Our Story
MLES opened its first school in Dalian, PR China in 1995 with 14 students registered. This school represented the vision of Mr. Sherman Jen, Founder & CEO, to operate a high quality, externally accredited, international private school in China. The educational system Mr. Jen introduced was a blend of the educational model he had witnessed while living in British Columbia, Canada, with the strengths and cultural richness that exist in the Chinese educational system.
Today MLES operates over 30 schools from preschool to high school in 8 cities throughout China, serving over 12,500 students. In 2013 over 6,000 students will be registered as British Columbia offshore students in our 7 International High Schools and 2 Foreign Nationals Schools.
Our History
- 1995
- Mr. Sherman Jen, Founder and Headmaster opened Dalian Maple Leaf International School, with 14 high school students enrolled.
- Jinshitan campus location secured
- 1998
- Maple Leaf International School - Dalian is inspected and certified as British Columbia’s first Offshore School program.
- 1999
- The first graduating class from Maple Leaf International School - Dalian receive their high school diplomas and head off for colleges and universities in Canada, USA, UK and Korea
- 2001
- The first Maple Leaf Elementary School opens in the Dalian Development Zone, Kaifaqu
- The first Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School opens in Dalian
- 2003
- Maple Leaf Educational Systems Main Office opens in downtown Dalian
- The first middle school campus of opens - Maple Leaf Middle School - Daheishi (Black Mountain) Campus
- 2004
- First Maple Leaf Pre-School opens
- 2005
- Maple Leaf Educational System (MLES) celebrates the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of Maple Leaf International School (MLIS) - Dalian
- 2006
- The newly renovated campus for the Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School opens in Dalian
- Expansion throughout Dalian of Maple Leaf Pre-Schools
- 2007
- Maple Leaf English is established to provide high quality ESL instruction and materials through the MLES system of schools
- Two new campuses open in Wuhan - Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School - Wuhan and Maple Leaf International High School - Wuhan
- 2008
- The third MLES BC high school program opens in Tianjin – Maple Leaf International School - Tianjin (TEDA)
- Maple Leaf Elementary and Middle Schools open in Tianjin offering an enhanced Chinese program from K – 9
- 2009
- The fourth BC High School program opens in Chongqing – Maple Leaf International School – Chongqing Campus
- A second campus opens in Dalian allowing the creation of separate gender campuses. Maple Leaf International High School – Dalian, with boys’ and girls’ Campuses, opens.
- 2010
- MLES celebrates its 15th year anniversary
- Daheishi Middle School moves to new facilities at the Dalian campus in Jinshitan
- MLES Headquarters relocates to Jinshitan, leading to the establishment of the Maple Leaf Educational Park - Dalian
- The Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School – Dalian moves to a new location in downtown Dalian
- 2011
- The fifth BC High School program opens in leased facilities in Zhenjiang – Maple Leaf International High School – Zhenjiang. Construction begins on a new campus to be opened in 2012
- New Elementary and Middle School facilities open in Tianjin TEDA leading to the establishment of the Maple Leaf Educational Park – Tianjin TEDA
- 2012
- MLES signs agreement with the Educational Authority in Inner Mongolia, Ordos to establish a new school – Maple Leaf International Elementary/Middle School – Ordos
- Maple Leaf International School – Zhenjiang opens on the newly built campus
- Maple Leaf International High School – Ordos opens
- Maple Leaf International High School – Luoyang opens
- MLES signs a partnership agreement with the Henan Provincial Government to operate a Maple Leaf International Elementary/Middle School in a newly constructed, government owned facility in Luoyang
- Groundbreaking ceremony for the newest MLIS campus in Shanghai