Hong Kong Schools Explained: Government Local, DSS, Private, Aided and International
When you’re choosing a school in Hong Kong, the acronyms can pile up quickly. Here’s a plain-English guide to the main school types, what the EDB says about fees and language, and what to ask next.
After Nursery (N) come K1, K2 and K3: three years of kindergarten. Then it is six years of primary and six years of secondary. That’s 12 school years from P1 to S6.
Nursery (N)
N · Duration: usually 1 year
Around ages 2–3
Optional. Nursery is separate from K1.
Kindergarten
K1–K3 · Duration: 3 years
Around ages 3–6
Three kindergarten years. Optional too.
Primary
P1–P6 · Duration: 6 years
Around ages 6–12
Six years. Compulsory schooling usually starts here, at age 6.
Secondary
S1–S6 · Duration: 6 years
Around ages 12–18
Six years. Attendance is compulsory until 15, around S3; most students continue to S6.
These stages follow the Education Bureau’s overviews of kindergarten. See its overviews of primary and secondary education. For the compulsory school-age rules, see the EDB’s primary and secondary guidance. Kindergarten is optional; compulsory attendance starts at age 6 and applies until 15.
The school types, and what they cost
There are so many types of schools and choices in Hong Kong that it can feel overwhelming. Here’s a breakdown of the main school types. The labels can tell you who funds a school, but they don’t tell you the language your child will learn in or what you’ll pay. I checked the EDB records; here’s what they actually say.
Government
Funding
Run directly by the government.
Curriculum
Local curriculum. Ask what your child will study and, for secondary, which qualification they can take.
Language
None of the 63 government records in our EDB import lists a teaching language. Ask the school.
Fees
No tuition for primary or secondary. Budget separately for books, uniform and transport.
Aided
Funding
Government-funded and run by a sponsoring body.
Curriculum
Local curriculum. Ask what your child will study and, for secondary, which qualification they can take.
Language
Only 1 of 959 aided records lists a teaching language. That is not enough to estimate the split.
Fees
No tuition for primary or secondary. Budget separately for books, uniform and transport.
Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS)
Funding
Government subsidy; schools may charge fees.
Curriculum
More choice. Ask which curriculum and qualification the school offers.
Language
EDB lists English for 19 of 21 DSS entries; 2 list English with Putonghua or Cantonese.
Fees
Random EDB example: Creative Secondary School, HK$93,450–103,210 a year.
Private independent
Funding
Private independent schools are generally fee-funded.
Curriculum
Local or non-local. Check what the school teaches and which qualification it offers.
Language
EDB lists English for all 8 entries; 4 also list Putonghua and/or Cantonese.
Fees
Random EDB example: International Christian School, HK$148,400–328,500 a year.
International
Funding
“International” is a school model, not a complete funding answer. Check the school’s own fees.
Curriculum
Usually non-local. Ask which programme and qualification your child would follow.
Language
EDB lists English for 56 of 76; 12 list English with Putonghua. The other 8 list French, German, Japanese or Korean.
Fees
Random EDB example: FIS English stream, Blue Pool Road, HK$161,373–217,599 a year.
The path is Nursery (N), then K1, K2 and K3, then P1–P6 and S1–S6. Nursery and kindergarten are optional. Primary runs for six years, then secondary for six. Compulsory attendance starts at age 6 and continues until 15, roughly through S3.
Is kindergarten compulsory from K1 in Hong Kong?
No. Nursery (N) and K1, K2 and K3 are optional. Compulsory school attendance starts at age 6, usually when a child begins P1, and continues until age 15.
How long are primary and secondary school in Hong Kong?
Primary is six years, from P1 to P6. Secondary is six years, from S1 to S6. That is 12 years after kindergarten.
Does the EDB publish the teaching language for every school?
No. In the EDB register data used here, none of 63 government records and only one of 959 aided records lists a teaching language. In the EDB International Schools Directory, 56 of 76 international-school entries list English, 12 list English with Putonghua, and eight list French, German, Japanese or Korean. The directory figures are not a count of every school in Hong Kong.
What do tuition fees look like at DSS, private independent and international schools?
Open the school finder, shortlist a few schools that fit your family, and check what each one publishes. If you want the whole route — costs and decisions included — the Pathway Planner can map it.
