In anticipation of the Beijing International School Expo on January 24-25, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from the upcoming 2015-2016 beijingkids School Choice Guide, which comes out on January 20.
Daystar Academy is a non-profit school that offers a balanced, bilingual Chinese-English education, with students spending half their day in each language environment. The school aims to develop world citizens who can channel their bilingualism and strong academic performance, with creativity and critical thinking to serve their communities. Kindergarten students are immersed in half-day English and half-day Chinese Montessori curriculum, and are also offered pull-out classes in music, physical education, and performing arts. Elementary students study Columbia University’s Teacher Reading and Writing Project for English language arts, using the US Common Core as the standard, and follow China’s National Curriculum for Chinese and Math. Science and performing arts are taught in English while music, art and physical education are taught in Chinese.
Founding date: 2002
Age range: 22 months-12 years
Grades offered: Toddler to Grade 6
School type: Private school
Total area: 20,000sqm
Number of students: 260
Is the school accredited by the Ministry Of Education? Yes
Accreditations: IB candidacy in progress
Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes
Local Chinese students accepted? Yes
Tuition fees (2014-2015 academic year):
• Application fee: RMB 2,000
• Toddler: RMB 45,000 (half-day) RMB 63,000 (full day)
• Kindergarten: RMB 95,000-105,000 (full day)
• Elementary: RMB 120,000
• Transportation: RMB 8,700-15,000
• Capital levy fee (one-time) for elementary students: RMB 30,000
Lunch offered: Wholesome, non-GMO meals sourced from local farms and prepared by in-house staff. Chinese and Western food served.
Nationality of students: 17 nationalities represented, including China, US, and France
Primary teaching languages: English and Chinese
Average class size: 25 (kindergarten), 20 (elementary)
Average teacher/student ratio: 1:8 (kindergarten), 1:20 (elementary Chinese classes), 1:10 (elementary English classes)
School hours: 8.10am-3.40pm
After-school activities: Many classes offered, including soccer, ballet, gymnastics, cooking, music, Lego robotics, and music
Extra help offered? Specialized ESL and CSL programs available
Scholarship offered: Yes, based on financial need
School facilities: Energy-efficient modern campus with gymnasium, outdoor sports facilities, professional stage, dance studio, instrument practice rooms, ICT lab, and workshop with cooking facilities
School nurse or doctor available? Yes
Contact: 2 Shunbai Lu, Chaoyang District (5603 9446, 6433 7366 ext 8009, admissions@daystarchina.cn) www.daystarchina.cn 朝阳区顺白路2号
Word from a Parent:
“After visiting Daystar Academy, we knew we had found what we were looking for: the right size, the ‘right’ fees, the right uniform (yes, it does make a difference), and last but not least, the only truly bilingual curriculum. After three years at Daystar, the objectives we had set for our daughters have not only been met, but exceeded beyond our expectations. Although they were raised in a French-speaking environment, our daughters now master English and Chinese perfectly. The international environment of the school has also helped broaden their vision of the world, making them feel at ease and accepting of wherever they go.”
– Isabelle Justo (France), mother of Hortense (Grade 3) and Léonore (Grade 1)
Photo: Courtesy of Daystar
