Shanghai Livingston American School

SLAS is in Changning District at 580 Ganxi Road, a central area with many international residents; the campus was chosen for its proximity to expatriate neighbourhoods. Public transport and taxis are commonly used to reach the school; the school provides a door-to-door bus service for students (see Transportation).

The school runs an Early Years program and Primary (elementary) years, plus Middle School and High School (Grades 9–12), with year-group pages and handbooks for each division. Admissions and placement testing determine entry level for newcomers.

SLAS is a co-educational international school following an American-style curriculum and is WASC-accredited. It operates as a day school (no public boarding provision is listed).

The school runs English Language Development (ELD/ESL) programmes for students who are acquiring English, with placement testing and regular assessment; primary years also have a Learning Support/Resource class for targeted literacy support. For specifics about support plans or specialist services, contact the Guidance/Learning Support team.

SLAS operates as an American international school (American curriculum orientation) rather than being affiliated with a national government or church.

The school does not state any religious affiliation on its public pages; its mission and core values present a secular international school profile.

The website presents division-specific handbooks and calendars but does not publish a single, clearly listed daily start/end time for all students; start and finish times (and break/lunch arrangements) are normally set by division and are provided in student handbooks or on admission. Please check the relevant student handbook or ask Admissions for the exact times for your child's year group.

SLAS operates a door-to-door school bus service for students living in Shanghai; the school publishes semester fees (e.g., RMB 9,000 within 15 km; RMB 9,300 over 15 km), a list of numbered routes and the bus office contact. The school notes it is not obliged to offer service outside existing routes, and parents register via the school's bus registration form. For route-specific enquiries contact the Transport office.

Shanghai Livingston American School follows an American-style curriculum from Early Years through Grade 12 and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
The Early Years Program emphasizes inquiry, discovery and social‑emotional foundations, while Primary (Pre‑K–Grade 5) focuses on reading, writing, science and Common Core–aligned mathematics (Go Math/HMH).
Middle School (Grades 6–8) continues the four core areas (English language arts, math, science, social studies) and adds electives and interdisciplinary units to prepare students for secondary study.
High School (Grades 9–12) is organized as a U.S. college‑preparatory program offering core subjects, world languages, arts, technology and PE, with Advanced Placement (AP) course options (for example AP Calculus, AP Psychology, AP World History) and support for AP/SAT/ACT testing.
SLAS issues formal high‑school credentials — the LAS Diploma (27 credits) and an Advanced Studies Diploma (30 credits) — and operates as an official ACT test site; transcripts and AP experience are used for university admission.

Shanghai Livingston American School publishes a clear set of core values (Proficient Communicator, Confident Individual, Compassionate Citizen of the World, Creative Thinker) that are used explicitly to guide student behaviour and recognition. The school operates a house system (four Houses) that places students and staff into mixed-age communities, awards House Points for demonstrating core values, and runs inter-house activities to build belonging and mentorship. The school's calendar and news show regular community events (for example Spirit Week) and a Community Service programme that reinforce social engagement and character development. These elements together comprise the school's publicly described approach to social and emotional learning.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision on its website. A search of the SLAS site and public pages does not show a dedicated learning‑support or SEN policy or a list of specific needs the school can support. Because detailed SEN provision, staffing, or specialist services are not described online, it is not possible from the school's public materials to state which types of SEN are supported or whether SLAS is a specialist SEN institution. For admissions the site refers to testing and placements in language programmes but not to formal SEN pathways.

SLAS operates English Language Development (ELD) provision for students acquiring English: new students take placement tests and, based on results, may be placed into standard classes, advanced classes, or ELD courses. The Secondary ELD page explains that ELD students are taught subjects (English, science, history) at levels matched to their English proficiency, and that the ESL Advancement Exam (EAE) is administered twice yearly to assess readiness to move into standard English classes. The admissions information also notes that ESL tests are administered for grades 1–8 and that placement decisions (regular program, system ELD, or recommendation to seek intensive English elsewhere) are based on those results. These are the school's publicly described EAL/ELD arrangements.

The school's published staff and administration pages identify a Guidance Department and named guidance staff (including a Head of Guidance and guidance counsellor roles), indicating an organised counselling structure for students. The Health & Safety page notes on‑site nursing and procedures for students who become ill while at school, and the school refers to pastoral measures such as supervised campus activities and emergency plans. SLAS also describes community-building initiatives (houses, community service, events) that the school presents as part of its supportive environment. The website does not publish a detailed mental‑health policy or a publicly available counselling service protocol beyond these staff roles and general statements.

SLAS's Health & Safety page states concrete measures: students are supervised at all times, visitors must check in and wear passes, students are released only to approved individuals, playground and campus safety measures are in place, and the school runs regular emergency drills and maintains an emergency plan. The school also names a school nurse and describes health/hygiene procedures for sick students awaiting parent pickup. However, the school does not publish a separate, detailed child‑protection or safeguarding policy on its public site that sets out reporting procedures, designated safeguarding leads, or formal child‑protection protocols. The above statements are based on the school's Health & Safety and staff pages.

1. Check whether your child meets the school's age/grade cut‑off before you apply. SLAS publishes grade cut‑off dates for each school year (for example the Age Requirement table for 2025–2026 lists exact birth‑date ranges for Nursery through Grade 12); use that table to confirm the correct grade and to avoid later re‑placement. If your child has not completed a full year in a grade by the fall entrance date, SLAS may require re‑enrollment in the same grade.

2. Complete the official application form and collect required documents. SLAS requires a completed, signed application form plus a completed medical form and vaccination record, recent academic records (varies by division), a sealed recommendation letter (teacher for elementary; administrator for middle/high), two passport photos, and photocopies of student and parents' passports and visas. The school states incomplete application forms or missing documents will delay or prevent consideration, so assemble everything before submission.

3. Pay the non‑refundable application fee and submit the file. The application fee is RMB 2,200 and must be paid and received before the Admissions Committee will evaluate the application; SLAS will not refund this fee whether or not the student is accepted. The application pages and bank information on the website give instructions for bank transfer and for emailing completed files to the Admissions Office. If you plan to pay by transfer, include the student's English name and grade as the transfer remark to help the office match the payment.

4. Expect assessment or testing where required. SLAS may require admissions testing for any applicant; when campus testing is not possible the family is responsible for arranging impartial testing at the student's present school. ESL/ELD testing is commonly administered for grades 1–8 and will determine placement in the regular program, the school's ELD program, or advise seeking intensive English elsewhere until passing. Tests are not shared in advance and the school controls how results are released.

5. Provide confidential references if requested and keep contact details current. The school may require confidential letters of reference prior to a final decision; it is the family's responsibility to ensure reference forms are returned in a timely and sealed/confidential manner. SLAS will contact families by phone, fax or email for testing or additional information, so make sure the Admissions Office has accurate contact details.

6. Admissions review, priority and rolling decisions. SLAS operates rolling admissions and reviews complete application files throughout the year; however final placements are governed by Board policy that establishes admission priority categories and wait‑list standing (a student's position can change if higher‑priority applicants apply). If a grade is full, qualified applicants may be placed on a wait list or otherwise handled according to the school's priority policy. For status checks or timeline questions contact the Admissions Office directly.

7. If offered a place, follow the written acceptance steps and pay required fees to confirm enrollment. Official acceptance letters include start dates and class assignments; families must complete the enrollment/fee steps by the deadlines in that letter. Required one‑time and annual fees (capital fee, technology fee, annual tuition by grade) are detailed on the Tuition Fees page — note that some fees (for example the capital fee) are refundable only before term start and others are non‑refundable. Keep copies of any payment receipts or fapiao required for refunds.

8. Arrange ancillary services and confirm start‑of‑term logistics. If you need bus service, school lunch, or other services, add them during enrollment — the site lists bus semester costs and the daily lunch charge. SLAS requires that term fees be paid on or before the first day of term and states students may not attend if fees are unpaid. If you need special arrangements (late arrival, testing accommodations), notify Admissions in advance.

SLAS operates a scholarship and financial awards program intended to help bridge the gap between full tuition costs and what a family can pay. The school states it awards scholarships for a range of areas including academic achievement, community service, artistic and musical ability, English language excellence, and athletics, and that decisions consider both the student's abilities and the family's financial need. The Financial Awards page describes a flexible payment plan and an active awards program but does not publish standard award amounts or a public application form; families interested in financial assistance should contact the Admissions or Finance Office to request the application process, deadlines, documentation required (income/need documentation, supporting materials), and timelines. SLAS recommends discussing financial aid options with Admissions so the school can explain available awards and required steps.

SLAS uses rolling admissions and maintains wait lists governed by the school's Board policy and its priority system. The website states that admission is subject to a priority order set by the Board and that a student's position on wait lists can change if applicants with higher priority apply; SLAS also references seat guarantees (a seat‑guarantee fee is listed as non‑refundable in the refund policy). The school does not publish a public, detailed ranking of priority categories on the site; for specifics (how priority is assigned, whether siblings, staff or returning students receive priority, or how seat guarantees work in practice) the Admissions Office should be contacted directly. If a grade is full, qualified applicants will be placed on the wait list and offered enrollment as spaces become available under the established priority rules.