CDNIS is a private, independent school with an enrollment of over 1,800 students representing 41 nationalities. Recognized as an IB World School, CDNIS is just one of five IB continuum schools in Hong Kong to offer three IB programs from Pre Reception to Grade 12. At the core of our success is our never-ending pursuit to inspire excellence, cultivate character, and empower engagement locally and globally.
We are proud to be an IB World School and one of only five in Hong Kong to offer three IB programs – the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme, and the Diploma Programme. IB students aspire to the Learner Profile attributes: knowledgeable, balanced, reflective, principled, open-minded, and caring. They are thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, and inquirers. These attributes represent a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond intellectual development and academic success. CDNIS students are encouraged to be curious, creative, critically aware, and to develop their talents to the fullest. We expect a lot from our students, but at the same time, we promote reflection and encourage our students to be lifelong learners. Our international outlook promotes understanding and open-mindedness and prepares our students for leadership and success in an increasingly dynamic and complex world.
What also sets us apart from other schools is our Upper School's dual-diploma program in which our students graduate with not just one, but two diplomas. Post-secondary institutions worldwide recognize the IB Diploma and Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) for their rigorous assessment and CDNIS students graduate with both. Students in Grades 9 to 12 earn credits towards the OSSD, while in Grade 12, concurrently completing all credits for the IBDP. Graduating with two distinct diplomas sets our students apart from other candidates, particularly when applying to their first-choice universities around the world.
Our faculty and staff come to us from all over the world and are united in their commitment to inspire excellence, cultivate character, and empower engagement locally and globally. They utilize innovative teaching strategies coupled with fundamental beliefs about how students learn best to ensure each student is challenged to reach their full potential. As an IB World School, the inquiry is at the core of the CDNIS curriculum, and authentic learning experiences are related to the real world in a way that students find meaningful.
CDNIS also places a high degree of importance on the development of the whole child which is supported by an exceptional extra-curricular program. As a parent of three grown children and an avid outdoorsman, I understand the importance of finding a school that provides the right balance for your child – one which emphasizes personal development as well as academic rigor. In addition to our outstanding academic program, our students enjoy a wealth of other extra-curricular activities and clubs, while community service and philanthropy are a fundamental part of students' experience. The opportunities for students to participate in various activities – from sport, music, and drama to art and community service projects – are extensive, providing CDNIS students the opportunity to develop other skills.
CDNIS is a school united by the joy of learning, excellence in achievement, and development of character. We will inspire academic and personal growth in our students by encouraging inquiry, stimulating creativity and innovation, embracing cross-cultural and global perspectives, and fostering meaningful participation and service.
Established in 1991, the Canadian International School of Hong Kong is a non-profit, private, independent, coeducational day school located on the south side of Hong Kong Island in Aberdeen.
CDNIS was founded upon the recommendation of the Hong Kong government, which wished to expand the number of international schools offering a North American curriculum. The School first opened its doors to just 81 students in small rented facilities in Causeway Bay.
Over the years, CDNIS grew and changed. Within a few years of opening, the School had achieved its “through-train” objective in 1999, providing education to students from Pre Reception through to Grade 12 graduation. The School also celebrated its first graduating class the same year, with the members of the Class of 1999 going on to pursue tertiary studies at prestigious universities around the world.
The challenges of operating a through-train school in several locations, along with the population growth, brought the need for the School to look for a permanent location. A stunning space along a hillside that overlooked the spectacular backdrop of Aberdeen Harbour, Lamma Channel, and outlying islands, was awarded to CDNIS and the task of developing an award-winning, 14-level campus that was uniquely Canadian began with the new campus opening in 1999. As the student population continued to expand, additional education facilities were completed including the Primary Tower (2002), Leo Lee Arts Centre (2005), Chinese Cultural Centre (2015), and Green Roof Garden (2015).
CDNIS is a fully authorized IB World School where all of our students from Pre Reception to Grade 12 benefit from the IB curriculum. CDNIS is one of only five through-train IB World Schools in Hong Kong and 250 worldwide. Complementing the IB curriculum, our Upper School curriculum conforms to the requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Education as CDNIS graduates receive both the IB Diploma (IB DP) and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
