Areas close to good schools

Posted by Mparkins (205 days ago)

We will be moving to Shanghai later this year and as I have not been there yet I have no idea where to start looking for a home. We will be put up in an hotel for a month while we home search which really doesn't give us much time.

I have 2 sons aged 6 and 4 years and they only speak English. Can anyone suggest a good international school? My husband speaks French and English and I speak English. Can anyone suggest good areas for us to live in? Housing budget will be about $2000 per month.

We are fairly sociable and like going out to explore we also like eating out and obviously keeping 2 active boys busy is a big consideration.

My husband is a pilot and if I can, I would like to find out more about teaching English.

Any advise would be appreciated.

Michelle

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Posted by tigerbay (205 days ago)

The main international schools are in Gugei, and Jinqiao Areas.

Gubei is in Puxi (West or the river), and Jinqiao in in Pudong (East of the river). From what I have heard all the international schools here are of a similar quality (so-so). But at your sons ages it is not critical.

Both areas have good facilities for families, restaurants, kindergardens, shops that try to cater for expats.

Gubei is very close to Hongqiao airport (internal flights mostly), and Jinqiao is reasonably close to Pudong Airport.

The air and general environment in Pudong is much better.

With your budget, you should be able to find a modern 3 bed, 2 bathroom appartment easily.

As for teaching English, if you can do it at your childrens school great. Be aware that employers over here can be the pits. And some of the schools are the worst.

Posted by Mparkins (204 days ago)

Thanks for the above info. It certainly does give me an idea of where to start.

Much appreciated

Posted by shanghai_properties (197 days ago)

Typically people choose places that are a compromise between travel to/from the office and schools. However, usually the kids win and they live nearer the school so poor old dad has to commute long hours. But this is better than the kids commuting long hours especially when they are so young.

So, can I suggest you look at what side of the river the office is on......Pudong or Puxi. Then have a look at the schools on ether of the side. There's not a huge choice but they are in particular areas with plenty of accomodation around them.

As Tigerbay said, Gubei in the Puxi(west) area as well as Minhang/Jiading and Jinqiao/Kanqiao in the Pudong (east). Both Gubei and JinQiao areas are far more developed in services for expatriate living as they were the first to be established in their respective areas. Accomodation will be more expensive in these
areas but you will find nice apartments for USD$2,000. The further out areas of Minhang/Jiading (west) and Kanqiao (east) do have good schools too but the areas are more remote. The upside is that you get better housing for USD$2,000.

Some good schools in the Gubei/Hongqiao area are SCIS and Yew Cheung. They have campuses in Pudong as well. SCIS is in Kanqiao and Yew Cheung in Jin Qiao. There are also British, French/German and US schools here as well.

Hope this helps:)

Adrienne Farrelly
Shanghai Properties
Http://www.shanghaiproperties.com