International Schools in Hong Kong

Expat parents looking for good international schools in Hong Kong have plenty of options. The city has a variety of international schools offering respected curricula from around the world. Parents looking to send their child to an international school teaching the American, British, or International Baccalaureate curricula in Hong Kong will have the greatest range of choice, but there are also Australian, Canadian, French, and German options. Spaces at the best international schools in Hong Kong are limited, and competition is fierce, so it's well worth applying early to secure a spot.

Apart from the academic benefits, international schools in Hong Kong also allow expat children to continue with their home curriculum, providing an anchor of familiarity throughout the relocation process. Small class sizes are another advantage that most international schools pride themselves on, resulting in each child being cared for and nurtured as an individual.

Other factors to consider when choosing a school in Hong Kong include the quality of the education, the standard of facilities on offer, and the range of sporting and extracurricular activities available. A growing number of long-term expats often choose to send their children to bilingual schools, particularly those offering education in both English and Chinese.

A few of the top international schools in the city-state offer boarding facilities for students whose families travel or live further out of Hong Kong. Still, Hong Kong is a city highly regarded as safe and family-friendly, with children often travelling to and from school on public transport.

Most international schools in the city are located on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories, so expat parents looking to reduce their commute time should consider searching for accommodation in these areas and suburbs. Alternatively, some international schools in Hong Kong offer shuttle buses, usually at an additional cost.

Below is a list of some of the best international schools in Hong Kong.

International schools in Hong Kong

Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong

With three state-of-the-art campuses across Hong Kong, NAIS Hong Kong is a premium international school with students of more than 40 nationalities. Students at NAIS Hong Kong can learn globally recognised curricula while honing their language capabilities, as the school offers tuition in English, Mandarin, Spanish and French. NAIS Hong Kong creates a nurturing and engaging environment for its students while allowing parents to plug into a warm and welcoming community. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: British (English National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE) and International Baccalaureate
Ages: 3 to 18

American International School (AIS) of Hong Kong

A diverse and exciting school, AIS offers a high standard of education alongside a varied extracurricular programme. Staff are highly qualified and are able to give children ample attention thanks to the low teacher-student ratio. The school is located in picturesque Kowloon Tong and offers exceptional facilities. Although most of the students are American, AIS of Hong Kong has learners of more than 30 nationalities, creating a unique international school community. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: American
Ages: 3 to 18

Australian International School Hong Kong

Australian International School Hong Kong is a not-for-profit school. Though there is a student body of more than 1,100, classes are kept small at a maximum of 25 pupils per class. Students graduate with either the New South Wales Higher School Certificate or the International Baccalaureate. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: Australian and International Baccalaureate
Ages: 4 to 18

Beacon Hill School

From humble beginnings in 1967, Beacon Hill is now a thriving international school in Hong Kong with more than 520 pupils. The most common student nationalities include Hong Kong Chinese, Canadian, British, Australian, and American. Beacon School is part of the English Schools Foundation network of 22 schools. Beacon Hill also boasts a top Special Educational Needs Department, offering the best support to expat parents. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Ages: 5 to 11

Canadian International School of Hong Kong (CDNIS)

Founded in 1991, CDNIS is a non-profit international school situated in the Aberdeen area of Hong Kong. The school offers a top academic programme, with students earning two diplomas upon graduation (International Baccalaureate and Ontario). The school is one of the few international schools in Hong Kong offering all three levels of the International Baccalaureate programme. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: Canadian (Ontario) and International Baccalaureate
Ages: 3 to 18

Carmel School of Hong Kong

A school valuing both tradition and innovation, Carmel School of Hong Kong was established in 1991 to serve the city's Jewish community. Though teaching is done through the lens of Judaism, non-Jewish students can attend high school at Carmel. There are three Carmel campuses: two in Mid-Levels and one in Shau Kei Wan. Carmel School of Hong Kong accepts applications year-round and offers a personalised approach to learning with an emphasis on community service. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Ages: 1 to 18

French International School

The French International School of Hong Kong serves more than 2,700 students across four campuses across Hong Kong. Students can either take the French stream or the English-language international stream, but both streams are well integrated, ensuring that students of all nationalities get the chance to interact. While most of the international student body is French, the remaining students are of 45 different nationalities. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: French, British (English National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE), International Primary Curriculum and International Baccalaureate
Ages: 4 to 18

German Swiss International School (GSIS)

GSIS offers a German stream and an English stream, with a focus on developing multicultural and multilingual international students. The school has two campuses across Hong Kong – the main campus is in the picturesque and prestigious setting of The Peak, with an additional campus in Pok Fu Lam. German, Austrian and Swiss students form most of the student body, but all nationalities are welcome. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: German, British (English National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE) and International Baccalaureate
Ages: 3 to 18

Hong Kong Academy

Hong Kong Academy (HKA) is a non-profit international school with 500+ students from more than 40 nationalities enrolled. Founded in 2000 with the belief that all children bring a unique set of talents and strengths to their learning, HKA is a top through-train international school providing a personalised, student-centred programme that encourages every individual to fulfil their greatest potential. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: International Baccalaureate
Ages: 3 to 18

Hong Kong International School (HKIS)

HKIS has a student body of more than 2,800 pupils occupying two campuses in the south of Hong Kong Island. This international school offers an American education grounded in Christian philosophy. Academic excellence, character development, and self-motivated learning are all highly valued at HKIS, making the school one of the best international schools in Hong Kong. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: American
Ages: 4 to 18

International Montessori School (IMS)

Children at IMS will experience a unique dual-language Montessori environment, with teaching in both English and Chinese. IMS has four campuses across Hong Kong Island: Stanley, South Horizons, Mid-Levels and Aldrich Bay. As one of the few and top Montessori international schools in Hong Kong, IMS aims to foster independence and nurture children's natural abilities. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: Montessori
Ages: 2 to 12

Kellett School

Kellett School is one of the foremost international schools in Hong Kong, offering a proudly British education and boasting a low student-to-teacher ratio. Its two campuses in Pok Fu Lam and Kowloon Bay are home to high-quality purpose-built facilities. While fostering academic excellence, Kellett also encourages holistic development with an exciting range of extracurricular activities. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: British (English National Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE and A-levels)
Ages: 4 to 18

Yew Chung International School (YCIS)

YCIS is committed to providing a truly international education that merges Eastern and Western values to develop globally-minded students. To that end, YCIS offers globally recognised curricula, including the British curriculum and the International Baccalaureate programme, in a bilingual setting. The school's three campuses are located in Kowloon Tong. Read more

Gender: Co-educational
Curriculum: British (English National Curriculum and Cambridge IGCSE) and International Baccalaureate
Ages: 6 months to 18 years