Hanoi is set to abolish its long-standing system of 10th-grade public high school admission zones, allowing students to apply to any three public high schools across the city. This significant change, announced by the Hanoi People's Committee on 10/3 as part of its anticipated enrollment plan, removes previous restrictions based on household registration and geographic areas.

The new policy aims to implement administrative boundary-free admissions, thereby increasing opportunities for students and fostering educational equality and fairness. Under the proposed system, students residing anywhere in Hanoi can apply for up to three preferences without geographical constraints.

For many years, Hanoi's 30 former districts were divided into 12 distinct 10th-grade admission zones. The previous regulations permitted students to list a maximum of three preferences, but with significant limitations: if choosing two or three schools, the initial preferences had to be within their residential zone. Additionally, the cut-off scores for the second and third preferences were required to be at least one and two points higher, respectively, than the first preference.

The impending change has sparked anxiety among parents, particularly following the nationwide abolition of district-level administrative divisions, leaving them uncertain about the new regulations just three to four months before the exam. Nguyen Tung Lam, founder of Dinh Tien Hoang High School, supports the move, arguing that the city should not restrict students' choices, as this is their fundamental right. He advises students and families to consider a child's academic ability and the distance from home to school when making their selections.

Students taking the 10th-grade exam in Hanoi in 2025. *Photo: Tung Dinh*

Hanoi's 10th-grade entrance exam is renowned as the most competitive nationwide. Each year, over 100,000 candidates vie for spots in public high schools. The city currently has about 120 public high schools, alongside more than 100 private schools and various other educational institutions, including autonomous public schools, co-managed public schools, vocational and continuing education centers, and international schools. Public school admission rates hover around 64%, having dropped as low as 55% in some years.

Thanh Hang