Ho Chi Minh City is expected to allocate 71,000 slots for public grade 10 enrollment in the 2025 academic year, equivalent to about 80% of the 88,772 students currently completing grade 9.

According to the Department of Education and Training, standard public high schools are projected to admit 67,835 students. Specialized high schools will offer 2,210 slots for gifted classes, and another 735 places are reserved for integrated programs.

Enrollment quotas will be adjusted by geographic area to ease pressure in densely populated districts. For areas with consistently high admission demand such as District 12, Tan Binh, and Hoc Mon District, the proportion of public high school slots will be increased accordingly to ensure sufficient placements.

In contrast, areas that have reached enrollment stability - such as Binh Chanh and Can Gio Districts - will receive quotas based on each school’s proposal, taking into account facilities and teaching staff.

Rural and suburban districts undergoing new rural development programs, where schools are required to meet national standards and class sizes are strictly capped, will have their admission quotas adjusted accordingly.

Four schools to discontinue specialized program admissions

This year, Ho Chi Minh City will discontinue grade 10 specialized admissions at four public high schools: Mac Dinh Chi, Gia Dinh, Nguyen Thuong Hien, and Nguyen Huu Huan. Instead, quotas for the two specialized high schools - Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted and Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted - will be increased to accommodate students with outstanding academic abilities, ensuring they have access to the right environment to develop their talents. These two schools recruit from across the country.

The two specialized schools will offer a total of 2,210 spots. Of these, Le Hong Phong High School will enroll 805 students across 23 specialized classes (35 students per class), and Tran Dai Nghia High School will offer 525 spots. Additionally, the High School for the Gifted under Vietnam National University – HCMC will enroll 595 students in its specialized grade 10 intake.

The 2025 grade 10 entrance exam in Ho Chi Minh City is scheduled for June 6–7. Students will take three exams: Mathematics and Literature (120 minutes each) and a Foreign Language (90 minutes).

Each student may register three preferences, ranked in order of priority (first, second, and third choice). Students must attend the school to which they are admitted and are not allowed to change their placement once results are announced. Those applying to specialized schools must take an additional 150-minute subject-specific exam, which is weighted double in the scoring.

Applicants to specialized schools may register two subject-specific preferences. If they are not accepted into a specialized program or do not submit their documents, students who complete lower secondary education in Ho Chi Minh City during the 2024–2025 academic year may still apply for public high schools through the standard three-choice system.

The admission process will follow two phases. In phase one, students register three preferences to participate in the public high school entrance exam. Based on actual application numbers, phase two may involve additional admissions rounds at certain schools.

The Department of Education and Training will issue further guidance to ensure student rights are protected and schools meet their enrollment quotas.

Le Huyen