Hong Kong Academy

Hong Kong Academy is located in Sai Kung, New Territories, about 30–40 minutes from central Hong Kong. As the gateway to the UNESCO Global Geopark, Sai Kung is known for its family-friendly lifestyle: offering hiking, beaches and outdoor activities as well as a huge variety of cafes, restaurants and shops, with good access via major roads and school bus routes. Families living in urban areas such as Hong Kong Island or Kowloon typically use the school bus service for convenience, whilst those living locally often bike or walk to school.

HKA serves students from age 3 to 18. The school is divided into Primary (Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 5), Middle School (Grades 6–8), and High School (Grades 9–12) and is one of eight IB World Schools in Hong Kong that are fully authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary (PYP) Middle (MYP) and Diploma (DP) programmes. All students graduate with the HKA Diploma and Global Citizens Diploma and the school is accredited by both the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

HKA is a co-educational day school.

Over 35+ nationality

Children who need learning support are admitted upon the same requirements as other students. The school is able to provide support services including tailored classroom strategies, small group or individual support, and collaboration with teachers and families to meet learning goals. The school can also offer English Language support for students who are new to studying in English.

The school is truly international with families coming from 35+ countries and graduates going on to university and careers all around the world.

The school has no religious affiliations.

Playgroup sessions run daily 8-11am Monday through Friday
Pre-K: 8am-12:30pm Monday-Friday
Kindergarten-Grade 5: 8am-3:10pm M/T/Th/F; 8am-12:20pm Wednesday
Grade 6-12: 7:50am-3:10pm M/T/Th/F; 7:50am-12:20pm Wednesday

Hong Kong Academy offers a comprehensive school bus service. Buses serve many areas across Hong Kong, including Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. Each bus has a trained bus attendant to assist and supervise students during their ride with schedules designed to ensure safe and timely transport.

Students must wear uniform however they can choose to wear the combination of HKA school uniform items in which they feel most comfortable and ready to learn. Freecycle uniform items are available at no charge.

The school has an in-house catering team, hkaEATS, which prepares 3 choices of hot meals on site daily as well as providing snacks and cafe-style salads and sandwiches. Students may also bring home-prepared snacks and lunch to school.

Students all compete against other schools as the Dragonflies, focussed on the core values of sportsmanship, teamwork and commitment. Every student is allocated to one of 4 internal houses: Panda, Dragon, Tiger and Phoenix.

The school operates as a non-profit international through-train institution and is governed by a Board comprised of volunteer parents and alumni.

Hong Kong Academy (HKA) follows the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum. Students in Primary School (Pre-K1 to Grade 5) follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), which emphasizes inquiry-based learning across core subjects. In Middle School (Grades 6–10), students study within the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), which includes eight subject groups including languages, science, mathematics, the arts, design, social studies and PE. In High School (Grades 11–12), students undertake the IB Diploma Programme (DP), an internationally recognized qualification for university entrance. The curriculum also integrates Mandarin and Spanish as additional languages, alongside English as the language of instruction. Beyond academics, the program includes service learning, performing arts, outdoor education, and sustainability initiatives as part of the school’s broader educational approach.

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HKA’s counselling team leads a wellbeing programme which includes a curriculum delivered through weekly classes as well as providing individual, family and small group interventions when needed. Students are encouraged to develop self-advocacy and resilience, and all teachers are trained to address physical, social, and emotional issues. Parents are welcome to call upon counsellors for guidance and the school offers parenting workshops on a range of socio-emotional, technical and strategic topics.

The school is able to provide learning support and English Language learning support but is not a specialist SEN institution. Additional fees may apply for learner support depending on the student’s needs.

Hong Kong Academy provides structured support for students who are developing English proficiency through its English Language Learners (ELL) programme. The school assesses students’ skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing during admissions and, if needed, places them in the EAL programme. Specialist teachers collaborate closely with classroom teachers to offer differentiated instruction and scaffolding so that students can access the full curriculum.

HKA supports mental wellbeing with a counselling team and wellbeing teachers who work alongside staff to provide care. The school promotes student empowerment and addresses digital wellbeing and cyber safety as part of its wellbeing programs. Training is also offered for staff and volunteers to ensure proactive approaches to student wellbeing.

HKA’s safeguarding framework is based on UNICEF’s Convention on the Rights of the Child and CIS accreditation standards. The school maintains a comprehensive child protection policy and code of conduct, updated annually. Staff, trustees, and volunteers receive safeguarding training, and the school works with local and international organisations to maintain best practices. Students are taught peer advocacy, social skills, and digital safety as part of safeguarding education.

Hong Kong Academy was founded in 2000 by a group of educators and parents seeking to establish an inclusive, international school in Hong Kong. Originally housed in smaller premises, the school moved to it’s award-winning sustainable campus in 2013. It operates as a non-profit organisation, overseen by a board of trustees, ensuring that all resources are reinvested into the school.

The HKA community includes families from a wide range of cultural backgrounds, creating an internationally diverse student body. The school hosts community events such as cultural celebrations, performances, and exhibitions, which encourage participation from both students, faculty and families. Service and sustainability projects are also key aspects of community life, with students and parents contributing to local and global initiatives.

Hong Kong Academy has an active Parent Teacher Community Organisation (PTCO) that plays an important role in school life. The PTCO organises community-building events such as the annual Community Fair, drives volunteer and social initiatives, and helps new families integrate into the school community] and supports fundraising initiatives.

The Hong Kong Academy campus is a state-of-the-art, purpose-built learning environment in Sai Kung. The two-story library provides cosy reading nooks, study spaces and online research areas. Specialist spaces include a 350-seat theatre and science labs with instructional and experimental facilities. There are dedicated spaces for counselling, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, plus outdoor playscapes and a flexible cafeteria. A professional learning centre hosts workshops and parent education events and there is a community center located above the cafe which parents, students and staff are all welcome to use for events, exhibitions and quiet work. The campus is BEAM Plus Gold certified for sustainability and environmental performance.

The school has an 800-seat gymnasium, indoor climbing wall, a multi-purpose outdoor sports court, an all-weather football pitch, fitness studios and a weight-training gym. Students can access nearby public tennis courts, swimming pools and a full-scale athletics stadium within a short walk of the campus and the school partners with local sailing clubs as well as horse riding, golf and tennis academies..

Primary and Secondary School classrooms have developmentally appropriate, distinct designs. The two-story library provides cosy reading nooks, study spaces and online research areas. Specialist spaces include science labs for instructional and experimental work, and a 350-seat theatre for performing arts. There are dedicated spaces for counselling, speech and language therapy and occupational therapy. Outdoor playscapes and a flexible cafeteria support social learning and dining.

The schools’ co-curricular programme offers more than 100 after-school activities each semester. With options available right from Pre-K entry level co-curricular includes clubs, sports, instrumental music, STEAM and performing arts.

Hong Kong Academy offers the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP) as part of the IB continuum. The IB framework emphasizes inquiry-based learning, the learner profile, approaches to learning, and international-mindedness. All students participate in the IB programmes; many pursue the IB Diploma, and graduates earn the HKA Diploma along with the Global Citizenship Diploma (GCD) certificate. Hong Kong Academy is the global headquarters for the Global Citizen Diploma (GCD) consortium, and the GCD credential accompanies graduation.

The Performing Arts program covers music, dance, drama and theatre technology, with facilities including a 350-seat theatre and an 80-seat studio theatre. The program is led by Hong Kong-based and international practitioners and aims to develop confidence, resilience, collaboration and self-reflection. The school has been a member of the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) since 2017. The music stream offers instrumental lessons, songwriting, music production, and ensembles, with performances in school and at external venues.

Mandarin is taught from Playgroup through Grade 5 using simplified characters. In Secondary School, students can choose between Spanish and Mandarin, and in Grade 11 there is an option to study French. In Grades 11–12, students in the IB Diploma Programme can self-study native tongue languages to earn a bilingual diploma.

Over 100 After School Activities are available each semester. Hong Kong Academy promotes building skills and pursuing passions through a wide range of activities, clubs, sports and performing arts opportunities for students of all ages.

Acting Responsibly means students are encouraged to advocate and contribute to their communities. There are student councils in both primary and secondary school and students can apply to the student initiative fund to help them with resources for impact projects. The school's community emphasis focuses on learning, friendship and mutual respect. The PTCO and Alumni networks also support community involvement and volunteering opportunities.

Hong Kong Academy has an educational leadership team led by the Head of School and the Primary and Secondary School Principals, supported by curriculum coordinators and specialist roles. The University and Careers dimension helps students plan post-secondary options. The campus explicitly supports Professional Learning for faculty and staff as part of campus life.

The Dragonflies sports program supports extensive competition across local and Asia level leagues with more than 80% of secondary students representing the school in at least one competitive sports team. Students are encouraged to compete through maths, literacy competitions and arts and there are many community activities for the adult community such as pickleball, climbing, reading groups, dance groups and more.

English is the language of instruction with Mandarin offered as a second language throughout and Spanish as an option in secondary school. The school offers an English Language Learners (EAL) program to accelerate English acquisition so students can access the curriculum; EAL uses differentiated instruction in collaboration with teachers and is informed by the WIDA framework. The student body is diverse, representing over 35 nationalities, with about 60% of students speaking two or more languages at home.

In-class immersion is used for younger EAL students to support language acquisition within mainstream classes. EAL specialists work in collaboration with classroom teachers to differentiate instruction.

• Green Building Council of Hong Kong Gold BEAM status
• Ritzy Hong Kong Education Awards: International School of the Year (2024-25).

Council of International Schools (CIS): HKA is internationally accredited by CIS, which ensures the school meets global standards of quality in teaching, learning, and governance.
Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC): Full accreditation by WASC, a U.S.-based body that evaluates schools worldwide for academic quality and institutional integrity.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum: HKA is authorised to offer the full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, and DP), which provides internationally recognised programmes across all grade levels.
Global Citizen Diploma (GCD): HKA is the global host for the GCD, a requirement for graduation which recognises student achievements beyond academics in areas such as global understanding, community engagement, intercultural communication and personal development.

doris recommends that you start by speaking to admissions. This connects you directly to the school's admissions team who can respond with answers, more information, and next steps.

1. Initial Inquiry and Tour
Families begin by contacting the admissions office or booking a school tour. This allows prospective parents to see the facilities, meet staff, and understand the programmes offered. Tours are encouraged before completing an application.

2. Application Submission
Applications are completed online and require supporting documents such as school reports, teacher recommendations, and, where applicable, assessments. An application fee is payable at this stage to cover processing and assessment.

3. Assessment
Applicants may be invited for age-appropriate assessments, shadow days, or observations, depending on grade level. English proficiency and learning needs may also be reviewed at this point, involving specialists if required.

4. Review by Admissions Committee
The admissions team, together with relevant school staff, reviews the application, academic records, and assessments. Decisions are made based on the student’s ability to access the curriculum and the availability of places.

5. Offer of Place and Acceptance
Successful applicants receive an official offer of admission. Families confirm by paying the required entrance fee and tuition deposit within the given timeline to secure the place.

HKA offers Merit-Based Scholarships for new students entering Grades 6–10. Awards may cover 100% of tuition and capital levy or provide set amounts of HKD 150,000, HKD 115,000, or HKD 75,000 towards tuition. Up to five platinum scholarships and a limited number of gold, silver, and bronze awards are offered each year. Applicants must show strong academic records, excellent teacher references, and outstanding ability in an area such as mathematics, STEAM, languages, coding, public speaking, humanities, sports, visual or performing arts, leadership, or community service. Scholarship awards are reviewed annually and holders are expected to remain at HKA through to Grade 12.

HKA operates a waitpool system rather than a traditional numbered waitlist. Applicants who meet admissions requirements but cannot be placed due to space limitations enter the waitpool. Placement is determined by multiple factors including grade-level availability, sibling priority, and balance within the student body, rather than date of application.