When does public school start in Shanghai?

[Haiping]

Does anyone know when public school starts in Shanghai? Is there a summer break? If so, when does that end? I'm interested in visiting some classrooms in September.

Thanks,

Haiping

[Meng Lelan]

The school year in China usually starts about late August to early September. Yes there is a summer break usually from early July to the end of August.

[Haiping]

I was hoping to catch some part of the school year (to observe some classes), but I'll be leaving by about Sept. 9th. Maybe classes won't be started yet.

Thanks for your help.

[msittig]

As far as I know, by dictate of the municipal bureau of education, all schools, public and private (excluding international schools) start classes every year on September 1st. I'm surprised to hear that there is any flexibility in this date. In my experience, Shanghai schools put little effort into designing an academic calendar because it is all decided for them.

I would invite you to my school but I just changed jobs and I'll be a newb when you arrive, so I don't feel comfortable asking my new colleagues to allow a guest observer. If there's anything else I can help with, however, just let me know.

(I've chaired the calendar planning committee at a private school in Shanghai for five years now.)