About Tianjin International School
Tianjin International School (TIS) is the founding school of a wider network known as the International Schools of China (ISC). With schools in Chengdu, Qingdao, Shenyang, Wuhan, Wuxi, and Tianjin, ISC is an organization that, for the last 22 years, has offered academically excellent programs to meet the intellectual, physical and emotional needs of students.
TIS serves more than 400 students, most of whom are the children of foreign nationals and expatriates working for companies in China. We offer an American curriculum and a rigorous college preparatory system of instruction, all integrated with a worldview grounded in truth. Firmly believing that our students’ success depends on parental participation, we strive to create strong relationships with both parent and child.
In addition to what happens in the classroom, we believe that valuable learning takes place in contexts away from the school. Service to those in need, both in our city and in places far beyond, is an important vehicle for such learning. It forms a part of the educational trips that each of our secondary students take each spring. Furthermore, all students, regardless of age, are given opportunities to discover the gifts and abilities that they have been given, and to exercise those in service to others.
TIS is affiliated with several multi-school associations, such as International Schools of China (ISC), Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS), and International Schools Athletic Conference (ISAC). Because of these affiliations, students and teachers are able to participate in a wide variety of programs where they can interact with others outside of their immediate school. Students compete in various sports tournaments, as well as academic and extracurricular competitions, while teachers attend an annual development conference and share best practices. The opportunity to be a part of these larger, inter-connected communities is just one of the many ways in which the TIS experience is unique.
Why choose a western education
If you’re considering a western education for the first time, you may be wondering how it differs from other educational systems. A western style education emphasizes the development of students as individuals by encouraging them to compete against themselves, rather than their peers and by focusing on all areas of growth, including intellectual, spiritual, physical, social and emotional development. To achieve this, TIS focuses on curriculum that is appropriate for the maturity level of the student and allows for periods of play or rest, as necessary. This doesn’t mean it is a less challenging curriculum, but instead it challenges students to use critical thinking skills as opposed to strict memorization of facts.
Another facet of the western education is the emphasis on diversity. Students’ experiences with different people and cultures makes them well prepared to perform in future international settings, including college. However, one of the most important success factors in a western education is parental participation, whereby TIS and parents work together as a team to prepare students for the future.