80% of pupils get Hong Kong schools in their top 3 picks via allocation system

About 80 per cent of children set to enter Hong Kong’s public primary schools in September have been assigned one of their top three choices under the city’s central allocation system, down from around 84 per cent last year.

The figure from the Education Bureau on Friday was the third highest over the past 17 years. This year also saw the second lowest number of pupils since 1997 join the central allocation system.

In Hong Kong, Primary One places at public schools are allocated using a two-stage process.

The results of the first stage, known as the discretionary admission phase, for the 2025-26 academic year were announced in November, while those for the second part, the central allocation system, will be shared with parents on Wednesday of next week.

The bureau announced on Friday that 15,538 out of 19,489 children, or 79.7 per cent, were allocated a spot at one of their top three choices under the second stage. Pupils submitted their preferences in January.

The latest allocation rate marked a drop from last year’s 83.7 per cent.