Founded in 1958, No. 2 High School of East China Normal University is the only ‘key high school’ in Shanghai that is under direct auspices of the country’s Ministry of Education other than Shanghai Foreign Language School, a school specialized in foreign language. It is most well known for its outstanding performance in international, continental, national and regional science contests. A number of 22 gold medals is won in International Mathematical Olympiad, International Physics Olympiad, International Chemistry Olympiad, International Olympiad in Informatics, and International Biology Olympiad as of 2009, the most in Mainland China. This high school is also known as one of the best four public high schools in Shanghai.

The school is located in the Zhangjiang Hi-tech Park with convenient transportation, and covers an area of 10 ha with first-class basic establishment. No. 2 High School Attached to East China Normal University is a boarding school and at present, has a total of more than 1400 students and a total staff of 140. In 1999, its International Division was established and approved by the Shanghai Municipal Government for enrolling foreign students, aged 12 to 18, for junior and senior high school education.

The school serves as an HSK testing center, as well as a ‘Base’ under the direct auspices of the Office of Chinese Language Council International of the People’s Republic of China for teaching Chinese as a foreign language. In addition, the school provides Chinese language teaching as an established subsidiary of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council.