The Top 20 Schools In Hong Kong
The Harbour School
Type: Kindergarten, primary, secondary
Curriculum: US
Student body: 600
Tuition fees (Year 1-13): HKD 181,000-191,500
Additional fees: Every family is required to purchase one family debenture of HKD 400,000; a debenture exempts one student from paying the Annual Capital Levy (ACL) of HKD 30,000 per student
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key facilities: Makerspace, marine science centre, adaptable classrooms with moveable glass walls and furniture on wheels, treehouse, large library
Latest exam results: First US diploma cohort will be 2019
Request information: Click here
Location: Southern District
The Harbour School (THS) offers parents a fresh alternative to a primary and secondary education. This independent school, which is spread across three campuses in Hong Kong Island and on Ap Lei Chau, offers that small school feeling, the personal touch that comes with small class sizes and high teacher to student ratio, and a very progressive curriculum. There’s the Harbour Village prep school in Kennedy Town for four and five-year-olds; The Grove primary school in Ap Lei Chau; and The Garden secondary school, also in Ap Lei Chau.
Dedicated to hands-on learning, THS has facilities including its very own sailboat (The Black Dolphin) for an outdoor classroom and sailing trips, a marine centre with rockpools, makerspaces, and ‘fun’ features such as an indoor treehouse and library with slide. Teaching and learning is based on the American Education Reaches Out (AERO) standards, a US framework for curriculum consistency across Grades K to 12. However, the school, which welcomes both gifted students and children with special needs, is focused more on critical thinking, problem solving, creativity and teamwork, and less on tests and assessments.
What the school says: “We give our students the autonomy, time, resources and respect to pursue projects that interest them. We hire very specifically for teachers who understand our “learn and adapt” approach and culture of trust, support and collaboration with students.”
Click here for reviews of The Grove and The Garden campuses.
