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American International School

Hong Kong

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees HK$97,000 - 180,400
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 930
Type Co-educational
Opened 1986
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum
Taught languages French, Mandarin, Spanish
Typical class size 15
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Outdoor Education
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service, Leadership and Professional, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

American International School (AIS) serves students ages 3–18 on a single Kowloon Tong campus. The American curriculum includes a broad Advanced Placement (AP) offering in High School, alongside credit-based graduation requirements in English, math, science, humanities, world languages and more. Instruction is primarily in English, with Mandarin in earlier years and Mandarin, French, or Spanish options in High School. Beyond academics, AIS highlights Visual & Performing Arts and competitive AIS Eagles athletics. A distinctive hallmark is the Outdoor Education & Leadership Program, including Service in Action Week, where High School students undertake a week-long overseas trip focused on service and experiential learning. Families benefit from an extensive school bus service covering Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.

125 Waterloo Rd, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

The Essentials

American International School has 930 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in English.

Location
AIS is at 125 Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong, a short walk from Kowloon Tong MTR (Kwun Tong & East Rail lines) and served by multiple KMB bus routes and green minibuses. The site lists step-by-step public transport directions and notes on drop-off/pick-up.

Stages
AIS is a single-campus “through-train” school with four divisions: Early Childhood 1–Grade 1 Junior, Elementary (Grades 1–4), Middle School (Grades 5–8), and High School (Grades 9–12).

Type
AIS operates as a day school.

Additional learning support
AIS states it does not have support programs for English as a Second Language or for students with special learning needs; applicants are expected to learn in a regular English academic environment. Student wellbeing is supported by a counseling team in Elementary, Middle, and High School.

Country affiliation
The school is not affiliated with any country.

Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliations.

School day structure
Published hours: Elementary 8:00–15:30, Middle 8:00–15:30, High 8:00–15:40. Early Childhood 1 offers AM (8:00–12:00), PM (12:30–15:30) or full-day (8:00–15:30); Grade 1 Junior runs 8:00–15:00. Students may be dropped off from 7:30.

Bus service
AIS uses California Coach Limited (the school’s long-standing independent provider) with routes across Kowloon, the New Territories, and Hong Kong Island. Families book online via the school’s link; contact and coverage details are provided on the FAQ page, which also lists private options for areas not served.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
AIS uses a two-season uniform system: summer (August–November) and winter (December–March). The summer uniform consists of a white AIS shirt and navy bottoms with white socks and black shoes; the winter uniform includes a blazer, navy sweater or vest, white shirt, navy bottoms, and black shoes, with Grade 12 seniors wearing a Senior Tie.

Food Options
On-campus catering is provided by Café Concepts from 8:00am to 1:30pm on school days, offering hot meals, sandwiches, soups, noodles, salads, baked potatoes, pizzas and snacks. Lunch is purchased with credit stored on student ID cards and all canteen transactions are cashless; there is an optional monthly lunch plan for Grade 1–4. Students may bring their own lunch; microwaves are available in the canteen, and EC2 and Grade 1 Junior students eat in classrooms.

House System
AIS has three Houses: Phoenix, Tiger, and Dragon. Students are assigned to a house on joining and compete in house activities and events.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed and financed independently. It is registered by the Hong Kong Education Bureau and fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Fees

Annual tuition at American International School ranges from HKD 97,000 to HKD 180,400 for 2026/27.

Application fee

* HKD 1,500 (non-refundable, non-transferable).

Tuition (proposed 2025–2026)

* Early Childhood (half day): Per year HKD 97,000; Per installment (x4) HKD 24,250.
* Early Childhood (whole day) – Grade 1 Junior: Per year HKD 146,800; Per installment HKD 36,700.
* Grade 1 – Grade 4: Per year HKD 152,800; Per installment HKD 38,200.
* Grade 5 – Grade 8: Per year HKD 164,400; Per installment HKD 41,100.
* Grade 9 – Grade 12: Per year HKD 180,400; Per installment HKD 45,100.

Billing schedule & payment terms

* Annual fee due 1 Aug, or four installments due 1 Aug, 1 Nov, 1 Feb, 1 May. Fees are in HKD and subject to EDB approval.
* Payments accepted by e-payment or telegraphic transfer (HSBC); include bank/wire charges, and email proof of payment with student details.
* Parents (not employers) are liable for fees; late/returned payments may incur bank or school administration charges. If a place is accepted and the child does not attend, the fee deposit is forfeited.

Capital levy

* First child HKD 12,000; second child HKD 8,000; each additional child HKD 6,000. Payable in full; not refundable.

Other costs

* Uniforms, usage fees, activity fees, OELP trip fees, and field trips (amounts vary by grade) are required before registration is complete.

Refunds

* Partial tuition refund only with at least three months’ written notice; otherwise the shortfall is payable.
* Waitlist: deposit credited to first tuition; refundable only if no opening arises within three months.
Academics

American International School teaches Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum
AIS follows a U.S. standards-based program from Early Childhood to Grade 12; in Early Childhood the play-based curriculum is delivered primarily in English with specialist lessons in Mandarin, music, art and PE, alongside the Second Step social-emotional program.

In Elementary (Grades 1–4), core subjects are English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies, with specialist classes in PE, music, Mandarin and art.


Mandarin is compulsory from Early Childhood through Grade 8.


Middle School (Grades 5–8) uses American-based standards and offers core classes in Humanities (ELA/Social Studies), Math, Science, Mandarin and PE/Health, plus Visual Arts, Music, Performance, and Engineering & Design; learning features project-based units, an Intensives Project Period, and a required Outdoor Education & Leadership “adventure week.”

High School (Grades 9–12) is credit-based (24–28 credits) across English, math, science, humanities/social studies, world languages, PE/health, visual & performing arts, and computer science & technology, with electives; a minimum of five Grade 12 or AP course credits is required for the diploma.

High School offers a wide range of Advanced Placement courses and requires community service (10/10/20/20 hours from Grades 9–12); OELP includes a week-long “Service in Action” trip for every high school student.

Academic calendar
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
AIS runs a schoolwide Guidance Curriculum based on the International School Counseling Model (ISCM), covering academic, personal, global, and university/career domains.

In Elementary, SEL is delivered through the Second Step program in Early Childhood–Grade 4 under the leadership of the Elementary School Counselor.

Middle School delivers daily advisory lessons (35 minutes) coordinated by the Middle School Counselor, with transition and planning activities in Grade 8.

In High School, SEL and guidance are embedded in advisory, with family webinars offered monthly to support parents. AIS publicly names division counselors as part of its wellbeing support. The school has also hosted wellbeing initiatives such as therapy-dog (Professor Paws) visits.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
AIS states that it does not have support programs for students with special learning needs; applicants must be able to learn in a regular English academic environment. During admissions, students may be declined when AIS “lacks a program to meet their individual needs,” indicating it is not a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
AIS states that it does not have support programs for English as a Second Language (EAL). The language of instruction is English, and students are expected to be proficient users of English appropriate to their grade level.

Mental Wellbeing
AIS emphasizes emotional wellbeing as part of the Guidance program and uses advisory time to build healthy habits and self-awareness. Examples of wellbeing activities include relaxation sessions for seniors and Professor Paws therapy-dog visits. The counseling team leads family webinars across the year to help parents support their children. Division counselors (Elementary, Middle, High School) are publicly identified and available to students.

Safeguarding
AIS publishes a Safeguarding page outlining its duty of care, commitment to embedding policies, procedures, and guidelines, and clarifying the purpose of its child protection policy.

Campus measures include a single main gate staffed by professional security, CCTV across campus, faculty ID badges, and guest registration with visible lanyards.

Safeguarding Policy
Parent Experience

History
AIS was founded in 1986 by Dr. Thomas Liang. The school’s founding values—Justice, Knowledge, and Love—continue to frame its mission and community culture. AIS is fully accredited by WASC, a status the school explains on its site. AIS also marks community milestones, such as its 25th Silver Jubilee Anniversary in 2011, noted in an alumni feature.

Community
AIS highlights a busy annual calendar of community events that bring families and staff together—examples include the PTA Winter Fair, Lunar New Year celebrations, Book Fair/Literacy Week, HS Musical Showcase/Drama, Prom, Sports Days, Art Shows, and Graduation. Recent updates also show the community marking cultural moments such as the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
AIS has an active PTA Executive Committee elected annually; school updates announce nominations and the elected committee for each school year. The PTA organizes major community events such as the Winter Fair and runs bake sales and other fund-raisers. It also hosts social events—for example, a faculty–parent mingle tied to the Apple Distinguished School ceremony. Parents receive volunteer training for supporting class activities, field trips, and fairs. Families can contact the PTA via the school’s Family Web Portal.
Gallery
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The American International School has a single closed campus at 125 Waterloo Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong. AIS is a through-train school with Early Childhood and Elementary sharing the campus with Middle School and High School, fostering a connected community. The campus emphasizes technology-enabled learning with a 1:1 Apple device program and BYOD; digital projectors are in every classroom, and Grade 3–8 students bring iPads while High School students use MacBooks. On-campus catering is provided by Café Concepts with a cashless lunch system, and transportation is served by California Coach. The campus is maintained in part through an annual capital levy dedicated to campus maintenance.

Sports Facilities
AIS runs a competitive athletics program with teams across Football, Volleyball, Basketball, Cross Country, Badminton, Track and Field, and more. AIS teams compete in the International Schools Sports Federation Hong Kong (ISSFHK) league.

Academic Facilities
AIS uses United States Common Core standards and offers Advanced Placement (AP) examinations for senior high school. The school maintains a 1:1 Apple device program (iPads for Grades 3–8 and MacBooks for High School), with digital projectors in every classroom. There is a dedicated high school media lab, an on-site e-library, an e-corner in the elementary library, and a growing suite of digital resources accessed through Google Classroom and e-books.

Extra Curricular Facilities
AIS provides extensive ECAs in Visual & Performing Arts as part of a comprehensive K–12 arts program, along with field trips to venues and galleries. Outdoor Education & Leadership Program (OELP) delivers outdoor activities, camps, overseas service trips, and real-world learning experiences throughout the year.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Advanced Placement (AP) examinations are administered on campus for senior high school students in May. AIS is an on-campus SAT Test Center, enabling PSAT and SAT testing for high school students. Academic progress is reported formally each trimester through internal assessments to monitor progress toward the school's academic expectations.

Arts & Creative
The Visual & Performing Arts program engages students across all divisions and prepares them for Advanced Placement Art and Music courses in High School. The program covers Visual Arts, Drama, and Music, with teachers creating spaces for exploration and skill development. AIS offers extended learning opportunities in the arts through extracurricular activities (ECAs), and students visit art venues and guest speakers as part of their arts education.

Cultural & Language
Special interest clubs include Model United Nations, Global Issues, and student government.

Social & Hobbies
AIS uses a House System in which students are assigned to Red Phoenix, White Tigers, or Blue Dragons and compete in events to build school spirit.

Community & Service
The Outdoor Education & Leadership Program includes a Service In Action Week with week-long activities overseas and in Hong Kong, conducted with NGOs to develop intercultural understanding and service. The program emphasizes service and global citizenship and recognizes service hours as part of college applications.

Leadership & Professional
Student government is listed as a leadership opportunity at AIS. The Outdoor Education & Leadership Program develops leadership and communication skills through real-world experiences.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
AIS has a competitive athletic program with a House System; students join Red Phoenix, White Tigers, or Blue Dragons and compete in ISSFHK leagues in four seasonal cycles. Sports include football, volleyball, basketball, cross country, badminton, and track and field. Outdoor Education & Leadership Program provides outdoor learning experiences, including Adventure Week, overnight camping, residential camps and overseas travel.
Languages

Language Provision
The language of instruction is English. Mandarin is compulsory from Early Childhood 1 to Grade 8; Simplified Chinese (Putonghua) is taught in Mandarin classes, with about 3 to 5 Mandarin lessons per week and ability-based grouping. In Grades 9–12, students may choose Mandarin, French, or Spanish in the Modern Foreign Languages program. The school does not offer English as a Second Language (ESL) support.
Reputation

Awards

* 21C Greater Bay Area (GBA) School Awards 2025 — Public Choice Award: AIS reports winning the event’s Public Choice Award, placing first across categories for its K–12 student-agency work.

* Apple Distinguished School (2023–2026): AIS states it is recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for 2023–2026 for its school-wide innovation in teaching and learning with Apple technology.


Accreditations
* WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges): AIS is fully accredited by WASC, an international accrediting body that recognizes schools meeting defined quality standards through ongoing evaluation and improvement.

* EARCOS (East Asia Regional Council of Schools): AIS is a long-standing member; EARCOS is named on the school’s “Accreditations & Affiliations” section.

* College Board: AIS lists College Board under “Accreditations & Affiliations”; the High School offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Online application & documents. Create an online account and complete the form. Upload required items: student photo, birth certificate, passport page, HKID (if available), valid study visa (if applicable), parent passport/HKID, school reports for the last 2–3 years, and the non-refundable application fee. Grades 1–12 must also submit Student Reference Form(s) completed by current teachers/counselor (different forms by grade band). AIS notes that it does not offer EAL or special learning needs programs; families must disclose any relevant reports.

2. Entrance assessment & (if granted) interview. Applicants complete grade-level placement tests (EC1–G1Jr: language readiness. Tests draw on U.S. standardized measures in English and Mathematics; some applicants write a short piece. A personal interview for the student/family may follow on a separate day; overseas applicants may arrange an online assessment. English is the language of instruction; students are expected to be age-appropriate proficient in English.

3. Offer decision. The Admissions Committee reviews school records, assessment results, and (if applicable) the interview to determine fit. The school may accept, accept conditionally/probationarily, or decline; reasons for decline include academic/behavioral record, insufficient English proficiency, or lack of a program to meet individual needs. Final decisions rest with the school administration.

4. Acceptance & enrollment. Accepted families receive an email offer and must pay required fees by the deadline stated in the offer to secure the seat; placement is confirmed on receipt of tuition and the capital levy. Tuition may be paid annually or in four installments; payments are accepted via e-payment or telegraphic transfer.

*Additional placement notes:* EC1–G1 placements are based on age as of 31 December; mid-year transfers generally remain in the same grade for the remainder of the AIS academic year. AIS operates rolling admissions and encourages early application because places are limited.

Scholarships
The school does not publicly disclose information regarding scholarships or financial aid on its admissions pages.

Waitlist
AIS runs a wait list once a class reaches maximum size. To reserve a wait-list place, families must pay a deposit within 7 days of the offer; the deposit is credited toward the first tuition if a place is offered. If no opening arises within 3 months, the deposit may be refunded in full; if an opening does arise within 3 months and the family declines, the deposit is non-refundable. Waiting status ends after third-semester enrollment is finalized in late March; families may reapply for the following year.
School Events
The school has not added events
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