Christian Alliance International School vs International Christian School - Shek Mun Campus
Christian Alliance International School and International Christian School - Shek Mun Campus are both in Hong Kong, about 9 km apart. Both schools offer Advanced Placement (AP) and Christian programmes. Christian Alliance International School also offers IB and Canadian, and International Christian School - Shek Mun Campus also offers American. Published annual fees are close, at HK$136,300 - 228,300 for Christian Alliance International School and HK$148,400 - 201,500 for International Christian School - Shek Mun Campus. Christian Alliance International School takes pupils from 5 to 17, and International Christian School - Shek Mun Campus from 5 to 18. Christian Alliance International School is the larger school, with around 1,700 pupils to International Christian School - Shek Mun Campus's 1,200.
IB (DP), Advanced Placement (AP), Canadian Curriculum, Christian Curriculum
Curriculum
Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Christian Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
1,700
Pupils
1,200
Typical class size
Typical class size
—
Typical class size
15
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
1992
Opened
1992
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
Yes
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
Christian Alliance International School (CAIS) is situated in Butterfly Valley, Lai Chi Kok on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong. The campus is accessible via major public transport links, including nearby MTR stations and bus routes. The surrounding area is urban and well connected, with facilities that serve the local community.
Location
The main campus is in Shek Mun, Sha Tin, in the New Territories, It is relatively accessible from major thoroughfares in Sha Tin, and the school arranges bus services across Hong Kong.
Stages
Stages
The school runs as a through-train programme from Preparatory (Kindergarten) through Grade 12. This structure includes Primary (Prep–G6) and Secondary (G7–G12), with students in Grades 11–12 able to pursue the Alberta Diploma, Advanced Placement (AP), or the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP).
Stages
ICS offers a continuous pathway from Kindergarten through Elementary, Middle School, and High School.
School type
School type
CAIS is a co-educational international day school with an enrollment of over 1,700 students. It does not provide boarding facilities, with all students commuting daily.
School type
It is a co-educational day school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
—
Pupil nationality mix
—
Additional learning support
Additional learning support
The school provides support for students with mild to moderate learning needs through its Student Support Services team. Provision includes learning support teachers and assistants who collaborate with classroom staff and families to help students access the curriculum. CAIS is not a specialist SEN school.
Additional learning support
ICS runs a program called Bridges for students aged 11-18 with significant learning needs (e.g. in communication, social/emotional or physical domains), with dedicated staff, lower student-teacher ratios, and integration into the mainstream classes where appropriate.
Country affiliation
Country affiliation
CAIS is accredited by Alberta Education, Canada, to deliver the Alberta curriculum, and also offers AP and IBDP pathways.
Country affiliation
The school does not formally affiliate with one country’s educational system; it operates independently as an international school in Hong Kong.
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
The school is a Christian institution, founded by the Kowloon Tong Church of the Chinese Christian and Missionary Alliance (KTAC).
Religious affiliation
ICS is affiliated with Christian faith, operating as an evangelical Christian school and integrating Christian worldview into its curriculum and community life.
School day structure
School day structure
School days begin at 7:55 am (Primary) and 8:05 am (Secondary). Regular dismissal is mid-afternoon, with Monday featuring an earlier finish (Primary at 2:05 pm, Secondary at 2:35 pm). Published bell schedules also note dedicated chapel/assembly sessions and advisory times.
School day structure
Typical school hours are Monday to Friday, 7:45 am to 3:00 pm. In secondary (High School and Middle School), they run on a 6-day rotating schedule for classes, with an advisory program (“Tribe” or “Facegroups”) meeting daily around lunch periods.
Bus service details
Bus service details
The school operates a bus service, referenced in its bell schedules and dismissal notices. Buses depart after school dismissal, including an earlier departure on Mondays. While full provider details are not published, the service is part of daily logistics and coordinated with start and end times for Primary and Secondary.
Bus service details
ICS provides a school bus/coach service for students across Hong Kong, using contracted providers. The routes and service arrangements are reviewed annually, and the service supports both Kindergarten and the main campus.
Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application Fees A one-time application fee is required for all new students. The fee is HKD 1,500 for Preparatory–Grade 3 and HKD 1,800 for Grades 4–12. This is non-refundable and must be paid by cheque at the time of application.
Tuition Fees (Per Year) Fees are billed in 10 monthly installments across the academic year. The annual tuition fees for 2025–26 are as follows:
Capital Contributions Families must select one of the following options:
Individual Capital Note (ICN): HKD 560,000 (first child), reduced amounts for additional siblings. Refundable or transferable with administrative fees. Annual Capital Levy (ACL): HKD 30,000 per year, non-refundable. This applies if the student is not covered by an ICN or Corporate Capital Note (CCN). Corporate Capital Note (CCN): An option for companies to secure places for nominated students.
Sibling Discount
Second child: 10% Third child: 15% Fourth child and beyond: 20%
Additional Fees A reservation fee equal to one month’s tuition is payable upon acceptance and credited toward the first installment. Administrative fees apply for reissued invoices or mailed documents. Other costs such as uniforms, extracurricular activities, and learning materials are billed separately.
Refund Policy Tuition is non-refundable for any month in which a student attends, even partially. The Annual Capital Levy is also non-refundable. ICN refunds are subject to school policies and administration fees.
Payment Options Payments are accepted by cheque or bank transfer. Cash is not accepted.
Reservation Deposit / Registration Fee Confirms enrollment and is credited against the first tuition installment. It is forfeited if a place is accepted but the student does not attend.
Tuition Fees (2025–26) Tuition is billed in installments per year and cannot be prorated. All fees are in Hong Kong dollars, non-refundable and non-transferable unless otherwise stated.
* Elementary (Pre-Grade 1 – Grade 5): HK$148,400 per year * Middle School (Grade 6 – Grade 8): HK$196,600 per year * High School (Grade 9 – Grade 12): HK$201,500 per year
Other Fees Additional costs may include graduation fees, extracurricular activities, band instrument rental, uniforms, school bus, and meals. These are billed separately as applicable.
Financial Assistance
* Financial Aid: Tuition subsidy for families facing financial challenges; must reapply annually. * Family Discount: Applied per eldest child and downward, renewed annually.
* 1st & 2nd child – no discount * 3rd child – 10% discount on tuition * 4th child – 15% discount on tuition * Additional children – increases by 5% increments
Withdrawal Policy For Grades Pre-1 to 12, the school requires two full calendar months’ written notice of withdrawal, or payment of two months’ tuition if notice is shorter. Summer holiday does not count toward the notice period.
Payment Options Fees are payable in installments; payment is accepted by bank transfer (credit card not specified).
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
—
Boarding arrangements
—
Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
—
Uniform requirement
—
Food options
Food options
—
Food options
—
House system
House system
—
House system
—
Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
—
Governance and ownership
—
Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
Christian Alliance International School follows the Alberta (Canada) curriculum from Preparatory through Grade 12, which provides the framework for core subjects including English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, alongside specialist subjects such as Visual Arts, Music, Physical Education, and Design Technology. In the upper grades, students can pursue Advanced Placement (AP) courses and examinations in selected subjects, allowing them to gain additional university recognition. For Grades 11–12, CAIS also offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) as an alternative pathway, with subjects across all six IB groups, including English A, Chinese A, Economics, Sciences, Mathematics, and Visual Arts. Chinese language learning is part of the curriculum from Preparatory onwards, with pathways into AP Chinese and IBDP Chinese in the senior years. The main language of instruction is English, with Chinese, French, and Spanish taught as additional world languages.
Curriculum details
International Christian School follows a North American curriculum framework taught in English, with integration of a Christian worldview across all subjects. The Elementary School (Pre-Grade 1–Grade 5) provides a broad foundation in core subjects such as English, mathematics, science, and social studies, complemented by art, music, and physical education. In Middle School (Grades 6–8), students continue in a structured North American program while exploring electives and developing study skills in preparation for high school. The High School (Grades 9–12) offers a full college-preparatory curriculum, with the option to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses across a wide range of subjects, including sciences, humanities, and world languages (e.g. AP Chinese and AP Spanish). Throughout the school, Chinese language is taught as a subject, with Spanish also available at higher levels. Co-curricular programs in arts, STEM, and service are integrated into the academic pathway, ensuring students experience a well-rounded program through to graduation.
1. Application Submission Families begin by completing the online application form and mailing the printed form, required supporting documents, and the application fee cheque to the Admissions Office. The fee is HKD 1,500 for Preparatory–Grade 3 and HKD 1,800 for Grades 4–12, and it is non-refundable. Cash is not accepted, and all cheques must be payable to the school.
2. Assessment and Interview Applicants are invited for an admissions assessment if a place is available. The assessment length varies by grade level: about 1 hour for Preparatory–Grade 3, 2.5 hours for Grades 4–6, and 3 hours for Grades 7–12. Parents may also be interviewed, and additional documents, such as a Student Reference Form, are required for secondary applicants.
3. Admissions Decision Families are informed of the result within 30 days of the assessment. If a place is available and the student meets requirements, an offer of admission is extended. If not, but the student is eligible, they may be placed in the Wait Pool.
4. Enrollment Confirmation A student’s place is confirmed once the family pays the required Individual Capital Note (ICN or Annual Capital Levy (ACL by the deadline. A reservation fee equal to one month’s tuition is also due and will be credited against the first tuition installment.
Admissions
1. Submit Application Families begin by submitting an online application for the specific academic year. An application fee (non-refundable) must be paid.
2. Assessment & Testing Applicants are tested in English reading, writing, and mathematics to assess readiness. For some grades, candidates may also be asked to submit standardized test scores.
3. Interview (and Parent Interview) After assessment, qualified candidates and their parents are invited for in-person interviews. International applicants may be assessed or interviewed online if unable to attend in Hong Kong.
4. Admissions Decision & Wait Pool The Admissions Committee reviews all assessments and interviews; decisions are typically communicated within 30 days.
5. Offer Acceptance & Enrollment Families who receive an offer must return a signed acceptance and pay the reservation deposit to confirm the student’s place. Failure to do so may result in forfeiture of the offer.
Scholarships
Scholarships
CAIS offers scholarships specifically for students enrolled in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). These scholarships ensure that all IBDP students pay the same tuition as Alberta curriculum students, rather than the higher IBDP fee. This effectively reduces the cost of the IB pathway and makes it financially aligned with the school’s other senior programmes.
Scholarships
International Christian School does not provide general merit-based scholarships. Instead, it offers financial assistance programs to help families with demonstrated need. This includes tuition subsidies, debenture relief, and discounts for families with multiple children enrolled. In addition, the school operates the Foundation Scholars Program, which is designed to support children of Christian ministry workers with both financial aid and additional language support where needed. All financial assistance is reviewed on an annual basis, and families must reapply each year with supporting documentation.
Waitlist
Waitlist
CAIS operates a Wait Pool system. Qualified applicants who have passed assessments but for whom no immediate space is available are placed into the Wait Pool. This placement is valid for one academic year, and families are contacted if a suitable place becomes available. Students in the Wait Pool are not guaranteed admission, but being placed there indicates they are eligible should space open.
Waitlist
ICS does operate a wait pool system (not a traditional chronological waitlist) for applicants who have met requirements but for whom no place is currently available.
