Chinese International School

What Chinese International School does

Chinese International School (CIS) is a private, non-profit bilingual (English-Mandarin) and intercultural day and boarding school serving approximately 1,652 students aged 4-18 across Reception through Year 13, operated by the Chinese International School Foundation Limited. The school runs a primary campus at 1 Hau Yuen Path, Braemar Hill, Hong Kong (opened 1991, with a New Tower added in 2016 and an adjacent site awarded in 2025) and a mandatory one-year Year 10 residential programme at the Greentown Yuhua School campus in Hangzhou, China (launched 2013). Its academic architecture comprises a collaborative dual-language Primary Programme (Reception-Year 6) in which every homeroom is co-taught by a native Mandarin-speaking and a native English-speaking teacher, and a Secondary Programme (Year 7-13) structured as IB MYP (Years 7-9), a CIS-developed interdisciplinary curriculum (Years 10-11), and the IB Diploma Programme (Years 12-13), with the Year 10 CIS Hangzhou programme delivering a city-as-classroom residential immersion.

The school's revenue model is tuition-led and recurring, consisting of annual tuition (varying by year level), a non-refundable Annual Capital Levy (HK$28,000/year for students joining through 2024-25, rising to HK$30,200 for 2025-26 joiners) funding long-term capital works, one-time application (HK$2,000) and assessment fees (HK$2,000-HK$2,500), and supplementary fees for the Hangzhou year, with a merit- and need-based Financial Aid Programme cross-subsidised by Annual Fund giving (60%+ family participation). Go-to-market is admissions-led via a multi-stage online application, information sessions, open houses, and a Reception entry programme capped at 96 places per year, supported by a digital ecosystem spanning the website, social channels (including WeChat and REDNote/Xiaohongshu for mainland-China outreach), virtual tours, and parent-alumni advocacy networks.

Core proprietary assets include the bilingual collaborative teaching model, a three-tier Chinese Language Arts proficiency framework for Years 4-6, the unreplicated Hangzhou residential year, the Visible Well-Being framework adopted with Professor Lea Waters (2020), and over 150 co-curricular activities across arts, sports (60 competitive teams in 17 sports), and academic enrichment. Operations are supported by PowerSchool (SIS), Schoology (LMS), and Schoolsbuddy (CCA management). CIS holds triple accreditation (CIS, NEASC 10-year re-accreditation in May 2021, and IB World School status since 1992 for DP and 2002 for MYP), and operates under a Board of Governors chaired by Andrew Brandler, with Sean Lynch as Head of School since summer 2018 and Vision '33 as the strategic roadmap through the 50th anniversary in 2033.

Name

Chinese International School

Legal name

Chinese International School Foundation Limited

Website

https://cis.edu.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Chinese International School is a non-profit, bilingual (English-Mandarin) day and boarding school in Hong Kong serving ~1,652 students aged 4-18 through a Reception-to-Year-13 programme, including a mandatory Year 10 residential year in Hangzhou, China.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International K-12 Bilingual Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools (EDAJABAL)

Keywords

• Bilingual international education
• International baccalaureate programmes
• Primary secondary schooling
• Residential immersion programme
• Co-curricular activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Hong Kong

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Annual tuition fees varying by year level (Reception through Year 13) for the bilingual, intercultural education programme. Fees are paid per academic year.
2. Annual Capital Levy: Non-refundable annual capital levy funding future capital expenditures including long-term school development projects, infrastructure projects, and major school improvement works. HK$28,000 per year (2018-19 through 2024-25), increasing to HK$30,200 for 2025-26.
3. Application and Assessment Fees: Non-refundable application fee of HK$2,000 for all applicants. Additional assessment fees: HK$2,000 for Reception, HK$2,500 for Secondary (Year 7-13).
4. Financial Aid Programme: Merit and need-based financial assistance for Year 8-12 students, supported through Annual Fund community-wide fundraising efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Chinese International School is a bilingual (English-Mandarin) international school in Hong Kong delivering education from Reception through Year 13. The school features a unique collaborative teaching model with native Chinese and English-speaking teacher pairs in every homeroom, and includes a mandatory one-year residential programme in Hangzhou, China for all Year 10 students. The curriculum spans the IB Middle Years Programme (Years 7-9), a CIS-developed curriculum (Years 10-11), and the IB Diploma Programme (Years 12-13).

Product overview

Chinese International School operates as a single unified educational institution offering a bilingual (English-Chinese) Reception through Year 13 programme. The academic portfolio comprises a Primary Programme (Reception-Year 6) with dual-language collaborative teaching, and a Secondary Programme (Year 7-13) structured around three curriculum phases: IB MYP, the CIS-Developed Curriculum, and IB DP. A distinctive feature is the mandatory CIS Hangzhou Programme—a year-long residential experience in China for Year 10 students. The school complements its academic core with extensive co-curricular offerings including an Arts Programme, Sports Programme (60+ competitive teams across 17 sports), and the new Student Innovation Lab Summer Programme. The school uses integrated technology platforms including PowerSchool for student information, Schoology as the learning management system, and Schoolsbuddy for co-curricular activity management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary Programme (Reception-Year 6) Bilingual elementary education programme featuring collaborative teaching with native Chinese and English-speaking teachers in every homeroom. Equal time is devoted to both languages with the curriculum delivered in both through inquiry-based integrated studies. Designed for students aged 4-11 from Reception through Year 6.
• Secondary Programme (Year 7-13) Secondary education programme spanning Years 7-13, comprising three distinct curriculum phases: IB MYP (Years 7-9), CIS-Developed Curriculum (Years 10-11), and IB DP (Years 12-13). English is the main language of instruction with Chinese taught at various proficiency levels.
• CIS Hangzhou Programme Mandatory one-year residential programme in Hangzhou, China for Year 10 students. Curriculum taught in English and Chinese with an interdisciplinary project-based approach, using the city as a cultural classroom built on four pillars of China, Challenge, Character, and Communities.
• Co-Curricular Activities Programme Wide-ranging CCA programme covering Arts, Music, Sports, Academic & Enrichment, Communication & Language, Global Issues, Community, Environment, and Service categories. Features over 150 activities managed through the Schoolsbuddy platform, available to enrolled students.
• Arts Programme Comprehensive arts education encompassing Visual Arts, Music, Drama, and Digital Arts. Required through Year 11 with elective continuation in Years 12-13, including school productions and co-curricular opportunities.
• Sports Programme Physical education curriculum required through Year 11 with competitive sports teams across 17 different sports. 60 competitive teams and 42 sports activities offered, competing in HKPSSA, PASS, HKSSF, ISSFHK, and ACAMIS leagues.
• CIS Student Innovation Lab Summer Programme Technology-focused summer programme for students Year 4-10 from all schools. Four tracks covering Coding/Robotics, Virtual Reality, and AI, with courses connected to UN Sustainable Development Goals and real-world mentorship from industry partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• 37% of graduates entered CIS in Reception, demonstrating long-term family commitment and programme satisfaction
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• Professor Lea WaterscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Positive psychology expert from The University of Melbourne who trained CIS staff in foundations of positive psychology in 2013 and returned in 2020 to help adopt the Visible Well-Being 'SEARCH' framework. The partnership brought common goals and practices to all stakeholder groups.
• MetanoiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Environmental consultant partnered with CIS students to conduct a comprehensive sustainability audit of school operations. Partnership involved all school stakeholders measuring environmental impact from electricity, water, transportation, food, waste, buildings, and procurement. Developed recommendations for improvement and strategic sustainability direction.
• Greentown Yuhua School (GYS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013CIS Hangzhou is located on the campus of Greentown Yuhua School, a leading private school in Zhejiang Province. The partnership provides academic and residential facilities for Year 10 students, with sharing of campus creating opportunities for cultural exchange and friendship between CIS and Chinese students.
• Council of International Schools (CIS)coreTechnology or IntegrationAccrediting body providing international school accreditation, professional development, and child protection guidance. CIS received 10-year re-accreditation in May 2021.
• New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)coreTechnology or IntegrationOne of the oldest and most respected school accrediting bodies in the United States, providing accreditation for CIS programmes.
• International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)coreTechnology or IntegrationIBO authorizes CIS as an IB World School offering IB MYP (since 2002) and IB Diploma Programme (since 1992).
• HKPSSA, PASS, HKSSF, ISSFHK, ACAMIS LeaguessecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSports league memberships enabling CIS students to compete against other Hong Kong schools in various athletic competitions and experience a range of competitive environments.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hong Kong International School: Premier American-style international school in Hong Kong serving ~2,800 students from Reception through Grade 12 with IB DP. Closest direct competitor to CIS in the premium Hong Kong international school segment, with overlapping expat and local family target market.
• Canadian International School of Hong Kong: Independent international school in Hong Kong offering IB PYP, MYP, and DP to ~1,800 students from over 40 nationalities. Comparable non-profit private international school with similar scale, curriculum profile, and target demographic to CIS.
• German Swiss International School: Hong Kong international school with strong bilingual (German/English, with Chinese offerings) identity and IB curriculum serving primary and secondary students. Competes with CIS for bilingual and culturally-oriented families in Hong Kong.
• Yew Chung International School Hong Kong: Long-established Hong Kong school with a bilingual English-Chinese immersion model from early years through secondary. Most direct bilingual-curriculum competitor to CIS given its parallel focus on Mandarin-English dual-language instruction.
• Dulwich College Hong Kong: Premium through-train international school (ages 3–18) in Hong Kong, part of the global Dulwich network with a heavy IB curriculum and Mandarin programme. Targets similar affluent bilingual families and competes on premium positioning.
• Nord Anglia International School Hong Kong: Premium for-profit international school in Hong Kong serving ages 6–18 with IB and IGCSE curricula. Competes for premium tuition-paying families and operates within a global network with strong branding and resources.
• Stamford American School Hong Kong: American curriculum-based international school in Hong Kong offering IB DP and AP pathways to a diverse student body. Competes in the premium tier and serves similar bilingual/trilingual family segments as CIS.
• Island School (English Schools Foundation): One of Hong Kong's largest ESF international secondary schools offering IB MYP and DP. A long-standing competitor in the Hong Kong international school market, particularly for English-language secondary education.

Regional players

• Singapore American School: Premier non-profit American international school in Singapore serving ~4,000 students. Highly comparable operating model (non-profit foundation, premium tuition, IB/Advanced curriculum) but in a different geography.
• United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA): Singapore-based non-profit IB international school with ~5,500 students across two campuses. Comparable scale, IB curriculum, and values-driven educational philosophy, though based in Singapore rather than Hong Kong.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/chineseinternationalschool
• Facebookfacebook.com/CISHK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/chinese-international-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/cishk
• Xx.com/CISHK

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Chinese International School