Our Story
To choose the right school, start by looking at the choices the school has made for itself.
Schools are a reflection of the paths they’ve chosen to take. At SAS we chose to believe students can only reach their full potential if they’re engaged, challenged, and inspired not just inside the classroom, but outside as well. We chose to be a not-for-profit, believing students would be better served if we focused on education, not balance sheets. We chose to create a Mission that would not merely be hung on a wall, but would serve as a guiding light to inform our actions every day. And in the spirit of a history that began 111 years ago, we chose to recognize that while our past can inform, it’s our future that truly inspires. These choices have made our school a wonderful place to learn and we hope they also make SAS the right choice for you.
What does a day at Shanghai American School look like? Well, something like this. Life at SAS is filled with thousands of such moments, that engage, challenge, and inspire not only our students, but all of those that work here and call this community home.
Our History
The SAS Water Tower made our campus easy to find from 1923-1949. It still stands today, near Hengshan Lu.
Unk Cheney
Frank “Unk” Cheney established “Bootleg SAS” versions to help the school survive through World War II.
Footlball Team
Our 1948 football team took on the Army, Navy, Air Force AND Marines. Thankfully, we also played St. John’s…
Consulate
SAS was re-founded in 1980, and called the grounds of the U.S. Consulate home from 1980-1989.
Legends of SAS
The Legends of SAS event in 2017 celebrated the school’s founding, traditions, and cherished alumni.
With a history that began in 1912, Shanghai American School is the most storied international school in Shanghai.
Libraries
The four libraries of SAS contain the largest collection of English language books in Mainland China.
Recording Studio
Each campus has a recording studio. Puxi’s houses a full-fledged student-run recording label, AMPTONE Records.
PD Sign
Pudong's Performing Arts Center: Exhibit A of the school’s dedication to the arts.
Eagle Park
Outside the classrooms at SAS, adventure awaits. Each campus features extensive outdoor areas to learn and play.
Aquatic Centers
Fully-equipped aquatic centers are on each campus, with a six-lane pool in Puxi and an eight-lane pool in Pudong.
SAS has two beautiful campuses to serve a breadth of families on each side of Shanghai.