Hong Kong
Best schools in Hong Kong
11 tracked schools · average editorial score 74.1/100
Editorial overview
Best 300
6Best 300 schools in Hong Kong
The flagship Best 300 — schools operating at or near the international frontier.

St. Paul's Co-educational College
Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Diocesan Girls' School
Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Diocesan Boys' School
Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Chinese International School
Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Hong Kong International School
Hong Kong, Hong Kong

German Swiss International School
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Challengers 300
3Challengers 300 schools in Hong Kong
Ranks 301–600. Strong programmes closing the gap to the flagship 300.
Rising Stars 400
2Rising Stars 400 schools in Hong Kong
Ranks 601–1000. On the trajectory watchlist for the next edition.
Key dates · 2026-27
What's coming up in Hong Kong
1 Sept – 30 Sept
ESF central application window (Aug 2027 entry)
25 Sept
Mid-Autumn Festival & Fire Dragon Dance
1 Oct
National Day
3 Oct – 5 Jun
SAT test dates (typical season)
15 Oct
UCAS deadline — Oxbridge, medicine, dentistry, vet
19 Oct
Chung Yeung Festival (in lieu)
Relocation guide
Moving to Hong Kong with kids
Computed from 11 tracked schools — verified fees, live availability, no brochure numbers. All relocation guides →
In Hong Kong, a realistic annual budget per child sits around US$28,500, with the middle half of schools clustering from roughly US$9,700 to US$33,500; for senior years, the median is about HK$252,000, with a quartile spread of roughly HK$88,800 to HK$277,500. If you are planning a five-year posting, the city’s median school-fee inflation rate of 7% a year is not trivial: today’s median US$28,480 points to materially higher costs by the end of the assignment. The choice set is meaningful but concentrated: among 11 schools, families will mostly be weighing IB options, with a smaller British cohort and some HKDSE provision. Admission is genuinely difficult now: pressure is assessed as Severe, with 10 of 11 schools constrained, seven closed and three on waitlist.
Fee reality
$28,480
median annual day fee (USD) · middle half $9,696–$33,505 · 8 schools
Senior median: HKD 252,428 (~$32,311)
Fee trajectory
+7.8%/yr
median fee growth across 5 Hong Kong schools with verified fee history — budget for it over a multi-year posting
Curriculum mix
Admission pressure
Severe
10 of 11 schools are waitlist-only or closed at popular entry points (91%)
Waitlist reality
2026-27: closed — Standard route · 2027-28: opens soon — Expected late Oct '26
2026-27: closed — Standard route · 2027-28: future cycle — Dates TBC
2026-27: closed — Standard route · 2027-28: opens soon — Expected late Oct '26
2026-27: closed — Standard route · 2027-28: active — Reception Active; Sec. opens 1 Sept
2026-27: waitpool — Vacancy-dependent · 2027-28: active — Priority 1 Oct/1 Nov
2026-27: closed — Standard route closed · 2027-28: waitpool — Varies by National Committee / Direct
2026-27: waitpool — Space-dependent · 2027-28: active — Rolling
2026-27: waitpool — Space-dependent · 2027-28: opens soon — Opens 1 Sept '26
2026-27: closed — Standard route · 2027-28: future cycle — Expected Nov '26
2026-27: closed — Standard route · 2027-28: future cycle — Nov '26 TBC
Questions families ask
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