Islands Kindergartens

On the outlying islands, commuting comes first. For an international route in Tung Chung/Discovery Bay: ESF (Tung Chung, IB), Discovery Bay International (among HK's priciest), Discovery Montessori; for outlying-island community schools, Cheung Chau Sacred Heart (oldest, free) and C&MA Tai O (free). See our Islands rankings.

The commute. Islands is geographically split: Tung Chung and Discovery Bay have international kindergartens (ESF Tung Chung, DBIS, several Montessori), while the outlying islands — Cheung Chau, Tai O, Lamma — are mostly community Free-Scheme schools. Outlying-island families tend to enrol nearby free non-profits; an international or IB route means factoring in ferry/road time to Tung Chung or Discovery Bay. Weighing commute against your address and target curriculum is the first step here.

Yes, but concentrated in Tung Chung and Discovery Bay. ESF (Tung Chung), DBIS, Discovery Montessori School and others — 7 schools (19% of the district) — run non-local curricula, with half-day fees from $52,500 to $132,500. A parent at ESF Tung Chung describes it as "focused on whole-child development, not grade-drilling, with a child happy to attend." The outlying islands (Cheung Chau, Tai O and others) have almost no international options, where families mostly choose local community Free-Scheme schools.

From free to $132,500. The 25 Free-Scheme schools charge nothing for half-day; local private half-day runs about $86,350 to $94,820/year; international/non-local schools range from $52,500 to $132,500, with DBIS the district's priciest. Free-Scheme participation and whether a school runs an international curriculum are the biggest fee divides here.

Islands has 36 kindergartens: 25 (69%) join the Free Scheme, 13 offer PN (nursery, age 2) classes, and 7 run non-local curricula. International schools cluster in Tung Chung and Discovery Bay while the outlying islands rely on community Free-Scheme schools — commute is a key consideration.