FAQ

Our admission process is:

• Fill in our online application form on our website here. Please do have an electronic copy of the following documents prepared: the student's birth certificate, the student's & parents’ passports, the student’s visa for the right of abode in Hong Kong (if applicable), the student's school reports for the past two years (if available) and one recent passport-size photo of the student. 
• Payment of the application fee of HKD900, this fee is non-refundable.
• Students will be invited for an assessment. We do not interview parents. 
• If accepted, an offer notification by email. Parents must secure the place by paying the Capital Levy (one-time, non-refundable building fee) or debenture. Tuition for the first month of attendance is due before the student can attend school.

Our admissions criteria ensure each child is prepared to fully participate in and benefit from our holistic program. We look for candidates who:

• Show age-appropriate academic achievement
• Possess the English language skills necessary for classroom engagement
• Demonstrate positive behavior and are ready to contribute to a collaborative classroom
• Meet the grade-level age requirement
• Successfully complete our admissions assessment
• Qualify under our admissions priority guidelines

Yes, ASHK does have sibling priority. Siblings of currently enrolled students receive priority consideration in the admissions process, provided they meet the essential admissions criteria. This means if a space becomes available, a qualified sibling applicant will typically be offered a place ahead of other candidates on the waitlist. This is a priority for consideration, not automatic admission. The sibling must still complete the full application process, meet the age and grade requirements, and pass the assessment.

ASHK offers merit, diversity and needs-based scholarships for both new and existing students. Merit scholarships are primarily designed to recognize and reward outstanding achievement (academic, art, music, service, sports etc) and overall contribution to the school community. These students embody the school’s values and contribute significantly to school life. Scholarships are multiple levels and are usually reviewed annually. Interested families must typically submit a separate application (in addition to the standard admissions application if you are a new student). The scholarships are highly competitive due to a limited number of awards. 

ASHK maintains average class sizes generally ranging from 19 to 25 students with an average student-to-teacher ratio of 12:1. It is important to note that ratios can vary by school sections (Elementary, Middle, High School). Often, lower grade levels may aim for slightly smaller groups to support foundational skill development, while upper grades might be at the higher end of the range. The school's English as an Additional Language (EAL) support and learning resource programs would also operate with much smaller group sizes or one-on-one sessions, effectively improving the overall support ratio for students in those programs.

ASHK employs a detailed and multi-faceted system to assess, track, and communicate student progress. The school utilizes a blend of standardized external benchmarking and ongoing internal evaluation to create a complete picture of each student's academic growth. A central component of this is the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) Growth test, which all students complete twice a year, at the beginning and end, to measure their individual growth in core subjects against national norms. 

School reports are shared with parents with details of academic achievement and developmental progress. Furthermore, the school has two parent-teacher conferences each year, providing dedicated opportunities for families to meet with all their child's teachers and discuss progress in depth. Beyond these scheduled touchpoints, ASHK maintains an open-door policy, actively encouraging parents to reach out to teachers directly at any time with questions or concerns, fostering a continuous and supportive home-school partnership.

Our emphasis on a "holistic American education," "inquiry-based learning," and building "strong foundations in literacy and numeracy in the early years" means that homework is designed to reinforce classroom learning without overwhelming students. The goal is to support skill development while preserving time for rest, play, and family—key components of a young child's growth.

Homework in younger grades is typically brief and focused on practice, such as short reading sessions, basic math facts, or simple projects that connect to in-class inquiries. Homework often aims to help young students develop positive habits, organizational skills, and personal responsibility in a manageable way.

We integrate Hong Kong and Chinese culture primarily through a structured academic program and scheduled cultural celebrations.

Our core offering is a comprehensive Chinese language curriculum. Students are placed into one of four proficiency-based streams for tailored instruction. Families can choose between Simplified or Traditional Chinese character sets. This program is a dedicated academic track at the school.

Culturally, the school celebrates major Chinese festivals in the year, such as the Chinese New Year which is a significant community event, marked by activities like an on-campus Chinese flower market and a dedicated assembly with student performances. 

ASHK offers targeted EAL support with the primary goal of enabling non‑native English speakers to successfully integrate into the school’s mainstream, English‑medium curriculum. This support is designed as a scaffold to help students develop the academic language skills necessary to access grade‑level content in all subject areas. Rather than providing long‑term, standalone language instruction, the program focuses on accelerating English proficiency so that students can participate fully in classroom activities and achieve academic success alongside their peers.

The support is delivered through three distinct pathways tailored to different grade levels and proficiency needs. For students in Grades 2 to 5, the Foundational English Program (FEP) provides intensive language development. For those in Grades 6 to 9, the Bridging Program (BP) prepares them for a transition into mainstream classes. Alongside these, a Mainstream EAL Program offers integrated support within the regular classroom. Admission into the intensive FEP and BP is selective, with limited spaces available each year.

The college acceptance record for the ASHK’s Class of 2025 is strong and geographically diverse. The class received over 60 university acceptances worldwide, with a notable 42% of those being unconditional offers and 10% including scholarships.

Graduates gained admission to a wide range of prestigious universities across key global destinations. This includes top-tier institutions in the United States such as the University of California, San Diego and Pennsylvania State University; in the United Kingdom like University College London and the University of Edinburgh; in Canada including the University of Toronto and University of British Columbia; in Australia such as the University of Sydney and University of Melbourne; and locally in Hong Kong at the University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Our campus is designed to support its holistic, through-train educational model from elementary through high school. The facilities are clearly structured to cater to the developmental needs of different age groups, with dedicated spaces for elementary and secondary students. 

Key facilities include: an indoor sports gym and an outdoor football pitch for athletics; separate elementary and secondary school libraries to support literacy and research at all levels; dedicated elementary and secondary science labs for hands-on STEAM inquiry; specialized elementary and secondary music and art rooms for creative development; and a student lounge for social and collaborative time. These facilities directly enable the school's core programs, including its rigorous American and IB curriculum, dedicated STEAM focus, and comprehensive arts and athletics offerings.

The core instructional day begins at 7:45 AM and ends at 2:35 PM. The day is divided into eight periods of academic classes. Breaks are scheduled at different times for elementary and secondary students: elementary students have a morning break at 9:15 AM, while secondary students have theirs at 10:00 AM. Similarly, lunch is staggered, with elementary school lunch at 11:45 AM and secondary school lunch at 12:25 PM.

Following the formal end of the school day, a dedicated block for extracurricular activities (ECA) runs from 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM. This structured hour allows students to participate in sports, arts, academic clubs, and other enrichment programs, which are a key component of the school's holistic educational offering.

Yes, transportation is provided for ASHK students through a contracted school bus service operated by Kar Ying Travel Limited. The service covers a wide area across Hong Kong, with designated morning routes serving neighborhoods from Tuen Mun and Yuen Long in the west to Kai Tak and Kowloon Tong in Kowloon, and throughout Sha Tin, Ma On Shan, and Tai Po in the New Territories. Buses are scheduled to arrive at ASHK between 7:20 AM and 7:35 AM, with pick-up times starting as early as 6:00 AM for the furthest areas. The service also includes a dedicated afterschool bus for extracurricular activities, departing at 3:45 PM with drop-offs at major transportation hubs.

Regarding safety, the service has comprehensive measures in place. A bus escort is present on every bus to supervise students. Students are required to wear seat belts at all times while the bus is moving, following a designated seating arrangement. All buses are insured as required by the Hong Kong Transport Department. Clear rules for student conduct are enforced to ensure safety, such as prohibiting distractions to the driver and requiring students to remain seated. For emergencies or delays, the company communicates directly with parents via WhatsApp.

Fees are billed annually in two installments (due August 1st and January 1st) and vary by route, ranging from HKD 14,500 to 21,000 per term for round-trip service. The fare includes transportation for after-school activities. Parents must register their child each year, and students must carry a valid bus card.

We actively encourage parents to partner with us in fostering our close-knit community. The primary channel for this involvement is through the American School Parent Association (ASPA). The ASPA board meets regularly, nearly every month, to organize initiatives and support the school's activities, providing a formal structure for parent leadership and collaboration.

Beyond the ASPA, there are numerous meaningful ways for parents to engage throughout the year. Parents are welcome to volunteer at major events, such as helping out at Open Day, or the Chinese New Year flower market. They can also participate directly in festivities, including competing in friendly races on Sports Day. Furthermore, we warmly invite all parents to attend and celebrate student achievements at our various showcases, including learning exhibitions, art exhibitions, and our winter and spring concerts.

ASHK combines a rigorous American standards-based curriculum that feeds directly into the IB Diploma Programme, offering a clear, structured pathway to top global universities. Beyond academics, we emphasize deep local integration with a globally-minded outlook, highlighted by one of Hong Kong's most comprehensive Chinese language programs and cultural celebrations. This strong academic core is delivered within a uniquely supportive and close-knit community environment.