HKIS vs. SIS vs.ISF

vic_29

Our child is currently in local primary school, we are researching on international schools in HK for the secondary years (12 yr old & after). Highly appreciate your feedback on HKIS, SIS and ISF (secondary) on the following aspects, in the order of importance :


1. Developing students’ soft skills and creativity.

• With the primary years in local system under the more disciplined / knowledge-based learning style, hoping to learn about which of these 3 does the best job in this category (i.e. moving farthest away from the local style)
  

2. Rigor and support on STEM
3. Curriculum best suited for UK / US universities:

• HKIS: American (AP) curriculum. Understand it’s one of the best in feeding to US universities. If like to keep UK universities open, any disadvantage applying from HKIS vs IB schools?
• SIS (GCSE + IB) vs. ISF (pure IB): Which one is considered a better IB school in terms of UK / US universities placement?
  

4. Chinese (Oral)

• Aware both SIS and ISF are strong in Chinese Putonghua. Is Chinese PTH in HKIS considered decent or weak?
  

Thanks very much

7jai

vic_29 發表於 23-3-8 09:10
Our child is currently in local primary school, we are researching on international schools in HK fo ...

1. Developing students’ soft skills and creativity.

• With the primary years in local system under the more disciplined / knowledge-based learning style, hoping to learn about which of these 3 does the best job in this category (i.e. moving farthest away from the local style)
  

Ranking: #1 HKIS, #2 ISF, #3 SIS




2. Rigor and support on STEM

Ranking: #1 ISF, #2 SIS, #3 HKIS




3. Curriculum best suited for UK / US universities:

• HKIS: American (AP) curriculum. Understand it’s one of the best in feeding to US universities. If like to keep UK universities open, any disadvantage applying from HKIS vs IB schools?
• SIS (GCSE + IB) vs. ISF (pure IB): Which one is considered a better IB school in terms of UK / US universities placement?
  

Ranking: #1 ISF / HKIS (HKIS for US, ISF for a mix of both US/UK),  #2 SIS



4. Chinese (Oral)

• Aware both SIS and ISF are strong in Chinese Putonghua. Is Chinese PTH in HKIS considered decent or weak?
  

Ranking: #1 ISF, #2 SIS, #3 HKIS (Chinese is practically non-existent as it's predominantly English).

happyprincess

These three schools are very different.  Call the admission and arrange school tours to get a better insight

Youweird

Sis的ib成绩很好，但是university placement 就我觉得和它的ib score不匹配。但是sis的学业基础的确很扎实。

ISF课程不难，而且也重学术，成绩好的孩子会得到更多的资源。去年美本申请结果亮眼。

HKIS并不重视学术，但是各种活动和俱乐部特别多，特别看重孩子sociability。适合有street smart的孩子，特别锻炼孩子的除学习以外的各种能力。同一门课程分层次教学难度区分很大。

如果成绩好的孩子建议去isf,学校会重点培养。steet smart的孩子建议hkis，hkis的university placement 也是非常好，只是学校对所有孩子一视同仁，不会因为成绩好而收到任何特别的资源倾斜。

chunting34

Youweird 發表於 23-3-8 16:39
Sis的ib成绩很好，但是university placement 就我觉得和它的ib score不匹配。但是sis的学业基础的确很扎实 ...

很好奇為什麼hkis不重視學術也可以有好的大學placement呢？是家長找外補，還是美國大學不看重學術呢？謝謝

iseatrit2013

chunting34 發表於 23-3-9 10:54
很好奇為什麼hkis不重視學術也可以有好的大學placement呢？是家長找外補，還是美國大學不看重學術呢？謝謝 ...

academic just part of placement

ustvct

chunting34 發表於 23-3-9 10:54
很好奇為什麼hkis不重視學術也可以有好的大學placement呢？是家長找外補，還是美國大學不看重學術呢？謝謝 ...

幾個原因，一來HKIS在美國忍受性最高，二來學術成績一向只是美國大學收生噶其中一環（甚至不是最重要的一環），三來HKIS學生本身很多都有US connection比如爸媽係校友。

Youweird

回覆 chunting34 的帖子

最大的原因应该是hkis在美国大学的认可度高，是很多美本的feeder.
美本非常看重高中出身

vic_29

Thanks so much for everyone’s inputs!

Also curious about HKIS “同一门课程分层次教学难度区分很大”, is this referring to for the same subject, students get placed into classes of different levels of difficulty (regular, honors, AP?) and not bound by age?

Also SIS with good IB score, curious why university placement is not as good?

Thanks

chunting34

iseatrit2013 發表於 23-3-9 12:41
academic just part of placement

I see, so I guess the school will still try to make sure the students meet certain academic standards? And also help with other areas of development

chunting34

ustvct 發表於 23-3-9 14:39
幾個原因，一來HKIS在美國忍受性最高，二來學術成績一向只是美國大學收生噶其中一環（甚至不是最重要的一環 ...

謝謝回覆，請問美國嘅大學係咪會睇埋家長邊度畢業？定係因為佢地要捐錢嗰d呀？因為喺香港父母係咪alumni應該唔影響小朋友呢

chunting34

Youweird 發表於 23-3-9 14:48
回覆 chunting34 的帖子

最大的原因应该是hkis在美国大学的认可度高，是很多美本的feeder.

Thanks for your information

Youweird

vic_29 發表於 23-3-10 16:24
Thanks so much for everyone’s inputs!

Also curious about HKIS “同一门课程分层次教学难度区分很大 ...

对，同一门课程，可以选择不同难度，然后难度与难度之间相差很大，不被年龄限制，只要老师允许并且你已经修完修这个难度之前的课就可以。比如calculus bc 修之前你要修完pre cal, 然后成绩达到老师认为你可以继续进修的标准。

Youweird

chunting34 發表於 23-3-11 07:50
I see, so I guess the school will still try to make sure the students meet certain academic standar ...

差差不多吧，

HKIS大约是非常典型的美式高中，活动丰富多彩，都是学生们自发组织和发展，得到学校认可后学校会给出资金和教师资源。成绩并不看重，只要修满学分即可。也绝对不会因为学习不好被劝退，所以里面绝大多数的孩子是快乐的。

申请大学的时候gpa高但是没有活动的或者是gpa低但是活动好的，都能申请到不错的学校。大多数孩子基本上美本前30应该有的。但是对于个别特别拔尖的孩子，学校的确也不会像isf那样找不同的conselor 费心为你准备最顶尖的美本，也不会安排好不同顶尖学校建议不同尖子生申请以免重复申请浪费大学名额。

我只能说，如果你立志于哈耶普斯麻并且小朋友如你所愿gpa特别突出，那isf绝对是比hkis好的多的选择, 因为你可以得到比在hkis多得多的资源倾斜。hkis是那种你去了哈佛我为你鼓掌，你去了社区大学我一样为你骄傲的学校。这大概也是被绝大多数美国人认可的教育精神吧

vic_29

Youweird 發表於 23-3-9 14:48
回覆 chunting34 的帖子

最大的原因应该是hkis在美国大学的认可度高，是很多美本的feeder.

@Youweird Thanks for your insights and very helpful information. Just curious if you perhaps have had kids going to these few schools?

Like to get your thought specific to “最大的原因应该是hkis在美国大学的认可度高，是很多美本的feeder”. With many colleges dropping SAT requirement, you think factor of which high school now plays an even bigger role?

Thanks

Youweird

vic_29 發表於 23-3-12 12:34
@Youweird Thanks for your insights and very helpful information. Just curious if you perhaps have h ...

我家都在hkis, 大仔成绩一般托学校的福也申请到不错的美本，感激
美本招生历来都是看高中出身，hkis深得美国教育精髓，如果你是天才你自会秀于林，可以申请最难的学术课，（虽然学校不重学术但是绝不会埋没学术型人才，因为分层教学中有难度极高的课程）也可以组建很多club当队长锻炼领导力。如果你只是普通人，那学校也不逼着你一定要有建树，就我所知，也不会因为你年年最后一名劝退你。

至于是不是因为现在标化可以waive使得越来越看重高中出身，我个人没有看出这个趋势。

ninemonths

請問知唔知來年新生幾時收到取錄通知？大概都係三月？如果唔成功是否都會三月內知道？ 謝謝

vic_29

Youweird 發表於 23-3-12 22:04
我家都在hkis, 大仔成绩一般托学校的福也申请到不错的美本，感激
美本招生历来都是看高中出身，hkis深得美 ...

Thanks again. May I also ask how you found HKIS in terms of developing leadership and communications skills? And how it compares with ISF and SIS if you also happen to know.

Cheers

Youweird

vic_29 發表於 23-4-1 11:29
Thanks again. May I also ask how you found HKIS in terms of developing leadership and communication ...

Hkis所有的clubs都是学生自己组织自己招人然后自己想办法问学校要各种资源。不

iseatrit2013

插班有幾多名額？程序上是每年申請？