Shanghai American School

We know we’re not supposed to have favorites, but…. we’ve got to admit, SAS alumna Betty Barr holds a very special place in our hearts. And the feeling is mutual. She might have graduated over 70 years ago, but she still makes trips to school, is a regular at graduation ceremonies, and her closest pals are still her high school classmates.

This week at Shanghai American School, we celebrate Founders Week. On September 17, 1912, we first opened our doors to 38 students and we’ve since grown to nearly 3,000 Eagles on our two campuses. To celebrate, we are highlighting an inspirational alumnus from the class of 2010.

Who knew that the author of Bridge to Terabithia had origins closer to the Waibaidu Bridge? Writer Katherine Paterson was in fact born in China and spent some of her childhood at Shanghai American School in the 1940s. Recently she returned (virtually) to her alma mater by video to speak to grade 9 students of Pudong about her writing and inspiration. 

Meet Rachel Zhang from the class of 2021 and read about her experience in taking a gap year to pursue her startup in China. 

What do you get when an entrepreneur, a teacher, and a technologist walk into a bar? Eagles returning to the nest, of course!

Recognize any of these faces? That’s because most of them were roaming around campus and worrying about college applications just five years ago.