Compare International Schools in Dalian, China

The Dalian campus is located at 2 Dianchi Road, Golden Pebble Beach National Resort, Jinzhou New District, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China. The Golden Pebble Beach area is a resort district about 60 kilometers east of Dalian's city centre. DAIS runs a transport service to and from the school that covers downtown Dalian, the Dalian Development Area (DDA), and Jinshitan.

DAIS is structured into four levels: Early Years, Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Early Years serves roughly 3–5 year olds, Elementary covers the next several years, Middle School includes early adolescence, and High School serves older teens (ages ~14–18). The school accommodates students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12.

DAIS is a private international day school and offers boarding facilities for some grades on campus (an Elementary Boarding Program is described for younger students). This combination reflects a day-school model with selective boarding options.

DAIS provides a Learning Support Philosophy and uses assessments to identify and plan for learning needs. Non-native English speakers in Grades 2–12 participate in an English Language Proficiency assessment as part of admissions, and further testing may be used to inform placement and support.

There is no formal country affiliation for DAIS.

DAIS has no religious affiliation.

The DAIS Early Years day runs from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., with lunch from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and a nap/quiet time for younger children from about 12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

DAIS operates a school transport service to and from the campus, with routes covering downtown Dalian, the DDA, and Jinshitan. Families are asked to accompany their children to and from designated pick-up/drop-off points.

The school offers a residential boarding program with small dorms for four students, with air-conditioning and purification, heating, en-suite bathrooms, and card-only access for security. The program fosters community, leadership, and academic growth under Residential Teachers, with on-campus medical support and weekend activities. There are five-day and seven-day boarding options with defined sign-out rules.

The school offers Chinese and Western lunch options. Lunch menus are published monthly and can be pre-ordered. Elementary students are encouraged to bring a healthy snack.

The boarding program uses a house system with Heads of House for girls and for boys.

The school is part of Nord Anglia Education.

DAIS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is a member of EARCOS, AAIE, ACAMIS, and NESSIC. The school offers an all‑through American curriculum from Early Years (ages 3–5) to High School (ages 14–18), with Advanced Placement (AP) courses available in High School and a built‑in Applied Studies program. Elementary School (ages 6–10) provides Literacy and Mathematics aligned to CCSS (with AERO standards), Science aligned to NGSS, and Social Studies aligned to AERO; a Host Country Language of Mandarin is taught, alongside Art, Music, Technology, and Physical/Health Education, with Learning Support and EAL. Middle School (grades 6–8, ages 11–13) uses a standards‑based model with CCSS‑aligned English Language Arts and accelerated CCSS Mathematics, NGSS Science, ACTFL Mandarin, and four quarterly Applied Studies courses (Drama, Creative Writing, Product Design, Coding and Digital Design); the program builds toward High School AP courses. High School (ages 14–18) follows the American High School model with a robust AP program; assessment is standards‑based and GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale and is unweighted (Applied Studies not included in the GPA), with courses across Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, English Language Arts, Visual Arts, Music, World Languages, Physical and Health Education, and Applied Studies (Drama, Government, Engineering and Product Design, and Video Production).

DAIS runs a Comprehensive Counseling and Student Services program that supports social and emotional learning (SEL), health, and wellbeing for all students. SEL is delivered through a year-by-year, developmentally appropriate program integrated with academic and wellbeing goals, including advisory structures and college/career readiness components. The school's counseling team includes a Director of Counseling and Student Services (Dr. Daniel Gould) and a Social Emotional Counselor, with additional college counselors who provide SEL-focused support; a Whole School Learning Support Coordinator coordinates learning support across the campus. The K-12 SEL framework covers four domains: academic, personal/social, intercultural competence, and college/career readiness, with structured, grade-specific lessons. Early Years use Zones of Regulation and age-appropriate wellbeing activities, and wellbeing assessments are used in Secondary to monitor progress. This is described on the Counseling and Student Services page and in safeguarding communications.

DAIS provides learning support through a Whole School Learning Support Coordinator and Learning Support staff. The team includes Lydia Donahue as the Whole School Learning Support Coordinator (with background in Elementary Education and Special Education) and Jade Wu as Learning Support (with training in ASD and IEPs). Counseling and Student Services offers social and emotional learning, academic and learning support for all students as part of a developmental, year-to-year program. The school references a Learning Support Philosophy in its admissions materials, indicating a formal framework for how learning support is provided. DAIS is not described as a specialist SEN institution; rather, SEN support is integrated within the broader all-through program. For specifics, the Counseling and Student Services team is the point of contact.

EAL support in DAIS is described explicitly for the Early Years, where every student receives EAL support tailored to the individual level to promote success in English and in the home language. The Early Years Curriculum notes EAL support is provided and adjusted to each child's level. A 2021 Welcome Back post references EAL program models as part of the school's language support framework. Current official Counseling pages do not explicitly document EAL provisions beyond Early Years. Based on available sources, EAL appears to be described primarily for Early Years, with no publicly documented EAL program details for other grade levels.

Mental wellbeing is supported through the Counseling and Student Services program, which emphasizes social and emotional learning, health, and wellbeing as core components of student support. The Counseling page details a comprehensive, developmental SEL program and a range of services for personal and school success. Staff include a Director of Counseling and Student Services and a team of counselors who provide college and career readiness, social emotional learning, and responsive services. The program emphasizes advisory groups, individual meetings, and after-school programming to support wellbeing. Zones of Regulation and wellbeing assessments are used in the school's safeguarding materials to promote emotional safety and self-regulation.

DAIS adopts Nord Anglia Education Guidance and Procedure for Safeguarding, Protecting and promoting the welfare of students. The policy includes rigorous staff recruitment, ongoing safeguarding training, secure campuses, and clear reporting mechanisms. A Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mr. Stephen Cairns) is available to address safeguarding concerns, with staff and posters or anonymous QR reporting as channels. Emotional safety is addressed through age-appropriate education and opportunities for students to voice concerns and seek guidance from trusted adults. The school's Parent Essentials page confirms safeguarding commitments and the Nord Anglia framework.

1. Eligibility and initial considerations. Dalian American International School (DAIS) accepts students aged 4 to 17 and requires a valid foreign passport. Applicants must reside in Dalian, China, or a neighboring area to be eligible. Each year, admissions deadlines are set by the Education Bureau. This sets the framework for when applications can be submitted and how timelines align with local requirements.

2. Online application and supporting documents. Start with the online application form and engage with the Admissions Team, who will answer questions and guide the process. After you submit the application, you will receive a comprehensive list of supporting documents to provide. The Admissions Team remains available for questions throughout, ensuring you understand what DAIS needs to evaluate your child's candidacy.

3. Admissions assessment and language testing. Following application review, you will be invited to a family meeting, an admissions interview, and an age-appropriate academic assessment. Non-native English speakers in Grades 2–12 must take an English Language Proficiency assessment consisting of reading, writing, and oral components. Additional testing may be requested to determine appropriate placement and to support learning needs.

4. Offer and communications. If the application is successful, an official offer is sent by email. This offer specifies the next steps and timelines for enrollment. DAIS maintains regular communication to ensure families understand the terms of the offer and any required follow-up actions.

5. Acceptance, deposits, and final steps to enroll. To accept, confirm your child's attendance and secure their placement by paying the enrollment deposit (RMB 10,000) and the tuition.

DAIS does not publish a school-operated scholarship program in its admissions or tuition materials.

DAIS does not publish a waitlist or pool system in its admissions materials.