Canadian International School of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Led by Principal Dr. Tim Kaiser, CDNIS operates from a 14-storey hillside campus in Aberdeen, serving students from Pre-Reception through Grade 12 with all three IB programs: Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. The school's unique dual-diploma structure ensures all Grade 12 students graduate with both the IB Diploma and Ontario Secondary School Diploma, incorporating Canadian-specific subjects like history, geography, and career studies from Grade 9. This authentic Canadian connection, supported by official ties to Ontario's Ministry of Education, creates a genuine pathway to Canadian universities while maintaining international credentials.

Technology integration sets CDNIS apart as Hong Kong's first Apple Distinguished School, with mandatory Mac laptops from Grade 4-12, robotics labs, and MakerSpaces in the OneDoor Centre. The campus features extensive facilities including a 25m swimming pool, Leo Lee Arts Centre theatre, and a Chinese Cultural Centre opened in 2015 that supports immersive Mandarin learning. With over 50% Canadian students among its 1,800-strong community, the school maintains strong cultural authenticity while serving diverse international families. Recent partnerships with Canadian engineering faculties and digital transformation initiatives demonstrate ongoing commitment to educational innovation and university preparation.

Strengths

Hong Kong's only Canadian school with authentic Ontario curriculum ties
Dual IB Diploma and Ontario Secondary School Diploma for all Grade 12 students
Consistently achieves some of Hong Kong's highest IB scores
Full IB continuum from PYP through IBDP - one of only six Hong Kong schools
Advanced technology integration with 1:1 laptops from Grade 4
Strong Canadian university connections and pathways
Comprehensive facilities including swimming pool, theatre, and specialized STEM spaces
Over 50% Canadian student body maintains cultural authenticity

Considerations

Ultra-premium fees of HKD 174,000-227,100 plus HKD 35,000 capital levy
Selective admission requiring assessments and interviews
Strong Canadian focus may not suit families seeking other cultural perspectives
Aberdeen location may be less convenient for some Hong Kong families
Highly academic environment with elite IB expectations

Academics

2025 IB Results: Average score of 38 (World average: 30.6). Pass rate not explicitly stated as percentage but 109 candidates. 3 students scored a perfect 45, 17 scored 43/44, and 48 students (44%) scored 40+.

School life

Extensive programme with 300+ after-school activities. 83 'Timberwolf' sports teams (including Football, Tennis, Basketball, Swimming, Rugby, Badminton, Climbing, Fencing). 72 Upper School clubs and 11 Lower School clubs.

40,000 square metre campus across 14 levels. Facilities include Leo Lee Arts Centre (LLAC Theatre), Chinese Cultural Centre, 25m heated swimming pool, artificial turf pitch, two gymnasiums, Lower School playground, Early Years Environment (EYE), TeamLab classroom, photovoltaic farm, design studio, science labs (Upper School science corridor), library, Alan Dick Forum, and cafeterias. No boarding houses (private day school).

Student body

Total enrolment: 2,109 students (1,109 Lower School, 1,000 Upper School). Represents over 40 nationalities (Top: Canada 39%, USA 14%, Hong Kong 12%, UK 11%, China 11%). 1,552 families.

Fee	Age	Type	Amount
Nursery (half day)	3	Annual	HK$138,600
Early Years 1 (half day)	3	Annual	HK$156,300
Early Years 2 (whole day)	3	Annual	HK$203,100
Preparatory	5	Annual	HK$210,900
Grade 1	6	Annual	HK$210,900
Grade 2	7	Annual	HK$210,900
Grade 3	8	Annual	HK$191,800
Grade 4	9	Annual	HK$193,600
Grade 5	10	Annual	HK$193,600
Grade 6	11	Annual	HK$212,800
Grade 7	12	Annual	HK$216,600
Grade 8	13	Annual	HK$216,600
Grade 9	14	Annual	HK$237,700
Grade 10	15	Annual	HK$237,700
Grade 11	16	Annual	HK$254,300
Grade 12	17	Annual	HK$254,300
Assessment Fee (EY1 and above)		One-time	HK$1,650
Application Fee (Nursery)		One-time	HK$1,800
Application Fee (EY1 and above)		One-time	HK$2,350
Entry Fee (EY1 and above)		One-time	HK$12,500
Reservation Deposit (EY1 and above)		One-time	HK$80,000

One Reddit user who attended around 2009 to 2011 said they left because of "incessant, relentless bullying" and described the issue as still a problem today.
A 2024 South China Morning Post case made local news after a parent alleged her son had been bullied for a year and was thrown onto a bench at recess; the school said its own review did not substantiate the claim and the Education Bureau asked for documentation.
One teacher described the board as "draconian" and said staff are reluctant to raise concerns; another wrote that "CDNIS has not been top tier since 2016" and called management "a mess".
The shift toward a bilingual stream is repeatedly cited as a turning point, with several Western families said to be looking to move their children elsewhere.
On the positive side, one ex-student called CDNIS "absolutely amazing" and other commentators still rank it alongside CIS as a top academic option in Hong Kong; Aberdeen location, IB results and Ontario diploma pathway remain selling points.