How many American schools in Hong Kong
Hong Kong has 9 schools delivering the US high school diploma with Advanced Placement (AP), plus a further 4 that run a US-aligned middle school programme feeding into IB Diploma at sixth form. The cluster is small relative to the 38 IB and 22 British schools in the territory but punches above its weight on outcomes: Hong Kong International School posts AP averages above 4.3 and consistently sends more than 20 percent of leavers into US Ivy League and equivalent institutions.
The market splits into three groups. Hong Kong International School stands alone as the largest US-pathway school in the city, with around 2,800 students from Reception 1 to Grade 12 across the Repulse Bay and Tai Tam campuses. A middle band including Hong Kong Academy, Concordia International School Hong Kong and the American School Hong Kong runs full US diploma programmes at smaller scale. The remainder are faith-based or community schools using the US curriculum with smaller cohorts. The wider American curriculum guide covers AP grading, SAT requirements and US college admissions, and our Hong Kong IB hub sets out the IB alternative.
Fees and the Hong Kong debenture structure
American school tuition in Hong Kong runs three tiers. The value tier, HK$190,000 to HK$225,000, captures the smaller faith and community US schools and the American School Hong Kong middle band. The mid tier, HK$225,000 to HK$265,000, covers Hong Kong Academy and Concordia. The premium tier, HK$265,000 to HK$300,000, sits at Hong Kong International School.
Capital structure is the meaningful differentiator. Hong Kong International School runs a refundable individual debenture starting at around HK$500,000, with corporate options to HK$3 million. Hong Kong Academy uses an annual capital levy of around HK$48,000 instead of a debenture. Application fees are flat at HK$2,000 to HK$3,000 across the cluster. AP exam fees add HK$10,500 to HK$15,000 across a typical 5 to 6 subject AP load in junior and senior year. Our Hong Kong fees guide sets out the loading mathematics. The fees comparison tool stacks Hong Kong US schools against Singapore, Tokyo and Shanghai at the same year group.
Hong Kong US schools run on a US calendar
Most start in mid August and finish in mid June, which is a month earlier than the British and ESF schools. If you are moving from a Northern Hemisphere school, our 5 minute school finder quiz factors the timing into your shortlist.
Illustrative example schools
The schools below illustrate the breadth of US provision in Hong Kong. They are not ranked. Each holds WASC accreditation and a clear identity in the market.
Hong Kong International School at Repulse Bay (Lower Primary) and Tai Tam (Upper Primary through High School) is the largest US-pathway school in Hong Kong. Founded in 1966 with a Lutheran heritage foundation, it runs both AP and IB Diploma at sixth form, with strong sciences provision and a notable US Ivy League destination record.
Hong Kong Academy in Sai Kung is a smaller US-pathway IB World School running PYP, MYP and Diploma. Notable for an inclusive admissions ethos, a smaller cohort of around 600 students, and a campus designed around outdoor learning and the surrounding country park.
American School Hong Kong in Tai Po opened in 2016 under Esol Education and now runs Pre-K through Grade 12 with AP. Useful option for families in the New Territories and Tai Po who want the US pathway without the Mid-Levels or Repulse Bay commute.
Concordia International School Hong Kong in Yau Yat Chuen runs Pre-K through Grade 12 with a US Christian liberal arts foundation and an AP-led senior school. The Kowloon location serves families based on the Tsim Sha Tsui and West Kowloon side rather than Hong Kong Island.
Where US families live
American expat families in Hong Kong cluster by school catchment in much the same way British families do. Repulse Bay, Stanley, Tai Tam and Chung Hom Kok on the south side of Hong Kong Island serve the Hong Kong International School catchment, and this remains the highest concentration of US families in the territory. Rentals here run 15 to 25 percent above comparable zones, with detached low-rise housing the typical format.
Sai Kung and Clear Water Bay in Kowloon East serve the Hong Kong Academy catchment and have grown markedly since 2020 as US families have shifted out of the Mid-Levels towers into village house living. Tai Po and Sha Tin in the New Territories serve the American School Hong Kong, with markedly larger flat sizes and lower rentals than Island catchments. Kowloon Tong and Yau Yat Chuen serve Concordia and a wider Kowloon expat band. Our Hong Kong versus Singapore family life comparison sets out the wider relocation trade off.
Admissions calendar
American schools in Hong Kong run a US-style August to June academic year. Applications for the August 2026 cohort opened at most schools between September and November 2025. Hong Kong International School and Hong Kong Academy closed Grade 6 and Grade 9 lists in early December 2025, with offers from February to March 2026. American School Hong Kong ran a parallel cycle ending in January.
Hong Kong is unusual in that corporate nomination rights and debenture status meaningfully shape Grade 6 and Grade 9 entry priority at the larger US schools. Families without a debenture or corporate sponsorship typically face a smaller offer pool. Year 11 and Year 12 transfers into the AP or IB Diploma year after September are very rarely accepted. For mid year transfers in Grades 6 to 10, apply 4 to 6 months ahead with the previous two years of school reports and standardised test scores. Compare three Hong Kong American schools head to head with our compare tool.
Frequently asked questions
How many American schools are there in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong has 9 schools delivering the US high school diploma with Advanced Placement, plus a further 4 that run a US-aligned middle school feeding into IB Diploma at sixth form. Hong Kong International School is the largest, followed by Hong Kong Academy and the American School Hong Kong in Tai Po.
Do American schools in Hong Kong run AP or IB?
Hong Kong International School and Concordia International School run both Advanced Placement and IB Diploma. Hong Kong Academy and Christian Alliance P. C. Lau run IB Diploma without AP. The American School Hong Kong in Tai Po runs an AP-led pathway with a smaller IB Diploma cohort starting from 2024.
Are American schools in Hong Kong accredited in the US?
Yes. Hong Kong International School, Hong Kong Academy, Concordia and the American School Hong Kong all hold WASC accreditation through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Diplomas and transcripts are recognised by US universities and the NCAA on the same terms as US domestic high schools.
How much do American schools in Hong Kong cost?
Annual tuition runs from HK$190,000 at the smaller American campuses to HK$300,000 at Hong Kong International School. Most US-pathway secondary tuition sits between HK$230,000 and HK$280,000. Debentures or capital levies at HKIS and Hong Kong Academy add another HK$300,000 to HK$1.5 million on entry.
When should I apply for an American school in Hong Kong?
Apply 9 to 12 months ahead for Grade 6 and Grade 9 entries at Hong Kong International School and Hong Kong Academy, the two most oversubscribed lists. Mid year transfers are usually possible in January and at the start of the second semester. Grade 11 transfers into the AP or IB Diploma year after September are very rarely accepted.
