The Concordia Difference

In the 1980's an inspired group of Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) visionaries and business professionals dreamed of a school environment where teachers, students and parents worked side-by-side toward the common goal of attaining a world-class, holistic education founded on Christian values. Equipping students with our core values and raising them in a flourishing community as global citizens and positive change agents.

They were eventually invited to come to Shanghai to build a school in the tradition of HKIS, which was founded by the LCMS in 1966. 

Then, in 1998, a small group of teachers from HKIS was sent to Pudong to build that school. They brought their experience and excellence and used them to build a school from the rice paddies up–literally. Concordia’s first academic year opened with 22 students and a dedicated staff of 14—led by founding Head of School Dr. Allan Schmidt. 

Concordia has come a long way since then. We’ve since proudly celebrated our 20th Anniversary and the growth of Concordia Shanghai in the Fall of 2018 with many community members from past and present visiting our state-of-the-art campus in Shanghai.  This year we celebrate our 25th Anniversary!

Since those early days, Concordia has been equipping students with our core values and raising them in a flourishing community as global citizens and positive change agents.  

In the Fall of 2018 we proudly celebrated our 20th Anniversary and the growth of Concordia Shanghai with many community members from past and present visiting our state-of-the-art campus in Shanghai.  This year we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary!

Today, Concordia International School Shanghai educates more than 1,200 students from many experiences and backgrounds and offers a complete program from Preschool to Grade 12. Our state-of-the-art campus and facilities allow for our students and teachers to remain on the cutting edge of innovation and advanced learning. Our administrative leadership team is made of experts from a variety of disciplines and industries, including international school education, higher education, and corporate business. Our graduates go to the finest best-fit universities in the world to pursue their passions and serve their individual needs. And our experienced and dedicated faculty provide a premier education experience, wrapped in loving, joyful relationships.  Whether here for one year or fifteen, our students and families are changed for good because of their time at Concordia.