Top 10 Hong Kong International Schools(HK Island): Fees and Curriculums Overview 2023

Overview of Hong Kong Island International Schools Fees and Curriculums, including Singapore International School, Canadian International School, HKIS, ESF and more.

Hong Kong Island is the cradle for most of the top and prestigious international schools in Hong Kong. If you are a parent looking to enroll your children in an international school, there are a few things you need to consider before applying:
● School Curriculum (e.g., IB, American college-preparatory, UK National Curriculum etc.)
● School Fees: Application Fee, Assessment Fee, Tuition, Capital Levy, Activity Fee etc.
● Property Options in the School Net and Catchment Area
We have compiled the following guide, which will give you a comprehensive overview of the fees and curriculums of the top 10 international schools on Hong Kong Island in 2023. In addition, we think you would be interested to know more about property rental and buying recommendations in the school net, as some international schools require students to live in the catchment area.

Choosing Your Dream Home in the Catchment Area
Technically, students of all nationalities can apply to and enroll in an international school in Hong Kong. Non-Hong Kong citizens must hold a valid Hong Kong visa to be eligible for enrollment. The only international schools that require their students to reside in the same catchment area are those under the English Schools Foundation (ESF) umbrella, such as Quarry Bay School and the Peak School on Hong Kong Island.

Although living within the school net may not be mandatory, there are numerous benefits to living close to your choice of school. Just think about the painless commute in the morning, and the easy and spontaneous playdates and meetups with school friends. It also gives you a better understanding of the neighborhoods in which your children spend most of their days. Is it safe for them to wander around after school? Are there healthy food options close to the campus?

For instance, if you are planning to apply to the Singapore International School in Hong Kong, a dream home is a quality estate like Marinella has a lot to offer. Apart from being close to the campus, Marinella is one of the newer property options in Aberdeen. With a low-destiny construct, a modern design, and quiet surroundings, it provides the ideal environment for young children to grow up in and thrive.

The purpose of choosing your dream home in your desired catchment area is a little different than if it were for investment purposes. In our experience, instead of focusing on the rate of return and market activity, choosing the right home in preparation for school means prioritizing comfortability, safety and connectivity.

Trying to get a place in some of the well-established international schools, such as Hong Kong International School, Singapore International School and the Canadian International School of Hong Kong, can take a lot of work especially in the months leading up to the start of a new school year. Searching for a property in the early months of the year will certainly give you better options.

Let’s dive into the Top 10 International Schools on Hong Kong Island and property recommendations in the catchment areas.
Read More: 【Primary One Admission】Hong Kong Island POA School Net & Areas Covered

1. German Swiss International School

German Swiss International School
Source: wikipedia

The German Swiss International School (GSIS) is well-known for its excellent academic performance and the high admission rate to world-renowned schools and universities. According to Scholars Insider, its secondary school department scores the highest in Hong Kongin IB performance. Students from GSIS achieve the best academic results compared to all of their counterparts in Hong Kong: on average, students achieve 41 points in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. More than 67% of its students score 40 or above in the IB, and 24% of the students have been accepted to the top 20 universities in the world.

Address:11 Guildford Road, The Peak (The Peak Campus), 162 Pok Fu Lam Road, Pok Fu Lam (Pok Fu Lam Campus)
School Types: Kindergarten, Primary School and Secondary School
Tuition: HK$161,450-$203,420 pa
Property Recommendation: LA HACIENDA, VILLA VERDE, SUNSHINE VILLA

2. Independent Schools Foundation (The ISF Academy)

Independent Schools Foundation
Source: ISF official site

Co-founded by Professor Charles Kao, the 2009 Nobel Prize Winner in Physics, the Independent Schools Foundation is the alma mater of many affluent and reputable families in Hong Kong, including the son of Richard Li Tzar-kai.
The ISF Academy offers bilingual (English and Mandarin) primary and secondary school curriculums and IB curriculum from Grade 6 to 12. According to Scholars Insider, its secondary school department scores the second highest in Hong Kong in IB performance. Students from the ISF Academy achieve an average of 41 points in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. ISF is recognized as one of the best international schools in Hong Kong, with 73% of the students achieving an IB score of 40 or above.

Address: Kong Sin Wan Road 1, Pokfulam
School Types: Primary School, Secondary School, IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP)
Tuition: HKD 211,610 - HKD 267,260 pa
Property Recommendation: BAGUIO VILLA, AQUA 33, GREENERY GARDEN

3. Chinese International School

Chinese International School Facebook
Source: Chinese International School Facebook

The Chinese International School is another favorite choice for senior government officials and celebrities in Hong Kong. According to Scholars Insider, its secondary school department scores the third highest in Hong Kong in IB performance. Students from CIS score an average of 40.89 on the IB exam, while 73% achieve an IB score of 40 or above.

Address: 1 Hau Yuen Path, Braemar Hill
School Types: Nursery, Kindergarten, Primary School and Secondary School
Tuition: HKD183,600 - HKD 291,200
Property Recommendation: THE PAVILIA HILL, FLEUR PAVILIA, VICTORIA HARBOUR

4. Singapore International School (Hong Kong)

Singapore International School
Source: Singapore International School (Hong Kong) Facebook

The Singapore International School in Hong Kong (SISHK) is well-known for their top academic performance. The school comes forth in Hong Kong in the Scholars Insider IB performance rankings. SISHK is particularly popular among those who want to continue their education in Singapore or enjoy a lighter workload.

Address: 23 Nam Long Shan Road, Aberdeen (Primary campus), 2 Police School Road, Aberdeen (Secondary campus)
School Types:Nursery, Kindergarten, Primary School and Secondary School
Tuition: HKD142,600 - HKD 221,300 pa
Property Recommendation:MARINELLA

5. Victoria Shanghai Academy

Victoria Shanghai Academy
Source: Victoria Shanghai Academy Facebook

Victoria Shanghai School(VSA) is an International Baccalaureate IB World School in Hong Kong that offers Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). The secondary department is ranked 6th in the Scholars Insider IB rankings, with an average IB score of 39.5, and 56% of students scored 40 or above. VSA is also the feeder primary school of Victoria Shanghai Academy.

Address: 19 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong
School Types: Through-train IB world school: Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP)
Tuition: HKD149,600 - HKD 210,060 pa
Property Recommendation: JADEWATER , SOUTH COAST , BAYSHORE APARTMENTS.

6. Canadian International School of Hong Kong

Canadian International School of Hong Kong
Source: Canadian International School of Hong Kong Facebook

The Canadian International School (CDNIS) is ranked 7th in the Scholars Insider IB rankings for the performance of their secondary school. It is worth noting that their Chinese Studies Department is widely recognized as one of the finest among English language schools in Hong Kong and worldwide. CDNIS’s students consistently score the highest pass rate for Chinese in their IB Diploma globally.

Address: 36 Nam Long Shan Road, Aberdeen
School Types: IB Programme - Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), Diploma Programme (DP), Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Tuition: HKD121,500 - HKD 133,650 pa
Property Recommendation:MARINELLA

7. Hong Kong International School

Hong Kong International School
Source: HKIS Website

Founded in 1966, Hong Kong International School (HKIS) is one of the oldest international schools in Hong Kong, offering an American-style curriculum. Since 1971, HKIS has been accredited by the United States Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and is the alma mater of many celebrity offsprings in Hong Kong, including Morton Cheung, the son of Anita Yuen and Julian Cheung.
In terms of academic performance, the average AP score is 1390. Around 82% of their students achieve the top 4% AP score, the best result in Hong Kong.

Address: 1 Red Hill Road (Tai Tam Campus), 23 South Bay Close (Repulse Bay Campus)
School Type: International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Tuition: HKD116,000 - HKD 132,000 per semester
Property Recommendation:GRAND GARDEN, HONG KONG PARKVIEW

8. Quarry Bay School

Quarry Bay School
Source: Quarry Bay School Facebook

Quarry Bay Primary School (QBS) is one of the English Schools Foundation (ESF) schools in Hong Kong. Since 1985, QBS moved its campus to its multi-purpose buildings in Braemar Hill in North Point. The mission of Quarry Bay Primary School is to encourage children to enjoy learning through activities and to develop confidence, happiness and success in learning. Like all ESF schools, Quarry Bay Primary School requires students to reside in the catchment area.

Address: 6 Hau Yuen Path, Braemar Hill, North Point
School Divisions: Pre-K to Grade 12
Tuition: HKD 119,100
Property Recommendation: THE PAVILIA HILL, FLEUR PAVILIA, VICTORIA HARBOUR

9. Peak School

Peak School
Source: ESF Website

The Peak School prioritizes learning through a broad, balanced, and inquiry-based international curriculum. Enrolled students need to provide proof of residence in the catchment area. Like all the other English Schools Foundation (ESF) schools, the Peak School is an IB World School, offering the Primary Years Programmes (PYP) that provide students with a broad academic experience and an all-rounded critical thinking mindset. But unlike some traditional international schools, the Peak School feels like a big family, with a tight-knit community between teaching staff and students.

Address: 20 Plunkett's Rd, The Peak
School Type: Primary
Tuition: HKD 119,100
Property Recommendation: LA HACIENDA, VILLA VERDE, SUNSHINE VILLA

10. Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong

Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong
Source: Wycombe Abbey School Hong Kong Facebook

This prestigious British private school is run by the well-known classic British private boarding school, Wycombe Abbey School, with more than 100 years of history and named one of the Best Schools of the Year by the Sunday Times. Its main attraction lies in the mixture of British and Hong Kong curriculums, tailored to the needs of the students in Hong Kong. Unlike the female-only private boarding institution in the UK, the Wycombe Abbey School in Hong Kong is a full-time co-educational primary school.

Address: 17 Tin Wan Street, Tin Wan, Aberdeen
School Type: Primary School
Tuition: HKD 188,000 - HKD198,000
Property Recommendation: JADEWATER , SOUTH COAST , BAYSHORE APARTMENTS.

Are you looking to find the perfect home for you and your family before the next school year starts? We have observed a recent drop in property prices in many private estates around these top international schools on Hong Kong Island. Search now, or contact our specialized team for more insights into finding the right property tailored to your needs.

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19 MAY 2023

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