FAQ & INQUIRY
To assist with any initial inquiries, we encourage you to peruse the frequently asked questions and answers below which cover a broad range of objectives and operations of our school.
If a question has not been covered here, please feel free to send an inquiry to our Admissions Team.
Does my child need to have an American passport?
No, AIS welcomes applications from all nationalities. AIS was founded to enhance, broaden and support the educational choice of families in Hong Kong. We accept applications from both the local and international communities in Hong Kong.
Can non-Hong Kong residents apply?
Applicants who have not yet received Hong Kong residential status may apply to AIS. However, before enrolling at AIS, proof must be provided that the applicants meet Hong Kong Immigration requirements for entry to a school in Hong Kong prior to enrollment.
Please visit the Hong Kong Immigration Department for their requirements.
Does my child need to be in Hong Kong to take the assessments?
All Early Childhood 1 to Grade 4 admissions assessments are conducted on campus by our admissions specialists. Grade 5 to Grade 12 candidates can choose to do online admissions assessments. If a family arrives to Hong Kong for a short visit, it is possible to schedule Grade 1 to Grade 12 first step assessment within the same week.
Do all applicants get an interview with the principal?
No. Assessments for Early Childhood 1 to Grade 1 Junior applicants are hosted in a playgroup setting, so no individual interviews are required for these grade levels.
Interviews with principals are arranged for Grade 1 to 12 applicants, which involve both the child and his/her parents. Interviews are granted based on review of all previous school records, feedback from the Student Reference Forms or Recommendation Letter, and performance on the AIS admissions assessment. Applicants who are not invited for an interview are denied for admission and can reapply again after 6 months.
Is there a restricted time when applications need to be made?
No. AIS adopts a rolling admissions process. As an international school we understand the transient nature of the international community and the impact this can have on a child’s schooling.
However, applicants are strongly encouraged to refer to our admissions timetable and apply early due to our limited spaces and small class sizes. Parents are required to contact the Admissions Office to check for availability prior to their application.
Does AIS offer the IB Program?
No. AIS delivers a rigorous academic program based on established US educational standards, including the Common Core State Standards.
What assessments do AIS students take?
Students are assessed internally throughout the year to ensure they have achieved the educational outcomes and objectives according to our Expected Schoolwide Learning Results (ESLR) and the US Common Core State Standards. Academic progress is reported formally each trimester when report cards and progress report cards are issued. Advanced Placement (AP) examinations administered by the US College Board take place at the school for our junior and senior high school students in May.
AIS is an approved SAT Test Center allowing AIS high school students to take both PSAT and SAT tests on campus.
What is the purpose of the Annual Capital Levy?
The purpose of the annual capital levy is to finance the school’s campus construction and maintenance projects, as well as fund the acquisition of new facilities and equipment, and to enhance existing school infrastructure and facilities.
Do I have to buy a debenture for my child to study at AIS?
No. Remaining true to our founding mission of providing an affordable option for families seeking an American international educational program in Hong Kong, AIS, unlike most other international schools has instinctively resisted the introduction of a debenture scheme.
What areas are covered by the school bus service?
The school bus service at the American International School is provided by California Coach Limited, an established independent bus service company that has been operating since AIS was founded in 1986. It offers an extensive range of school bus routes across Kowloon, New Territories, and Hong Kong Island areas.
Please make your bookings online at California Coach Limited or contact them at californiacoach@ais.edu.hk or at (852) 2836-9922.
What are recommended residential areas close to AIS?
The American International School is located in Kowloon Tong, an area in Hong Kong’s Kowloon peninsula. It is a low-density, relatively expensive residential district with many historical buildings. Kowloon Tong is in close proximity to the following suggested residential areas:
Ho Man Tin: A relative low-density residential area and minutes walk from the busy Mongkok area, a prosperous corner with multiple shops and attractions. Ho Man Tin is about a 5-minute car ride from Kowloon Tong. (MTR route to AIS: Take Kwun Tong Line from Ho Man Tin MTR station.)
Hung Hom: A well developed residential area bordering Victoria Harbour and nearby Tsim Sha Tsui, a famous tourist hub in Hong Kong. Hung Hom is about a 10-minute car ride from Kowloon Tong. (MTR route to AIS: Take East Rail Line from Hung Hom Station.)
Whampoa: A convenient, well developed residential area with close proximity to ferry to the Hong Kong Island. Whampoa is about a 10-minute car ride from Kowloon Tong. (MTR route to AIS: Take Kwun Tong Line from Whampoa station.)
Diamond Hill: A convenient and populated residential area on the MTR line, approximately a 15-minute car ride from Kowloon Tong. (MTR route to AIS: Take Kwun Tong Line from Diamond Hill MTR station.)
Kowloon City: An old area in Hong Kong, filled with all kinds of authentic and affordable cuisines. Kowloon City is about a 5-minute car ride from Kowloon Tong. (Minibus routes to AIS: #25M)
Service Apartments in Kowloon: Horizon Suites and Hotels
Where do AIS teachers come from?
Our teachers represent an international body, coming from the US and all over the world including Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, France, Korea and Singapore. Our modern language teachers are native speakers from their home countries. All teachers are fully qualified and approved by the Hong Kong Education Bureau. About one-third of our teachers are American citizens and half of our faculty hold master degrees or above.
How many students are there in a class?
Our average class size varies between 20 to 24 students. Our class sizes are kept to a maximum of 20 students in Early Childhood to Grade 1 Junior classes; and 24 students in Grade 1 to Grade 12 classes.
Is there a hot lunch provider? Who is the catering provider for AIS?
As a school committed to providing a high quality educational experience for both students and teachers, we recognize the important role the school catering service has in supporting a positive climate. We expect the products to be fresh and healthy, the cost to be affordable, and the level of service to be appropriate to the needs of our international school community. It is important to us that our students and teachers have a daily menu that is well-balanced and nutritionally appropriate.
Our catering provider, Café Concepts, prepares food on campus from 8am to 1:30pm on every school day. They prepare and serve a variety of hot meals, a daily selection of sandwiches, soups, noodles, salads, baked potatoes, pizzas and various savory snacks.
Students can purchase their lunch from the cafeteria using the credit stored on their student ID cards. All canteen transactions are cashless. Students and staff use their stored-value school ID cards to purchase all food and beverages. There is an optional monthly lunch plan for our enrolling Grade 1 to 4 students.
Can students bring their own lunch? And heat up their own meals?
Students may choose to bring lunch with them when they come to school in the morning. There are microwave ovens in the canteen to store and heat up meals. There are teaching staff to supervise the students during lunch time in the canteen. EC2 and Grade One Junior students eat in their classrooms, supervised by their own teacher.
How can parents get involved in the school community?
AIS warmly welcomes parents to be involved in school activities and has many volunteer opportunities available throughout the year such as classroom volunteering, coaching a sports team, chaperoning field-trips or serving on the Parent-Teachers’ Association (AIS-PTA). Parents can learn more by contacting the principals directly or by contacting our PTA.
How does the school communicate with parents?
Here at the American International School, we encourage parents to check from our social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Youtube) to our blog, the Eagle-i for updates on school activities and the social, personal and applied learning that our students receive.
Parents are free to contact their child’s teachers by email or over the phone through the school administrative office. Various meeting sessions are also arranged during the school year including parents orientation evenings, parent-teacher conferences and principal’s coffee mornings.
What are special programs offered at AIS?
Beyond meeting the challenges of the academic program, students at AIS are expected to participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities. High school students are also required to complete a minimum number of community service hours in high school.
There is an established Outdoor Education and Leadership Program which requires every student to participate in a systematic program of outdoor activities, day camps, residential camps across upper elementary and middle school and participate in overseas community service trips when they reach high school.
What modern languages are offered at AIS? What is the Chinese language program like?
From Early Childhood 1 to Grade 8, Mandarin is compulsory. Simplified Chinese (Putonghua) is taught in AIS Mandarin classes. Students receive an average of 3 to 5 Mandarin classes per week, and are placed in ability groups according to their levels.
High school students (Grade 9 to 12) may choose between Mandarin, French or Spanish within the World Languages program.
What are the technology resources on campus?
There is a very high level of technology-use across the school. It is an integral component of our curriculum and is used extensively by our faculty and students in support of high quality teaching and learning. Digital projectors are installed in every classroom across the school facilitating both students and educators sharing their learning.
Students from Grades 3 to 12 bring their own Apple devices to support their learning and there is a dedicated media lab in the high school, an e-library and an e-corner in the elementary library SPAce. The use of highly sophisticated and comprehensive e-books is growing, as well as adaptive testing and learning platforms for language and math learning. Electronic versions of core textbooks are commonly used, as is the use of Google Classroom. Digital design, film-making and music production are popular choices for students at AIS.
To further encourage and support creativity, AIS introduced a Bring Your Own Apple Device program in August 2022. All Grade 3 to 8 students are required to bring an iPad with keyboard and stylus to all classes. In High School, students continue to make use of their iPads but are also required to bring a MacBook to school to enhance their learning. Click here for more information.
What are the academic requirements for graduation?
To graduate with an AIS High School Diploma, all high school students are required to successfully complete a minimum requirement of 24 Carnegie credits in the following subject areas plus elective courses:
• English Literature (4 credits)
• Mathematics (4 credits)
• Science (4 credits)
• Humanities (4 credits)
• World Languages (2 credits)
• Physical Education & Health (2 credits)
• Visual & Performing Arts (2 credits)
• Computer Science (2 credits)
• and Electives (4-5 credits)
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