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Carmel School - Carmel Elementary Campus

Hong Kong

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees HK$80,500 - 226,090
Ages 1 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 350
Type Co-educational
Opened 1991
Bus Service Yes
Part of
Carmel School
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP)
Taught languages English, Hebrew, Mandarin
Typical class size 4
Strengths Performing Arts, STEM, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Primary School, Kindergarten, Elementary
Introduction

Carmel Elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5) is part of Carmel School’s IB Continuum pathway on Hong Kong Island. The Elementary campus sits in a heritage building on Borrett Road, Mid-Levels, with facilities that include a library, indoor and outdoor play areas, dedicated music rooms, a community garden, the Patricia Creative Centre for art and engineering, an ICT/Coding zone, and a multi-purpose sports hall. Students follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), with English, Music, Hebrew & Jewish Studies, EAL, and STEAM featured on the programme of learning. Co-curricular activities run Monday to Friday, offering sports, arts and crafts, logic and programming, and dance. A Dedicated Learning Enhancement room supports learners on campus. Families use the school’s City School Bus Service for transport. Carmel enrolls students across three campuses, with 350+ students aged 1–18 in the wider school community.

This campus is part of Carmel School

10 Borrett Rd, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong

The Essentials

Carmel School - Carmel Elementary Campus has 350 pupils, typical class sizes of 4, instruction in English.

Location
Carmel Elementary is situated in the Mid-Levels area on Hong Kong Island, a central neighbourhood known for its residential community and convenient access to transport links and the city’s business districts. The school operates three campuses across Hong Kong Island, with the Elementary campus in Mid-Levels and the High School in Shau Kei Wan, giving families access from different parts of the city.

Stages
The Elementary campus serves Kindergarten to Grade 5. Students continue into the Middle Years Programme (Grades 6–10) and Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12) at Elsa High School.

Type
Carmel is a co-educational day school. It does not provide boarding facilities; all students commute daily.

Additional learning support
The Elementary campus includes a Dedicated Learning Enhancement room to provide extra support to students who need it. Beyond this, the school does not publish detailed SEN provisions or policies.

Country affiliation
The school does not have a national affiliation; it is an IB Continuum School authorised for the PYP, MYP, and DP programmes.

Religious affiliation
Carmel School is a Jewish international school with a Modern Orthodox ethos. It welcomes students from all strands of Judaism and also accepts non-Jewish students in its High School.

School day structure
The school’s public website does not disclose daily start and end times or details of breaks/lunch times.

Bus service
Yes. Carmel contracts City School Bus Service Limited for transport. Families can arrange service directly.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school requires a uniform for Carmel Elementary Campus. Blazer days are formal; on Fridays and on formal days the blazer, shirt and tie must be worn, while on other days the polo shirt may be worn instead of the blazer, formal shirt and tie if directed. The kippah is an integral part of the uniform and must be worn by Jewish male students at all times. The uniform can be purchased from Aston Wilson Ltd in Kowloon and the Uniform Policy is detailed in the School Handbook.

Food Options
Food options follow kosher dietary laws across Carmel School. The Kashrut policy requires meat and dairy not to be mixed and to be prepared according to kosher rules; Kosher symbols indicate approved products. Kosher food is available through the KosherMart at the JCC for families, and Shabbat and Jewish festivals are observed.

House System
Carmel Elementary Campus uses a three-house system: Jerusalem, Haifa and Tel-Aviv. House Captains and Vice Captains lead the houses, and Inter-House sports and academic events promote healthy competition.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by a Board of Directors regulated by the Articles of Association of Carmel School Association Limited. The Board comprises not less than 10 members and includes two members nominated by the PTA; it sets policies and appoints the Principal and Head of the Elementary School. Day-to-day operations are led by the Principal and Head of the Elementary School; the current Chairman is Mr. Jonathan Zeman.
Fees

Annual tuition at Carmel School - Carmel Elementary Campus ranges from HKD 80,500 to HKD 226,090 for 2026/27.

Tuition Fees (Per Year)
Early Learning (Tzutzik & Ganeynu Afternoon Programme): HKD 84,500
Nursery & Pre-K: HKD 114,000
Kindergarten – Grade 5 (Elementary): HKD 202,600
Elsa High School Main Stream (Grades 6–12): HKD 202,600
Elsa High School International Stream (Grades 6–12): HKD 237,370

Fees are billed monthly over 10 months per year, due on the 1st of each month. Families entering mid-year are also charged from the 1st of the month.

Capital Levy
Grades 6–12 students are charged an annual Capital Levy of HKD 18,520. This levy supports facility maintenance and improvements.

Transportation Fees
The school provides a bus service through City School Bus Service Limited. Families make arrangements directly with the provider.

Learning Support
Elementary offers a Dedicated Learning Enhancement room. Costs for additional specialist support, if required, are not detailed online.

Refund Policy
The website does not disclose tuition refund terms. Financial assistance is available to families in need, but is not offered during the first year of enrolment and not for Nursery or younger. Applications are due by June 1 annually.

Payment Options
The school does not specify exact payment methods (e.g., card or transfer) online but notes that the Carmel School Association acts as the agent for fee collection.
Academics

Carmel School - Carmel Elementary Campus teaches IB (PYP) for students aged 1 to 18.

Curriculum
Carmel Elementary delivers the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), which focuses on inquiry-based learning across all subjects. The Programme of Learning includes core subjects such as English, Mathematics, Music, Hebrew and Jewish Studies, alongside specialist provision in STEAM, EAL (English as an Additional Language), and physical education. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 follow the PYP framework, which emphasises transdisciplinary themes to connect learning across disciplines. After Grade 5, students progress to the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Elsa High School, followed by the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11–12. This makes Carmel an IB Continuum School, providing all three stages of IB education from early years through high school.

Academic calendar
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school’s learner outcomes state that students are expected to develop and maintain emotional and social wellbeing as part of their growth. However, the website does not provide details of specific SEL programmes, staff roles, or initiatives implemented at the Elementary campus.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Carmel Elementary highlights a Dedicated Learning Enhancement room designed to provide support for students who require additional academic help. The website does not specify the categories of Special Educational Needs it can support, nor does it publish a full SEN policy. Based on available information, Carmel is not presented as a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Carmel Elementary explicitly lists EAL (English as an Additional Language) as part of its Programme of Learning. This indicates that the school provides tailored support for students whose first language is not English, though further details about staffing or programme structure are not published.

Mental Wellbeing
Beyond the general statement in the learner outcomes about supporting emotional and social wellbeing, the school does not publish specific programmes, staff roles, or mental health initiatives for Elementary students. Therefore, detailed information on mental wellbeing support is not publicly available.

Safeguarding
The school does not publicly disclose safeguarding or child-protection policies on its website.
Parent Experience

History
Carmel School was founded in 1991 as the first Jewish day school in East Asia. In 2009, the school expanded by opening Elsa High School, enabling students to continue through the IB Middle Years Programme and Diploma Programme. Today, Carmel operates as a not-for-profit institution overseen by the Carmel School Association Board of Directors, which is responsible for governance and appointing senior leadership. The school has grown into a community of more than 350 students aged 1–18 across three campuses on Hong Kong Island.

Community
Carmel describes itself as a community school, welcoming families with diverse backgrounds and fostering Jewish identity alongside international education. The school calendar features a variety of cultural and community events, including Jewish holidays, student-led activities, and performances. These events strengthen ties among students, parents, and staff while reinforcing the school’s values and traditions.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The PTA at Carmel is active and meets monthly with school leadership to support communication and collaboration. The association plays a role in both curricular and co-curricular activities, helping to organise community events and initiatives throughout the year. While specific events are not listed publicly, the PTA is described as central to building community spirit and supporting student life. Parents are encouraged to engage with the PTA to contribute ideas, help plan events, and strengthen connections across the Carmel community. Its work complements the school’s wider emphasis on community involvement and cultural traditions.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Carmel Elementary Campus is housed in a Hong Kong heritage building on Borrett Road in Mid-Levels. The campus delivers the IB Primary Years Programme for children aged 3-12. Facilities include an outdoor playground and jungle gym, a community garden, and an indoor play area. There is a library, dedicated music facilities, The Patricia Creative Centre for art and engineering, a multi-purpose sport hall, and ICT, coding and programming spaces. A dedicated Learning Enhancement room supports student learning.

Sports Facilities
The school has a multi-purpose sport hall for physical education and team activities.

Academic Facilities
The PYP Programme of Learning includes English, Mathematics, Music, Hebrew and Jewish Studies, and English as an Additional Language (EAL). English instruction covers listening and speaking, viewing and presenting, reading, and writing across phases from Early Years to Grade 5. Hebrew and Jewish Studies are part of the curriculum. A library supports reading and research, the Patricia Creative Centre supports art and engineering, and ICT, coding and programming spaces support digital learning. A dedicated Learning Enhancement room provides targeted learning support.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Experiential Learning extends learning beyond the classroom through field trips and educational visits. These experiences aim to develop IB Learner Profile attributes such as inquiry, collaboration, and resilience. Outdoor activities include canyoning, raft-building, stand-up paddleboarding, and team survival challenges.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school is an IB Continuum School offering the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). Carmel Elementary Campus follows the PYP framework as part of that continuum. The campus has an ICT, Coding and Programming zone to support computing education. The STEAM programme includes a Robotics Programme and Design Challenge opportunities for students to explore robotics, coding and engineering.

Arts & Creative
The campus has dedicated music facilities. The Patricia Creative Centre is a specialist art and engineering facility. Art Club is a weekly co-curricular activity, and Drama is available as a Grade 4-5 ASA option. The school also runs Design Challenge activities as part of STEAM.

Cultural & Language
Mandarin for Native Speakers is offered as a Co Curricular Activity, and French for Native Speakers is also offered for Kindergarten to Grade 2.

Social & Hobbies
Kindergarten to Grade 3 Co Curricular Activities include Multi Sports, Robotics, Mini-Tennis, Art Club, Chess Club, MasterChef, Mandarin for Native Speakers and French for Native Speakers. Grade 4-5 ASA options include Homework Club, Football, Drama, Table Tennis, Badminton, Social Games and Math Support. Robotics is also offered in Grade 4-5.

Community & Service
Service Learning is integrated across all Carmel campuses, with students involved in community and charity-based enterprises. Educational visits to Cambodia, Israel, Poland, Shanghai, Spain, Sri Lanka and other locations have a service component at their core.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The Elementary Campus features an outdoor playground and jungle gym, an indoor play area and a multi-purpose sport hall. A community garden and dedicated music facilities contribute to student wellbeing and recreation.
Languages

Language Provision
The school teaches in English as the language of instruction for core subjects at Carmel Elementary Campus. Hebrew and Jewish Studies are included in the curriculum as separate subjects. English as an Additional Language (EAL) supports students whose dominant language is not English.
Reputation

Accreditations
International Baccalaureate (IB) – PYP, MYP, DP: Carmel is authorised as an IB Continuum School, meaning it delivers all three core IB programmes (Primary Years, Middle Years, and Diploma). This ensures that the school adheres to the IB’s international standards for teaching and learning.

WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges): Carmel is accredited by WASC, a US regional accrediting body that evaluates schools for quality and institutional effectiveness.

EARCOS (East Asia Regional Council of Schools) Membership: Carmel is a member of EARCOS, which connects international schools across East Asia for professional collaboration and the sharing of resources.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Application submission
Families begin the process by completing the application form and submitting it by post, email, or in person to the relevant campus. Required documents include prior school reports and teacher recommendations, which help the admissions team evaluate readiness and fit.

2. Assessment and review
The school considers a range of indicators such as school reports, teacher comments, and, if relevant, international English proficiency assessments. For some applicants, the school uses MAP testing to measure literacy, numeracy, and science skills. These assessments allow Carmel to match students with appropriate support and placement.

3. Interviews
Applicants may be invited for an interview with the Principal or Head of Elementary, depending on the year group. This provides an opportunity to discuss the child’s learning style, language background, and family expectations while helping the school assess social and academic needs.

4. Priority considerations
If demand exceeds available places, priority may be given to siblings of current students and certain categories within the Early Learning Centre. This helps maintain continuity for families already within the Carmel community.

5. Decision and enrolment
Decisions are communicated after review of all submitted materials and assessments. Successful applicants complete enrolment and payment of tuition. Families requiring financial assistance must apply by June 1, though support is not available in the first year of enrolment or for Nursery/Pre-K students.

Scholarships
The school does not publicly offer merit-based or need-based scholarships.

Waitlist
The school does not describe a formal waitlist or pool system on its website.
School Events
The school has not added events
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