Introduction
Beijing No. 55 High School has a story most schools can't tell. Founded in 1954, it was the first public school in mainland China to take in foreign students. That was in 1975. Then, in 1994, it became the first Chinese school to join the International Baccalaureate Organization. Few schools in Asia have that kind of track record.
The school is in Dongcheng District, central Beijing. The International Students Department serves students from Grade 7 to Grade 12. You can choose the IB path or a Chinese-medium track. Both lead to strong results at top universities.
So why do parents in Southeast Asia and India look at this school? The fees are low for what you get. The IB Diploma is on offer. And the Chinese culture your child picks up is real, not staged.
Beijing No. 55 High School Overview
Very few public schools in China have IB status; Beijing No. 55 has held it for over 30 years.
The school has a full International Students Department. Students come from more than 70 countries. That's a true multicultural environment. No one group takes over the classroom.
The school is also an HSK test center. Students can take their Chinese language exams on-site. That saves time and travel.
Chinese and English are both used as the languages of instruction. About 40% of the staff is from overseas. The teacher-to-student ratio is close to 1:5. Class sizes are small. Your child gets real attention.
The campus has two sections. It covers over 44,000 square meters. You'll find science labs, a library, a small theater, and sports courts. Basketball, football, and badminton are all on offer.
The school has been a day school since it opened. There are no dorms. At least one parent must live in Beijing while you enroll your child. That's a firm rule, not a guideline. Families who plan ahead find this easy to manage. Those who don't can struggle with the daily setup.
Beijing No. 55 High School Academic Programs
The school offers two tracks across school phases G7 to G12.
Track 1: The IB Path
The IB Middle Years Programme covers grades 7 to 10. The IB Diploma covers grades 11 and 12. Together, they form a full International Baccalaureate journey. Students go from middle school all the way to pre-university on one track.
The MYP has eight subject areas. Students study languages, sciences, math, arts, and design. In grade 10, each student completes a personal project. That's an independent piece of work; they plan and carry it out on their own.
The IB Diploma is the top offering. Students take six subjects. They write an extended essay. They take a theory of knowledge course. They also do CAS — a mix of creative, physical, and service work. The IB Diploma opens doors at universities all over the world.
Students who need more time before the full diploma can start with a pre-foundation year. This gives them a chance to build their English, study skills, and subject knowledge. It's a smart option for students coming from very different school systems. It sets them up to do well in the full diploma later.
Track 2: Chinese-Medium Courses
These courses follow China's school program. Teachers conduct the teaching in Chinese for the most part. Students pick arts or science. This track works best for students who are strong in Mandarin. It leads to top Chinese universities like Tsinghua and Peking University.
Language Help
Students with little or no Chinese can join an intensive Mandarin course. Groups are small. Progress is fast.
Students from international education backgrounds with low English skills get support in the IB track too. Language learning is part of daily school life here.
Beijing No. 55 High School Campus Environment and Daily Life
Life at this school is active and varied.
School starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:30 PM. Many clubs run until 5:00 PM. Lunch is on campus. Students pick from Chinese or Western meals. The cost is about RMB 20 per day.
There's no dorm, so each family sorts out transport. The school runs a bus service. It costs RMB 5,000 to 6,000 per year. That's low compared to most schools in Beijing. The school is also near three subway lines.
The area around the school is rich in culture. Sanlitun is close by. So are the old hutong streets. Your child will absorb Beijing life by being there.
Students come from North America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. New friends come from all over the world. Cross-cultural bonds form fast in a place like this. Many students say the people they meet here stay friends for life. That's the impact of a multicultural environment.
Extracurricular and Global Opportunities at Beijing No. 55 High School
The school has more than 30 clubs. Students can try robotics, 3D art, calligraphy, Wushu, or Peking Opera. There's space for students who love Western cultures and for those who want to go deep into Chinese ones.
Chinese culture isn't an add-on here. Students learn Peking Opera, ink painting, and calligraphy at a real skill level. Past students have performed for guests from the government and foreign embassies. That's not a school trip; that's a trained artistic performance. Your child will leave with skills most peers will never have.
Cultural tours happen each year. Students visit the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. Some groups travel further — to Xi'an, Shanghai, or Guilin. Each trip links to what students study in class.
Social community service is part of school life. Students visit elderly care homes. They join environmental protection activities. IB Diploma students use this work to meet their CAS hours. Younger students build good habits early.
The annual International Cultural Festival is a big event. Students bring self-made foods and small arts and crafts items from their home countries. They share their culture with the whole school. The festival is student-run and full of energy.
The basketball teams compete at the city level. Football and badminton are active too.
Beijing No. 55 High School Fees and Admissions Process
Annual Fees (2026–2027)
IB Programs:
- IB MYP (Grades 7–10): RMB 72,500 per year
- IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12): RMB 83,800 per year
- Pre-Foundation Year: RMB 70,500 per year
Chinese-Medium Courses:
- Junior High (Grades 7–9): RMB 63,800 per year
- Senior High (Grades 10–12): RMB 70,600 per year
Language Support:
- Intensive Chinese Classes: RMB 83,800 per year
Extra Costs:
- Application fee: RMB 2,000 (non-refundable)
- Book deposit: RMB 3,000 (refundable)
- School bus: RMB 5,000–6,000 per year
- Meals: approx. RMB 4,000–5,000 per year
Private IB schools in Beijing charge RMB 200,000 to 360,000 per year. Beijing No.55 offers the IB Diploma at about one-quarter of that price.
Admissions Process
The school takes foreign passport holders only; Chinese nationals cannot join the International Students Department.
Steps to apply:
- Fill in the form on the school website or book a call with Alifa Education Services for guidance
- Pay the RMB 2,000 application fee
- Send your documents: two years of school reports, a birth certificate, vaccine records, and a teacher reference letter
- Get non-English or non-Chinese documents certified and translated
- Take a placement test in Chinese, English, and math
- Attend a short interview
- Get your offer and start visa steps
For 2026–2027, the main window opened in September 2025. Contact ALIFA Education Services for help if you missed it. Rolling spots may still be open. Don't wait too long.
What Should Parents Consider Before Applying to Beijing No. 55 High School?
Here are a few things to think about before you apply.
- Your child needs a foreign passport. Chinese nationals can't join the International Students Department. Check your child's passport status early. There are no exceptions.
- One parent must live in Beijing. There is no boarding. If your job takes you away a lot, plan for that.
- Chinese language level matters. The Chinese-medium track needs at least HSK 4. Even in the IB track, students need some Chinese. Students who start from zero can join the intensive class. But expect one to two years before they are ready for the main program.
- Daily logistics need a plan. School ends in the mid-afternoon. Working parents need after-school cover. The bus has set routes. Test the commute before you rent a home. A bad commute adds stress fast.
- There are no scholarship opportunities for international students. The low fees are the value. There is no extra financial aid on top of that.
Conclusion
Beijing No. 55 High School gives families something hard to find: you get a real IB Diploma program inside a public school. Fees are far below private school costs. The school runs from G7 to G12. Classes are small. Students learn in both Chinese and English.
Graduates get into top schools worldwide. In 2025, the US's top 50 universities placed 70% of IB Diploma students. Others went to Oxford, Cambridge, Tsinghua, Peking University, Toronto, and Melbourne.
The school is not for every family. You must live in Beijing. Your child may need language support at first. Daily life needs planning.
But if the fit is right, Beijing No. 55 is one of the best-value IB schools in China.
Alifa Education Services helps families like yours work through every step. They know the school well. They'll look at your child's profile. They'll tell you the truth about whether this is the right fit. If it's not, they'll point you to a school that is.
Book a free consultation with us today. Get expert help placing your child in the right school in China.
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Emmanuel Usang
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