I have also considered your point. When I was in school, my school is in Lai King Hill and I live in Tsuen Wan. Although it is only a couple MTR stations, but it almost takes me a half hour to 45 mins including the walking time from MTR station to home & MTR to school. Right now I live in Chai Wan and school in Wan chai. It is not that serious like people live in kowloon side and send children to HK Island school OR live in Tsuen Wan and school in Kowloon Tong (it is really far). You know that the distance from one station to next station of MTR in HK island is shorter in Kowloon side. My office is in TST and I only need to take about 25 to 30 mins to TST everyday. I think it is okay! HK Island side is very small. It only need to take about 20 mins from Wan Chai station to the my home station. If I live in chai wan and the school in mid-level of central, I would also agree that it is really far.