Thank you for your interest in applying to Hong Kong International School. We serve students from Reception One (pre-kindergarten) to Grade 12 across four divisions.
The grade for your child is determined by age for Lower and Upper Primary; or by grade completed for Middle and High School.
Applications for the 2026-27 academic year are currently open. To apply, please refer to the steps and application deadlines below to submit a student application.
Enter your child's birthday to discover the admissions process for your child's entry grade. If you are exploring HKIS for multiple children, please start with your youngest child.
Start Your Journey (For Lower and Upper Primary only)
To determine which grade is right for your child, please enter your child's date of birth below.
For Middle School and High School, we follow age and grade level determination.
Learn about HKIS through our website, virtual tour, campus tour, and open house. Interested families may then follow the steps to begin the application process.
Complete the pre-registration form to receive your PowerSchool login details and access the student application forms for the 2026-27 academic year.
Sign in to PowerSchool to complete the application forms (01-06) within 14 days or before the application deadline, whichever is earlier. Once the application is processed by the Office of Admissions, you will receive an acknowledgment of the next steps.
Follow the instructions stated in the acknowledgment to provide supporting documents.
View supporting documents here
Select applicants will be invited to pre-entry testing, which varies by grade level. Invitations are extended based on the applicant’s priority, number of applications received, and anticipated number of spaces per grade level.
| Grade | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Reception 1 and Reception 2 | In-person (preferred) assessment of fine and gross motor skills, developmental readiness, behavior, and expressive and receptive English Language skills. |
| Grades 1 and 2 | In-person (preferred) assessment of phonics, phonemic awareness, numeracy, behavior, developmental readiness, and expressive and receptive English Language skills. |
| Grades 3 to 12 | Standardized computerized test for math, reading, writing, and oral language. |
Complete applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Families will be notified of the admissions decision by the Office of Admissions within the Decision Timeline stated in the acknowledgment.
Please refer to the supporting document checklist for the required documents for consideration as they vary by grade.
Please note that applications with missing documents by the deadline will not be considered. Applications missing Teacher Recommendations will be considered incomplete and will also not be considered.
We encourage you to actively check your PowerSchool Account to monitor the progress of your application.
Application Deadlines
For the 2026-27 Academic Year
Applicants who pre-registered and submitted application on or before the deadlines will be notified of the next steps. Select applicants will be invited to pre-entry testing in accordance with our priority system.
Application may be accepted after the deadlines subject to space availability.
May 1, 2025 - Oct 1, 2025
Reception 1 - Grade 5
May 1, 2025 - Nov 1, 2025
Grades 6 - 12
General Admissions Information
Each student’s ability to achieve success in an atmosphere of high expectations and an environment of self-discipline and responsibility to the school community is carefully assessed.
In making this assessment, HKIS will evaluate each applicant with regard to:
- English Language Proficiency
- Developmental Readiness Skills (Lower Primary) or Demonstrated Academic Achievement
- Social and Emotional Development (Lower Primary) or Personal Characteristics
- Fit to HKIS’ Student Learning Results
- Students must have valid proof of visa status/right of abode in Hong Kong (e.g., dependent visa, HKID card, Hong Kong birth certificate, Hong Kong passport) prior to the start of school.
- A student may not enter HKIS unless he/she will be living with at least one parent who is in full-time residence in Hong Kong.
- HKIS requires all of its students to be covered by personal health insurance. HKIS does not provide medical coverage for students when accidents occur during school-related activities.
- Students transferring from a country whose school year follows a different calendar than HKIS will generally be required to continue in the year they have just completed (For example: a student currently in Grade 2 in Australia would remain in Grade 2 at HKIS for the remainder of our academic year).
- For entry into Reception One – students must be aged 4 years on or before August 31, of their year of entrance. Parents are required to submit proof of birth date in the form of a birth certificate, passport, or other official government document.
- For entry into Reception Two – students must be aged 5 years on or before August 31, of their year of entrance. Parents are required to submit proof of birth date in the form of a birth certificate, passport, or other official government document.
- A student entering high school must submit records for all previous high school coursework. Credit for graduation cannot be given without a full high school academic history.
Qualified applicants are placed in a wait pool according to our Admissions Priority System when there is no space available in the selected grade.
Every effort will be made to inform the candidate's family about space availability so that the family can plan appropriately. Given the school's admission priority system, a student's waiting status may change if there are subsequent applications from families with higher priority.
| Priority A | Contractual requirements of HKIS Debenture Program |
|---|---|
| Priority B | Children of HKIS Faculty |
| Students currently enrolled in accredited American curriculum schools for a minimum of 2 consecutive years within and outside the United States | |
| Siblings of current students | |
| Children of Alumni | |
| Students returning to HKIS | |
| Priority C | All other students based on qualitative criteria to help determine the match between a particular student's need and potential and HKIS's resources and capabilities |
Parents and Sponsors may participate by purchasing non-interest-bearing debentures. HKIS now issues three types of debentures:
- Family Debenture: HK$3 million
A family may use this debenture to support multiple children from the same immediate family. Please click here for more information. - Standard Corporate Debenture: HK$3 million
Corporations may use this debenture to support one child’s application. Please click here for more information. - Comprehensive Corporate Debenture: HK$5 million
Corporations may use this debenture to support multiple children from one family. Please click here for more information.
Debentures are NOT mandatory. In all cases, a debenture alone does not guarantee admission to HKIS, as children must meet HKIS’ admissions requirements.
Debentures retain their value and cannot be sold. Only the Family Debenture can be transferred, and only to the purchaser’s children or grandchildren. Holding a debenture places qualified applicants at the top of the wait pool.
Please contact [email protected] for further information.
HKIS will implement a Dual Language Immersion program starting in the 2025-2026 school year. With this new program, HKIS will expand our excellent language and cultural learning experience to meet an even more diverse student population and needs.
While the academic philosophy, standards, and learning experiences are aligned with the mainstream programs of the Primary school, the Dual Language Immersion program aims to deliver academic content in both Chinese and English and develop literacy skills in both languages.
The Dual Language Immersion program will be implemented across two Reception 1 classes. Parents can express interest in this program via the student application form.
HKIS accepts students with mild additional needs when space and resources are available. The Admissions Committee will consider all submitted information and determine, as best as possible if the student will be able to function in and profit from the regular classroom curriculum. Learning Specialists, at all divisions, work alongside regular classroom teachers to provide accommodations and interventions with the goal of enabling student learning within the context of the inquiry-based teaching and philosophy at HKIS. Students are supported with a combination of in-class and pull-out instruction depending on their specific needs.
Supporting documents for the admission of students with additional needs may include the child's most recent Educational and Psychological Assessment, Occupational Therapy reports, Speech and Language Therapy reports, additional outside services reports as well as the Individual Education Plan (IEP) from the student's current school, if applicable.
Parents whose child has additional needs are encouraged to consult directly with our office before applying to determine if the specific resources are available.
Notice of Non-Discrimination
One of the greatest assets of Hong Kong International School (HKIS) is the diversity contained within its student population. This diversity is a result of a variety of cultural backgrounds, previous school experiences, philosophy, and ability. HKIS does not discriminate on the basis of gender or race, color, national and ethnic origin in the administration of our educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs. However, HKIS reserves the right to administer selective enrollment when deemed necessary, proper, and in the best interest of the school.
