[SCMP Archive] Featuring Hongkong International School
The Hong Kong International School was founded in 1966 by a group of American Christian businessmen to providing American college preparatory education.
[First published on May 4, 1986] The Hong Kong International School was founded in 1966 by a group of American Christian businessmen to providing American college preparatory education.
A co-educational private school, it operates classes from kindergarten to grade 12, with 123 people on the teaching staff.
There are 1550 students, 63 per cent of whom are Americans, 15 per cent Chinese, and the rest are from 34 nations over the world.
The students are classified into three divisions: elementary (kindergarten to grade six), junior high (grade seven and eight) and senior high (grade nine to 12).
The programme at elementary level operates in “open space” facilities which provide a flexible learning environment designed to meet individual needs.
Junior-high classes operate from a homeroom base. Each homeroom teacher is responsible for teaching language arts, social students and religion, while the students sponsor an after-school Rice Bowl programme including athletic and academic competitions throughout the year.
Since most students proceed to college the senior high curriculum is emphasized on college preparatory. The students are offered various courses and given a choice of subjects to be completed in the four years between grade nine and 12.
The senior high students annually participate in an IN-TERIM programme – a week of cultural explorations in Hong Kong and overseas.
The campus includes two buildings with two gymnasiums, a chapel, a performing arts centre, a computer room and a few science laboratories.