Quick Answer: Five Hong Kong international schools run an American curriculum through to a US high school diploma, with 2026/27 tuition from about HK$96,000 to HK$275,000 a year plus levies. Here is the list, what each charges, how the American track differs from British and IB schools, and what admissions look like.
Five international schools in Hong Kong run an American curriculum from kindergarten to a US high school diploma: Hong Kong International School, American School Hong Kong, Stamford American School Hong Kong, International Christian School and Concordia International School. Their 2026/27 tuition runs from about HK$96,000 to HK$275,000 a year, plus capital levies or debentures at four of them. This guide lists them with fees, explains how the American track differs from the British and IB schools that make up most of the sector, and covers admissions. See all American curriculum schools and the wider international schools listings on Portal Hong Kong.
Which schools are they, and what do they charge?
| School | Location | Years | 2026/27 tuition (HK$) | Levy or debenture |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hong Kong International School | Repulse Bay (lower), Tai Tam (upper) | Reception 1 to Grade 12 | 231,600 to 272,600 | Capital levy HK$24,500 a year |
| American School Hong Kong | Tai Po | Pre-K to Grade 12 | 170,600 to 242,700 | Annual levy HK$45,000 (first year) then HK$29,500, or HK$150,000 one-off |
| Stamford American School Hong Kong | Ho Man Tin | Pre-primary to Grade 12 | 219,900 to 274,400 | HK$30,000 a year or HK$150,000 one-off |
| International Christian School | Shek Mun, Sha Tin | Reception to Grade 12 | 96,400 to 212,500 | Debenture HK$250,000 (refundable) or annual levy |
| Concordia International School | Kowloon Tong | Grades 6 to 12 | 134,000 to 156,500 | None |
Fees are from the schools' 2026/27 fee schedules as compiled by Sassy Mama Hong Kong (16 July 2026); ranges run from the youngest to the oldest year group. Confirm on each school's fee page before applying, and add uniforms, buses, lunches and trips. The Education Bureau requires international schools to publish fees and any debenture, nomination right or capital levy scheme it has approved.
How does the American track differ from British and IB schools?
| American | British | IB (continuum) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Elementary, middle, high school; Grades K to 12 | Primary, secondary; Years 1 to 13 | PYP, MYP, Diploma; ages 3 to 19 |
| External exams at 16 | None | IGCSE or GCSE | MYP assessment (optional) |
| Final qualification | High school diploma plus GPA transcript; AP courses for university credit; some schools add the IB Diploma | A Levels (three or four subjects) | IB Diploma (six subjects plus core) |
| Breadth vs depth | Broad to the end; students take English, maths, science, social studies and electives every year | Narrows sharply at 16 | Broad to the end, with higher-level subjects |
| Assessment | Continuous: coursework, tests, participation | Mostly final exams | Mix of internal and external |
| University fit | US and Canadian universities read GPA and AP directly; UK and others accept the diploma with AP or SAT scores | UK, Hong Kong and Commonwealth universities admit on A Levels; US universities accept them | Accepted everywhere |
| School year | Mid-August to early June | Late August to late June | Follows the school |
The practical choice usually follows where the family expects the child to go to university and which system the child comes from. A move from a US school district into an American school in Hong Kong is seamless; into a British school it means joining the IGCSE or A Level cycle at a fixed point. Hong Kong's own universities accept all three, with the IB Diploma and A Levels the most common routes.
How do admissions work?
- Timing. Applications open about a year ahead, usually from September for the following August; rolling admission where places exist. The lower primary years at Hong Kong International School and Stamford have waitlists.
- Priority. Siblings, corporate debenture or nomination-right holders, and at Hong Kong International School US passport holders, sit ahead of the general queue. The one-off levy or debenture at some schools buys priority as well as offsetting the annual charge.
- Assessment. Play-based observation for the youngest, English and maths assessment plus previous reports from Grade 1 up, and an interview. English language support is available at most for younger children.
- Documents. Passport and Hong Kong ID or visa, birth certificate, two years of school reports, immunisation record, and references for older students.
- Cost of applying. Application fees run HK$1,000 to HK$3,000; a deposit on acceptance; the levy or debenture on enrolment.
Which one fits which family?
- Families on a US corporate posting who will return to the US: Hong Kong International School or American School Hong Kong, for the AP programme and the US-style transcript.
- Families wanting the American structure with an IB Diploma at the end: Stamford American or International Christian School.
- Families who want a Christian ethos: International Christian School and Concordia.
- Budget under HK$160,000: Concordia (secondary only) and the lower years at International Christian School.
- Location. Southside (Hong Kong International School), Kowloon (Stamford, Concordia) and the New Territories (American School Hong Kong in Tai Po, International Christian School in Sha Tin) each serve a different residential catchment; school buses run to most districts.
For the years before primary, see our guide to preschools and pre-nursery in Hong Kong. Browse American curriculum schools, international schools and kindergartens on Portal Hong Kong.
Frequently asked questions
- Which schools in Hong Kong follow an American curriculum?
- Hong Kong International School (Repulse Bay and Tai Tam), American School Hong Kong (Tai Po), Stamford American School Hong Kong (Ho Man Tin), International Christian School (Shek Mun) and Concordia International School (Kowloon Tong) all teach a US-style programme leading to a US high school diploma, most with Advanced Placement or IB Diploma options in the final two years.
- How much do American schools in Hong Kong cost?
- For 2026/27: Hong Kong International School HK$231,600 to HK$272,600 plus a HK$24,500 annual capital levy; American School Hong Kong HK$170,600 to HK$242,700 plus a levy; Stamford American HK$219,900 to HK$274,400 plus HK$30,000 a year or HK$150,000 one-off; International Christian School HK$96,400 to HK$212,500 with a HK$250,000 debenture; Concordia HK$134,000 to HK$156,500 with no levy.
- How does the American curriculum differ from the British one?
- The American track is continuous assessment and a broad programme through Grade 12, ending with a high school diploma and a transcript of grades (GPA), with Advanced Placement courses for university credit; there are no external exams at 16. The British track narrows to IGCSE exams at 16 and A Levels at 18, both externally examined, and universities admit on those results. Both are accepted by universities worldwide; US universities are more familiar with a GPA and AP transcript, UK universities with A Levels or the IB.
- Do American schools in Hong Kong offer the IB?
- Some do in the final two years. Hong Kong International School offers Advanced Placement; Stamford American and International Christian School offer the IB Diploma alongside the US diploma; check each school's current pathway. A US diploma plus AP or IB is the usual combination for students applying outside the US.
- When do I apply?
- Applications open a year ahead, usually from September for the following August start, with rolling admissions where places exist. The larger schools have waitlists in the early primary years and prioritise siblings, corporate debenture holders and, at Hong Kong International School, US passport holders. Apply as early as the school allows and ask about the levy and debenture options, which affect priority at some schools.
- What are the school-year dates?
- American schools in Hong Kong run from mid-August to early June, with a two-week Christmas break and a Chinese New Year holiday. British and IB schools run from late August to late June. The earlier start matters for families arriving in summer.
