Chinese American International School (CAIS)

Founded in 1981, the Chinese American International School (CAIS) holds the distinction of being the first Mandarin immersion school in the United States. The school serves students from preschool through eighth grade, providing a rigorous dual-language curriculum where students spend half their day learning in Mandarin and the other half in English. The mission of CAIS is to prepare students to become responsible citizens of the world by instilling a deep appreciation for Chinese language and culture alongside a strong American academic foundation.

CAIS recently expanded its footprint with a new 5.4-acre 'Forever Home' campus on 19th Avenue, featuring state-of-the-art classrooms, arts facilities, and outdoor spaces. The school's curriculum is inquiry-based and focuses on social-emotional learning, critical thinking, and cross-cultural competence. It is widely recognized for its pioneering immersion model and has served as a blueprint for dozens of other immersion schools across North America.

One of the most notable aspects of the CAIS experience is its international exchange program in the middle school years, where students travel to China or Taiwan to immerse themselves in the language they have studied since preschool. This practical application of language skills, combined with a strong community of faculty and parents, makes CAIS a leading institution for bilingual education in San Francisco.