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Chinese International School (CIS)
Image Source: Chinese International School
Institutional Overview
Curriculum:
Primary:
CIS-designed bilingual curriculum (English/Mandarin).
Secondary:
IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 7–9; school-designed curriculum for Year 10 (Hangzhou campus) and Year 11; IB Diploma
Levels:
Reception (Age 4) to Year 13.
Student Body:
Approximately 1,600+ students.
Campus
Main Campus:
1 Hau Yuen Path, Braemar Hill, North Point, Hong Kong.
CIS Hangzhou, China (Mandatory one-year residential program for all Year 10 students).
Founded:
1983
Website:
Academic Profile
Average IB Score (2024/25):
39.7 (63% of students scored 40+ points).
Bilingual Diploma:
Typically 28–30% of graduates achieve the prestigious IB Bilingual Diploma.
Language & Stream:
English and Mandarin (Putonghua) dual-immersion. In Primary, students are taught by two co-teachers (one English, one Chinese) in every classroom.
Notable Strengths:
Strong family backgrounds and lifelong networking.
Admissions and Matriculation Statistics
University Destinations:
USA:
Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Stanford, Yale, UPenn, UC Berkeley, Chicago.
UK:
Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial, LSE, UCL.
Global/Local:
HKU, HKUST, University of Toronto, UBC.
Reputational Standing:
Widely considered the most prestigious bilingual school in Hong Kong with the strongest “old money” and local elite network.
Financials (2026/27 Academic Year)
Annual Tuition:
Reception:
~HK$216,100
Years 1 – 6:
~HK$286,600
Years 7 – 11:
~HK$338,300
Years 12 – 13:
~HK$342,800
Annual Capital Levy:
HK$30,200 (mandatory for those without a debenture).
Nomination Rights (Debentures):
Secondary market prices range from HK 5 million to 17 million depending on duration of debenture.
Application Fee:
HK$2,000.
Assessment Fee:
HK$2,000.
Admissions & Application Windows
Admission Difficulty:
Critically Selective. Acceptance rates at the Reception level are among the lowest in the city.
Reception:
Can apply two years prior to entry, normally apply by end of September in the year prior.
Year 1 – 13:
Apply by end of February during year of entry.
Assessment Format:
Reception:
Group-based play observation and family interview.
Year 1 – 6:
Written tests in English, Chinese (Mandarin), and Mathematics; oral interviews in both languages.
Secondary:
IDAT (International Diagnostic and Admissions Test), and proctored writing/math assessments; oral interviews in both languages.
The Consultant’s Take
Best Fit For:
Students who seek true bilingualism and a global mindset. It is perfect for families who want the academic rigor of an elite local school paired with the creative, inquiry-based approach of an international curriculum.
The “Insider” Tip:
CIS plans expansion of its Primary school campus by 2028, with a new building at 9 Hau Yuen Path.
