Hong Kong International School - Tai Tam Campus

The Tai Tam Campus is located at 1 Red Hill Road, Tai Tam, in the southern district of Hong Kong Island. The campus is surrounded by hills and has access to Tai Tam Bay, giving students opportunities for outdoor and water-based activities.

Tai Tam houses Middle School (Grades 6–8) and High School (Grades 9–12).

HKIS is a co-educational, nonprofit day school. It does not provide boarding.

At Tai Tam, SEN support includes co-taught classes, Learning Strategies courses, and testing accommodations in a dedicated Testing Center in High School. The school supports mild to moderate learning needs within mainstream classrooms but is not a specialist SEN institution.

HKIS provides an American-style education, aligned with U.S. standards.

The school is grounded in the Christian faith through its founding with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, while respecting other faith traditions.

Grades 6-8 (Middle School): 7:50 AM - 3:05 PM
Grades 9-12 (High School): 7:45 AM - 3:00 PM (First period at 8:35 AM).
After-school activities and sports extend the day, with late buses offered for participants.

HKIS offers a bus service through Kwoon Chung Motors, with routes covering Hong Kong Island. This includes drop-off and pick-up options for students at both Repulse Bay and Tai Tam campuses.

At Tai Tam, learning from Grades 6–12 is grounded in a comprehensive standards-based curriculum rooted in Understanding by Design (UbD). In Middle School (Grades 6-8), students engage in core academic subjects (English, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages), as well as arts, physical education, faith/spiritual development, and advisory/self-directed projects. In High School (Grades 9-12), students continue core work while choosing from a broad slate of electives in humanities, arts, STEM, technology, and design. HKIS offers Advanced Placement (AP) courses for students who wish to pursue college-level work. All students are assessed continuously, with grading, reporting, and feedback aligned with the school’s philosophy of supporting growth and clarity.

In Middle School, SEL is a dedicated part of the curriculum, focusing on self-awareness, empathy, and building healthy relationships. Each grade has its own counselor who follows students through the division. High School integrates SEL through its advisory and counseling program, though no separate SEL curriculum is described.

HKIS employs 13 Learning Specialists schoolwide, including at the Tai Tam campus. In High School, SEN support is delivered through co-taught classes with learning specialists, Learning Strategies classes, and testing accommodations in a dedicated Testing Center. HKIS supports mild to moderate learning needs within mainstream education but is not a specialist SEN institution.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding EAL at the Tai Tam campus.

Tai Tam has 11 counseling offices and a Peace Garden for reflection. Middle School employs three grade-level counselors, while the High School has eight counselors organized into “Communities” (H, K, I, S). Counselors provide academic, social, emotional, and college-related support, through proactive seminars and individual meetings.

HKIS states that it follows governance and policies to ensure safe learning environments. Safeguarding content is embedded in SEL lessons at younger grades, but the school does not publicly disclose detailed safeguarding or child protection protocols for Middle or High School.

1. Pre-Registration
Prospective parents begin by filling out the pre-registration form on the HKIS portal. This step creates an account that allows families to manage their application and upload documents.

2. Application Submission
Once registered, families complete the online application forms. This includes entering student details, educational background, and paying the required application fee.

3. Supporting Documents & Pre-Entry Testing
Families submit supporting documents such as school reports, teacher recommendations, and identification records. Students may also be scheduled for pre-entry testing or assessments, depending on grade level.

4. Admissions Decision
After review, families are notified of the admissions decision. Successful applicants are offered places, and families confirm enrollment by paying the acceptance fee and capital levy.

HKIS offers the Black Kite Scholarship, a merit-based award recognizing students who demonstrate strong academic ability, leadership, and personal qualities. The scholarship covers tuition costs and is open to new applicants meeting the eligibility requirements. Selection is competitive, and recipients are expected to contribute positively to the school community.

HKIS operates a wait pool rather than a numbered waitlist. Applicants who meet admissions criteria but cannot be offered a place immediately are placed in a pool for their grade. When spaces open, the admissions office reviews all students in the pool holistically, considering a range of factors rather than admitting based strictly on application date.