School Profile
Dalian American International School (DAIS) provides high-quality education for students ages 2 to 18. In a positive and caring environment, the school seeks to inspire curiosity and unlock each student's potential. An experienced international faculty delivers a curriculum that combines a strong academic core with diverse enrichment opportunities. Thoughtfully sized classes ensure that every student receives close attention and individualized support, helping them develop their abilities and talents fully.
Founded in 2006, DAIS brings international education and local culture together. Drawing on Dalian's rich history, culture, and natural environment, it gives Chinese and international students a bridge across cultures and toward a global outlook. Since its establishment, DAIS has upheld the mission that every learner strives to achieve personal excellence and contributes to the global community, developing future leaders who are rooted locally and engaged with the world.
Ranking Performance
On July 15, 2026, the KingLead 2026 China International School Innovative Competitiveness Top 100 Ranking July Monthly Rating (Private Schools) and the KingLead 2026 China International School Innovative Competitiveness Top 100 Ranking July Monthly Rating (Foreign Schools) were officially released. By dynamically tracking and assessing innovative competitiveness, the ratings aim to give parents timely, evidence-based guidance for school selection and provide schools with current benchmarks for innovative practice, helping China's international schools move faster toward high-quality development.
In recognition of its high-quality education, Dalian American International School was included in the KingLead 2026 China International School Innovative Competitiveness Top 100 Ranking July Monthly Rating (Foreign Schools) and received a 4A rating.
01
Outstanding University Admissions
As of June 2026, DAIS students in the graduating class had received offers from leading universities worldwide. These included the University of Edinburgh and the University of Manchester in the UK; the Australian National University and the University of Sydney in Australia; and McGill University, the University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia in Canada.
U.S. admissions were equally strong, with offers from the University of California, San Diego; the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Michigan State University; The Ohio State University; Northeastern University; the University of Rochester; and Penn State University Park, among other respected institutions.
The Class of 2026 also received more than USD 1.285 million in scholarships. Every offer and honor reflects the students' dedication to learning and demonstrates the school's sustained ability to empower students for success on the global stage.
02
A Diverse Curriculum
DAIS provides a coherent and well-connected K-12 international curriculum for students ages 2 to 18, seeking a deep integration of academic rigor and whole-person development.
In Early Childhood, ages 2 to 5, multilingualism is at the core of the program. Sensory-rich inquiry and carefully designed language environments support natural English acquisition. In mixed-age classrooms, younger children learn through interaction and imitation with older peers, strengthening language skills and cultural awareness in authentic social settings and building a confident, caring foundation for bilingual and multilingual learning.
At the Elementary School level, ages 6 to 10, the curriculum follows the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and American Education Reaches Out (AERO) Standards. It spans multiple subject areas and emphasizes breadth of knowledge and expanded thinking. Teachers attend to each student's pace of development, using ongoing assessment and timely feedback to build habits of reflection and goal setting, foster intrinsic motivation through challenge, and nurture character and well-being through exploration.
At the Middle School level, ages 11 to 13 and Grades 6 to 8, the program focuses on building capability, higher-order thinking, and independent learning. Hands-on practice, collaborative inquiry, and authentic tasks are integrated into classroom learning. Students strengthen their subject foundations while making a smooth transition from elementary to high school and preparing for more advanced coursework.
At the High School level, ages 14 to 18, students can follow academic pathways that combine depth with flexibility. Alongside an American high school program, they may choose Advanced Placement (AP), Cambridge International A-Level courses, and Syracuse University dual-enrollment courses through Project Advance (SUPA), experiencing genuine university-level academic challenges while still in high school. A-Level subjects include Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Economics, Business, and Chinese, with flexible combinations that support applications to leading universities worldwide. SUPA gives high-achieving Grade 12 students an opportunity to earn university credit and adapt early to the standards and pace of overseas higher education.
Rooted in U.S. educational standards while drawing on high-quality global resources, the DAIS curriculum builds a strong foundation of knowledge and a broad platform for growth at every stage, helping students move confidently onto the world stage.
03
A Strong Faculty
DAIS's faculty strength is grounded in a core leadership team that combines global perspective with deep local commitment. Team members are graduates of leading universities, hold doctoral or master's degrees, and bring decades of international education experience to DAIS. They have worked extensively in educational management, teaching and research, and school operations across China, the UK, the United States, South Africa, and other countries, giving them a nuanced understanding of how students grow across different cultural contexts.
The team includes long-serving international school leaders with expertise in strategy and curriculum design, distinguished local educators recognized at the national level for work in mother-tongue education and cultural heritage, and scholar-practitioners specializing in cross-cultural communication and applied linguistics in higher education. Together they demonstrate deep, systematic expertise in curriculum development, faculty learning, student care, school culture, finance, admissions, and operations.
Conclusion
At Dalian American International School, every stage of education is carefully designed and every student is thoughtfully supported. From Early Childhood through High School, and from AP to A-Level, DAIS combines a rigorous, diverse curriculum with a professional and caring faculty to build a strong bridge toward leading universities worldwide for both Chinese and international students. For two decades, the school has lived its mission that every learner strives to achieve personal excellence and contributes to the global community, developing character as it shares knowledge and embracing the local community while looking outward to the world. DAIS is both a starting point and a horizon, giving every child the strength to move toward a wider future.
*All information and images in this article are sourced from the school's official website and official WeChat account.