2025-02-21 28Hse Editor
To create an environment that fosters the growth of the next generation, parents often prioritise School Nets when purchasing or renting a home. It is not uncommon to hear about parents relocating to their preferred School Net, to increase the chances of their child being assigned to a school of choice. However, navigating School Net boundaries can be tricky and requires careful consideration to avoid potential pitfalls.
A recent case highlighted the issue when a woman, who identified herself as a new immigrant from mainland China, claimed that she had been misled by a real estate agent. She intended to buy a residence within the prestigious School Net of Kowloon City but was convinced by the agent to purchase a top-floor featured unit in Seaside Sonata for HK$16.5 million instead, claiming it was part of "the best school net in the Kowloon district." This led to her purchasing a property within the Sham Shui Po Net instead, shattering her dream of enrolling her child in a prestigious school.
Seaside Sonata, situated at 201-218 Hai Tan Street in Sham Shui Po, falls within Primary One Admission (POA) School Net 40, and its secondary School Net is part of the Sham Shui Po district. In response to the incident, the estate agent claimed that they had clearly stated Seaside Sonata was located in Cheung Sha Wan and that there was no evidence to support any false representation or misleading information regarding the property's location and school net during the sales process. The Estate Agents Authority is currently following up on the incident.
Although the School Net did not meet the parent's initial expectations, School Net 40 does include several prestigious schools. According to the ranking of primary schools across Hong Kong, four schools within this net are among the top 100, including Laichikok Catholic Primary School, C.C.C. Heep Woh Primary School (Cheung Sha Wan), S.K.H. St. Clement's Primary School, and S.K.H. Kei Fook Primary School.
The example provided illustrates how school net boundaries can cause confusion, especially when they differ within the same district. In urban areas, school nets are often adjacent to one another, sometimes with just a street separating them. Therefore, when choosing a property based on school nets, parents must be vigilant to ensure that the property does not lie on the border between two nets.
Under the current mechanism for allocating Primary One school places, students are assigned schools based on the principle of proximity to the address declared, allowing most Primary One students to attend schools near their homes, thereby reducing the hassle of commuting. Consequently, parents consider relocating to their preferred school net to increase the chances of their child being assigned to their desired primary school.
Hong Kong is divided into 36 school nets, with School Nets 11, 12, 34, and 41 being particularly popular among parents, known as the “four major School Nets.” The southern boundary of School Net 41 meets the northern edge of School Net 34, with Boundary Street acting as the dividing line, which has been a source of confusion for many.
Both School Nets 41 and 34 are within the Kowloon district. However, it is worth noting that School Net 41, due to its smaller population and thus less competition, has a higher success rate of students being allocated to their top three school preferences compared to the School Net 34. Parents may consider purchasing or renting a property within School Net 41 for this reason.
That said, it's important to be aware of the pitfalls in the “four major School Nets,” as the boundaries of School Nets can easily be mistaken. Take School Net 41 as an example; according to the School Net distribution in Hong Kong, only residences north of Boundary Street fall within School Net 41. South of Boundary Street is School Net 34, while properties to the west are included in the Sham Shui Po net.
One of the most confusing cases is that of La Salle Residence in Kowloon Tong. The project, located on 6 La Salle Rd, might initially be associated with La Salle Primary School. However, it actually falls within School Net 34, not 41, and therefore does not qualify for La Salle Primary School. This highlights the importance of being cautious with properties that lie on net boundaries.
A mere street can make a significant difference. To avoid confusion regarding School Nets, parents can consult the Education Bureau's list of Primary One School Nets to understand the scope of each Net and the schools included within them, thus avoiding any potential mix-ups.
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