Islands Kindergarten Rankings 2026
36 schools ranked by composite score
Islands — Choosing a School
Islands is a geographically split "twin district." On one side, Tung Chung new town and Discovery Bay host ESF International (Tung Chung), Discovery Bay International School (DBIS, half-day fees $132,500 — the district's priciest) and three to four Montessori campuses, with 7 schools (19%) on non-local curricula. On the other are the community kindergartens of the outlying islands — Cheung Chau, Tai O, Lamma — mostly church-founded non-profits dating from the 1950s-60s: Cheung Chau Sacred Heart (1953), Cheung Chau Church Kam Kong (1960) and Tai O C&MA (1961), all in the Free Scheme. Of 36 schools, 25 (69%) join the Free Scheme and 28 are non-profit, the local side dominated by community kindergartens. The deciding factor here is not curriculum but commute: outlying-island families mostly enrol nearby free community schools, while international or IB routes mean travelling to Tung Chung or Discovery Bay. A parent at ESF Tung Chung describes it as "focused on whole-child development, not grade-drilling, and my child is happy to go" — capturing that end of the district.
Non-local = international / non-local curriculum. Dual-track schools appear under both tabs.
The best kindergarten is where your child thrives — not the one with the highest score.
FAQ
Which kindergartens are good in Islands?
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.
What should I weigh first when choosing a kindergarten in Islands?
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.
Does Islands offer international-curriculum or English-immersion options?
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.
How widely do fees vary in Islands?
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.
How many kindergartens are in Islands?
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.
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