does anyone know what the cost for a forgien child to school in a local shanghai school?

not interested in sending them to a international shcool, but can forgein kids attend local schools?

Yes, foreign kids can attend local schools, but it may not be easy for them to adapt to not only a new language of instruction (and Chinese is not one of the easiest languages to pick up), but also the academic rigour and the stricter expectations of the teachers. You may have to think of this.

One of my friends paid about RMB3000 per semester to send her kid to a local school, but they are Singaporean, so it is not as big an issue for her kids.

I have two foreign kids in local schools. Tuition is RMB3,000 per semester from grades 1- 5 and then RMB6,000 per semester from grades 6 - ?. I'm not sure of the tuition for high school as my kids haven't made it there yet.

There are additional costs. Lunch, books, etc. I don't know the cost on those but it's not much.

Can anyone help me of how to check out the school if there is zoning criteria of where you live and how to register?

Not really, if you're a foreigner.

Interesting topic.

I have a question for you lao wais with kids in local schools: have you noticed a decrease in your child's ability to speak English at all? I have a colleague who is French (father British) and grew up going to French schools while living with her father. She has a very heavy French accent. I just worry that despite all the English going on in the house, my child would develop with a distinct Chinglish accent.

I have only found a few international schools that don't charge an arm and a leg for tuition. But the number of students in their classes is much larger, unfortunately. So it is kind of a trade off