minimum academic disruption.

5. Provide maximum growth for individual students and be designed to emphasize problem solving, inquiry, discovery, self-direction, as well as creative and critical thinking.

6. Within limits of available resources try to accommodate students with varying learning and language ability.

7. Be reviewed regularly in the light of new developments in education and the needs of the international community.

Teaching Objectives

1. The teacher will provide the best possible education for each student by encouraging and requiring creative and critical thought stressing maximum involvement of the student in discovery, inquiry and problem solving.

2. In order to enhance the probability of success, the teacher will keep the student and parents informed of the student's progress.

3. Within established curriculum, the teacher will provide appropriate alternatives to accommodate individual differences in achieving academic excellence and educational objectives.

4. The teacher will teach the structure and content in a positive environment that is conducive to learning.