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YK Pao School Hong Kong
Image: school campus
Institutional Overview
Curriculum:
Overview:
Bilingual (Putonghua/English) inquiry-based international curriculum. IB candidate: PYP at opening, MYP planned. Senior pathway via parent school’s Shanghai boarding. Authorisation subject to IB and HKSAR EDB.
Assessment Pathway:
IB Primary Years Programme (candidate), with MYP planned. No external exams at primary level.
Languages:
Years 1 to 5: 50 percent English and 50 percent Putonghua, targeting Communication Proficiency. Years 6 to 9: 60 percent English and 40 percent Putonghua, targeting Academic Proficiency.
Levels:
Inaugural year (September 2026): Years 1 to 3 only. Planned all-through Primary and Secondary, with year groups rolling up annually.
Student Body:
~100 students in inaugural year, Years 1 to 3 (two Y1, one Y2, one Y3 class), ~25 per class.
Campus
Kowloon East (temp): 1/F, Maya, No. 8 Shung Shan St, Yau Tong.; Kowloon Tong (permanent): 4 Rose Street. Over 8,000 sqm; new teaching building expected 2028.
Founded:
Opening Sept 2026. Founded by Anna Pao Sohmen and Philip Pao Sohmen under the YK Pao Education Foundation, continuing the legacy of shipping magnate Sir YK Pao.
Website:
Academic Profile
Inaugural Cohort:
Approximately 100 students across Years 1, 2 and 3 in 2026-27
Senior Pathway:
Continuity to IB Diploma via the parent school’s Shanghai boarding programme
Language & Stream:
Years 1 to 5: 50 percent English and 50 percent Putonghua, targeting Communication Proficiency. Years 6 to 9: 60 percent English and 40 percent Putonghua, targeting Academic Proficiency. Additional languages: Putonghua is mandatory and central to the bilingual model. (Cantonese is not the medium.)
Notable Strengths:
• True 50/50 Putonghua/English immersion from Year 1, rare in HK. • Backed by YK Pao Education Foundation, proven Shanghai track record. • New EDB-allocated permanent campus, Kowloon Tong, over 8,000 sqm. • Pre-built senior pathway to IBDP via Shanghai boarding. • Whole-person education: Chinese language, literature, history, philosophy, arts.
Admissions and Matriculation Statistics
Top University Destinations:
Senior-Year Continuity; No HK graduates yet (inaugural Y1 starts Sept 2026). Senior years via Shanghai boarding. Shanghai alumni progress to Ivy League, Oxford, Cambridge, Caltech and other top-30 global universities.
Academic Standing:
IB candidate (PYP at opening, MYP planned); EDB registration pending. Shanghai parent school: 100% IB Diploma pass rate (bilingual), No.1 bilingual school in China by Hurun Report six years running.
Reputational Standing:
IB candidate (PYP at opening, MYP planned); EDB registration pending. Shanghai parent school: 100% IB Diploma pass rate (bilingual), No.1 bilingual school in China by Hurun Report six years running.
Financials (2026-27 Academic Year)
Annual Tuition:
Year 1 to Year 3:
HK$ 220,000
Year 4 and above:
To be announced
Note:
Not applicable.
Annual Capital Levy:
HK$50,000/year (waived during Kowloon East temporary campus years).
Debentures / Nomination Rights:
Family Debenture:
Not applicable
Corporate Debenture:
Not applicable
Reservation Deposit:
Not published; confirm with admissions.
Admissions & Application Windows
Admission Difficulty:
Confirm current-cycle details with admissions.
Application Window:
Main entry:
Deadlines change yearly. Confirm the current cycle with admissions.
Other years:
Rolling, subject to vacancies.
Note:
Apply early; popular entry years fill fast.
Assessment Format:
Deadlines change yearly. Confirm the current cycle with admissions.
The Consultant’s Take
Best Fit For:
Families drawn to • True 50/50 Putonghua/English immersion from Year 1, rare in HK. • Backed by YK Pao Education Foundation, proven Shanghai track record. • New EDB-allocated permanent campus, Kowloon Tong, over 8,000 sqm. • Pre-built senior pathway to IBDP via Shanghai boarding. • Whole-person education: Chinese language, literature, history, philosophy, arts. Speak to us for a fit assessment for your child.
The “Insider” Tip:
Ask us about how this school compares with its nearest alternatives for your child’s profile and entry year.