Hong Kong is an international center of trade and commerce and innovation, often seen as a gateway between the broader world and China as a whole. Part of yet often distinct from the rest of China, it has its own unique educational system, one shaped by its time as a British colony. Hong Kong is home to a number of excellent high schools, both public and private. Many parents make use of these, but with a small geographic area and large population, there are many schools to choose from. In this article, we will give an overview of some of the best high schools in Hong Kong, to help you determine which are right for your needs. Let’s get started!
A Note on Hong Kong’s Educational Organization
Education in Hong Kong is formatted differently from the rest of China. This is because it is still heavily based on the British system, implemented when it was a British colony. In recent years, there have been several updates to curriculums, educational materials, and exams brought about by the mainland, but the overall structure of the educational system remains in place.
Secondary school consists of senior and junior secondary; senior secondary directly prepares students for university. Formerly this was the British A-Levels, but is now a new exam. The intent, and age ranges served however, remains the same.
There are public, private, and subsidized private schools in Hong Kong. Some private schools operate completely outside the purview of the government, though others are. International schools are not ranked or regulated by the government.
The population attending Hong Kong’s schools has shifted in recent years, as the mainland asserts more control over the province. Many students who were attending school there have gone overseas, while the number of upper class mainland students attending private and international schools in Hong Kong has risen sharply. This hasn’t made education worse in the territory, but has changed the flavor of it.
Some parents are concerned over increasing governmental interference in curriculums, and a number of lecturers and foreign teachers have left the territory in recent years. The schools do still have high academic standards and high performances, but compared to Singapore (which Hong Kong inevitably will be), Hong Kong is not as attractive as it once was to international educational talent.
The Best Public Schools in Hong Kong
These schools mostly serve Hong Kong’s native population, but a growing number of expats living in Hong Kong are sending their children to these schools as well, driven by both tuition increases at private schools, and a desire for students to be able to speak Cantonese. Note that the majority of public schools in Hong Kong use Cantonese as the language of instruction, but some still use English. The ones which use English have on average better university placement rates, and are often highly sought after by parents.
Most public schools offer instruction in both English and Cantonese. An increasing number are also offering Mandarin Chinese.
Diocesan Girls’ School
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This is a direct subsidy school, being independently operated but overseen and supported by the government of Hong Kong. It is one of the oldest girls’ schools in Hong Kong, having been founded in 1860, and is still run by an Anglican organization. The main language of instruction is English. It is one of the top performing schools in Hong Kong, with the highest number of Hong Kong Outstanding Student Awards of all secondary schools in the territory. While it is a Christian school, students need not be Christian to attend.
The school covers both lower and upper secondary school, or grades 7-12 for those used to the American system. All students learn English, Cantonese, and Mandarin, though English is the primary language of instruction for most courses outside of Chinese language, history, and literature. Students have flexibility in which elective courses they pursue in the upper school. You can see their results for public examinations here. Their students do well in university applications, with most attending high profile schools in Hong Kong.
The annual fee for all students is $40,000 HKD; there are some scholarships available; these include both merit and need based scholarships. Applications are open annually, you must apply online. These require the application form, plus school reports from the past three years. Note that in addition to the online application, you must also submit paper copies of the documents to the school by mail, including a stamped and addressed envelope. Students who are shortlisted for admission will be invited to sit for an assessment exam.
Diocesan Boys’ School
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This is a day and boarding boys’ school in Hong Kong, which was established in 1869. It is another of the odd semi-independent schools, which is independently run but overseen and directly subsidized by the government in Hong Kong. The school is top ranked academically, and is one of the top performing International Baccalaureate schools. They serve students in both primary and secondary school. The primary method of instruction at the school is English.
The school’s curriculum parallels other schools up through grade 10. Grade 10 then serves as a bridging year between this curriculum and the IB diploma program, which all students enroll in for their final two years at the school. This does a good job preparing students for university, with the school regularly ranking in the top-performing IB schools globally.
School fees vary based on both grade level and whether a student is native to Hong Kong. Current annual fees for secondary students from Hong Kong are $59,860 HKD. Applications to the school must be submitted online. Note that applications are handled differently for different grade levels; we are focusing specifically on applicants for grades 10 and above. Applications open in February, and are due by March 1. After applications are reviewed, students are invited to take an assessment test; this is a necessary component of admissions.
Po Leung Kuk Lo Kit Sing College
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Located on Tsing Yi, this school was founded in 1983, and is an aided secondary school; founded and run by a charitable organization with the financial support and oversight of the government. It is a coed school, and was one of the first schools in Hong Kong to embrace project based learning, which remains a core component of its curriculum. It introduced English as the primary language of instruction in 2010; a plurality of classes are taught in English.
The school follows the core curriculum laid out by the government of Hong Kong. Students have some flexibility in electives and areas of focus, but all must take courses in core academic subjects, with a focus on preparing for university. Notably, students need to complete a significant project in each subject they are studying as part of their project-based learning curriculum. They also assign projects to be completed over summer vacation.
Applications must be submitted in the spring. This begins online, but some forms must be submitted to the school in person, including reports from previous schools. They look for strong performance in academic subjects, and require students to have proficiency in both English and Cantonese.
The Best International Schools in Hong Kong
Traditionally the domain of both expats and wealthy native Hong Kong students, these schools are becoming increasingly popular with wealthy families from the mainland, especially those looking to attend university overseas. Most of these schools offer a curriculum in English, and are not overseen directly by the government of Hong Kong.
American International School
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Founded in 1986, this school provides a fairly traditional US high school experience, with courses taught in English and grades divided as they are in American schools. The school is fully coed, and serves approximately 900 students. The primary language of instruction is English. While students may take Chinese as a language course, doing so is not required.
AIS requires all high school students complete community service hours each year; 10 hours for underclassmen and 20 hours for upperclassmen. They offer 23 AP courses; these are open for enrollment by students, and most students take at least one before they graduate; 70% of the recent graduating class earned an AP scholar award. Many of their graduates apply to college in the US, and they send students to some of the top universities there.
Tuition at AIS depends on grade level. For high school students, it is $180,400 HKD annually. There is no financial aid available. Applications to AIS are technically accepted on a rolling basis, but most must come in before the term you wish to begin; starting mid-term is harder, and there are fewer seats available. Applications require the online form, government documents, school reports in English for the past three years, and references from current math and English teachers, plus a school principal. Students who are selected are invited to complete an admissions assessment and an interview on campus.
Harrow International School Hong Kong
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Founded in 2012, this is a British day and boarding school, created in partnership with the Harrow School in the UK; it is one of several Harrow schools opened globally in recent years. In spite of its relatively young age, it is quite prestigious, being recognized as a top boarding school internationally. It offers a British style curriculum for students aged 3-18, and serves approximately 1,200 students.
The school’s curriculum is fully British, with students preparing for and taking A-Level exams while in sixth form. Students sit for three or four A-Levels, and have a great deal of flexibility in choosing which subjects they pursue. Harrow is often recognized as one of the top A-Level schools in Asia, based on the strength of its scores and the university destinations of its graduates, with many headed to top universities in the US and UK.
Fees for Harrow depend on grade level; they are currently $239,070 HKD annually for sixth form students. Boarding is an additional fee of $130,705 HKD, and is available to students in year six and onwards. Applications must be submitted online; note that applications must generally come in on schedule, but students arriving from overseas without a guaranteed spot at a school in Hong Kong may apply on a rolling basis. Along with the online form, you must submit government documents and your two most recent school reports. Applicants are then invited to complete an admissions assessment; those applying from overseas may complete this online.
German Swiss International School
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This is a private school in Hong Kong, and is a dual-language school, though those languages are English and German. The goal of the school is to give students a bi-cultural educational experience, and all students learn both German and English; the difference between the two streams is the primary language of instruction. Chinese is taught, but aside from a bilingual kindergarten program, is not a primary language.
The curriculum is different between streams (outside of language of course), with English students taking the IGCSE, and then entering the IB diploma program for their final two years at the school. German students may instead take the Arbitur, and follow a Gymnasium curriculum. Students in both tracks have leeway to explore within the program, but the goal is always to help them prepare for university.
Fees for GSIS vary by year; for upper secondary students they are currently $256,700 HKD annually. There is no financial aid available. Applications are available year round; the waitlist is constantly accepting students and spaces may open up in different years on an irregular basis. Applications must be submitted online. German, Swiss, and Austrian passport holders have priority when the school makes admissions decisions. Students applying to both the German and English streams must take assessments to measure their academic capability when they apply.
Chinese International School
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Founded in 1983, the school still counts as an international school, though Hong Kong is officially part of China now. The primary language of instruction at the school is English, though Chinese is a required subject. The curriculum is based on the IB model, and senior students take the IB diploma program.
Year 10 has a special program where students spend time in Hangzhou, and students take on project-based and experiential learning. This is unique to them, and a blend of different educational models. The school seeks to prepare students for university, and students frequently attend top universities in both China and abroad.
School fees vary by year; for upper secondary students they are currently $342,800 HKD annually. There is limited financial aid available. Applications must be submitted online. These require the online form, plus an interview and an assessment to determine your academic preparation. Parent meetings are offered, but are not required. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Final Thoughts
There are a great many high schools in Hong Kong, showing the remarkable number of historical and political influences on the territory over time. We hope this article has shown the wide variety available here, and how different schools approach the shared goal of preparing students for the future. This is only a brief overview of the schools available, but should give you a good place to begin your own investigations.
If you are looking for advice specific to your own high school experience, or which of these schools may best suit your needs, then Ivy Scholars can help. We specialize in helping students find the situations that will best support and nurture them, and schools that will enable them to achieve their dreams. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you.
