What is the HSBC x Forbes China Ranking?

The HSBC x Forbes China International Schools Ranking was launched to provide families with a structured and locally relevant benchmark for international education in China, ranking leading international schools across the country.

Developed jointly by Forbes and HSBC, the ranking evaluates schools through four key dimensions:

• Academic Achievement: exam performance, academic competitions, and university destinations, with particular attention paid to consistency and long-term outcomes rather than isolated top performers

• Teaching Quality: student-teacher ratio, faculty qualifications, international teaching environment, and professional development systems

• Foundational Conditions: campus environment, extracurricular activities, digital resources, and international accreditations

• Innovation & Development: curriculum innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and especially the integration of AI into teaching and learning practices. According to Forbes China, innovation and AI are no longer considered “bonus features” but are becoming core indicators of educational quality and future-readiness.

• First appearance in the ranking, with representation across the full academic journey from primary to high school

• Strongest relative positioning at middle school level

• Consistent results across age groups, reflecting continuity in the educational model

• Recognition within a segment traditionally dominated by Anglo-Saxon international schools such as Wellington College International, Shanghai American School, and Dulwich College

• A distinctive positioning built around the French national curriculum and multilingual education

What Forbes China Highlights

• Strong Academic Results

  100% success rate in the French Baccalauréat, with 100% honors

  Top 10 worldwide in the Concours Général, one of France’s most prestigious academic competitions

  University destinations including LSE, UCL, HKU, and EHL Hospitality Business School

The ranking also emphasizes long-term consistency and balanced student outcomes, an approach closely aligned with Shanghai French School’s educational philosophy.

• A Distinctive Multilingual Environment

Forbes China highlights Shanghai French School’s “truly trilingual learning environment,” where students progress confidently in French, English, and Chinese, while also having the opportunity to study additional languages such as German, Spanish, or Italian.

The article describes multilingualism not simply as a subject, but as “a way of thinking, communicating and understanding the world.”

• Experienced and International Faculty

  156 international teachers and 26 Chinese teachers

  Average tenure of 10 years for Chinese teachers and 5 years for international teachers

  A balance between international renewal and long-term continuity under the AEFE system

This level of faculty stability is particularly notable in a market where international teacher retention has declined significantly since 2022.

Looking Ahead

The ranking reflects broader transformations currently reshaping international education in China:

• Greater emphasis on innovation and AI integration

• Increasing importance of faculty development and teaching stability

• Growing attention to long-term academic consistency rather than isolated performance indicators

• Stronger expectations around global pathways and multilingual competencies

Within this evolving landscape, Shanghai French School’s presence in the ranking reflects the relevance of a model combining academic rigor, multilingual education, and international openness.