Nguyen Thi Long, residing in Dinh Cong ward (formerly Hoang Mai district), was "happy all morning" upon hearing on the morning of 10/3 that Hanoi plans to abolish 10th grade enrollment zoning. This change allows students to submit three applications to any public school, regardless of their household registration or place of residence.

For many years, Hanoi divided its 30 districts into 12 enrollment zones. Students faced restrictions when submitting their choices: if they selected one school, they could apply to any institution; however, if they chose two or three schools, the initial choices had to be within their residential zone. Additionally, the cut-off scores for the second and third choices had to be one and two points higher than the first choice, respectively.

This year, Long "aimed for" Kim Lien High School for her daughter, also considering Le Quy Don and Quang Trung high schools. Under the old regulations, she would not have been able to select two of these three schools simultaneously, as all three are located in Dong Da district, part of zone 3, while her home is in zone 4. With the new change, her daughter can apply to all three schools.

"This is my family's wish", she stated. "My child has the opportunity to test into and study at a school that matches her ability and preference."

On various forums, many parents enthusiastically discussed the proposed change, deeming the city's plan "wise and reasonable." Hoang Chi Sy, principal of Luu Hoang High School, and Le Trung Tin, principal of Thang Long High School, also recognized that this move offers many advantages for students, aligning with the policy of "non-administrative boundary" enrollment.

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

Despite this, some parents worry that the 10th grade "race" will become more intense, as all schools will recruit "city-wide"—without distinguishing household registration or place of residence.

Huong wants her son to apply to Cau Giay High School, which is close to their home. For the past three years, the school's cut-off score has consistently been around 8 points per subject, aligning with her son's academic ability.

With the change, she worries that mid-tier schools like Cau Giay will see a surge in applicants, thereby increasing the competition ratio and cut-off scores.

"My child might not be able to study at a school near home", Huong observed.

After her initial excitement, Long also understood the risks she might face. Her daughter would not only compete primarily with students from the former zone 3 (including Cau Giay, Dong Da, and Thanh Xuan districts) but with applicants from across the entire city. Kim Lien High School's competition ratio last year was 1/2,15, placing it among the top schools, and this figure could now increase significantly.

"Before the joy wears off, the worry sets in", she said.

Parents' worries are valid, according to the principal of an inner-city high school. He noted that when children's academic abilities are not in the excellent category, many families aim for a school near home with cut-off scores typically ranging from 6,5 to 7,5 points per subject.

"Now that zoning is abolished, an increase in competition and a reduction in our children's opportunities are possible", the principal stated.

However, educators advise parents to view the situation positively, as the benefits of this policy outweigh its drawbacks. Hoang Chi Sy believes this change will encourage schools to improve educational quality and enhance their competitiveness, because "good schools are what students will choose", also serving as motivation for students to strive harder.

Nguyen Thi Van Hong, principal of Chuong Duong Secondary School, advised parents to remain calm, as the 10th grade exam is still about 3-4 months away, providing ample time for students to improve their academic performance.

Before submitting their choices, Van advised parents to consider their child's academic ability based on in-class tests, previous years' cut-off scores, the distance from home to school, and the subject combinations that the high school can provide.

Families can also consider one or two private high schools as a backup in case their child does not pass or secure a spot in their preferred public school.

Currently, Hanoi has approximately 120 public high schools, over 100 private schools, along with several other types: autonomous public schools, co-managed public schools, vocational education centers, continuing education centers, and international schools.

The city's 10th grade entrance exam is considered the most stressful nationwide, as it typically attracts over 100,000 candidates each year. Approximately 64% pass into public schools, though in some years, this figure has been as low as 55%.

Thanh Hang

*Parents' names have been changed.