The Fuzhou Municipal Education Bureau has released the enrollment plan for sports and arts specialty students and programs in regular high schools (including comprehensive high school programs) for the year 2026. The plan specifies that recruitment for these specialized students and classes is primarily targeted at local students. For students in Fuzhou's urban areas, "local" refers to the six districts: Gulou, Taijiang, Cangshan, Jin'an, Mawei, and Changle. For students from the six counties or county-level cities, it refers to Fuqing, Minhou (including the High-tech Zone), Lianjiang, Minqing, Luoyuan, and Yongtai. However, specific programs such as the women's football program at the Second Affiliated Middle School of Fuzhou Education College, the women's football program at Fuzhou No. 3 High School Binhai Campus, the men's football program at Fuzhou No. 8 High School, the men's football program at Fuzhou Foreign Language School, and the women's basketball program at Fuzhou No. 2 High School will enroll students from the entire city.
Regarding the application process, candidates must choose their schools and specialties based on the overall 2026 enrollment plan and the specific recruitment schemes of individual schools. Each candidate can apply to a maximum of two schools, with no more than one being a public regular high school, and up to two being comprehensive high school programs or private high schools. Candidates from the six counties or county-level cities are permitted one additional application to a school that recruits citywide. Applicants are limited to one specialty per school.
Basic eligibility criteria are divided by category. For sports, applicants must be National Level 2 Athletes, or have been a top-six finisher in individual or team events (as a core team member) in competitions at the county level or above organized by government or educational authorities during junior high school, or have placed in the top six in provincial youth championships. For arts (excluding fine arts), applicants must have won at least a third prize in individual or group events in art competitions at the county level or above, participated in art performances organized by county-level or higher education departments (with verification), or won first prize in school-level art competitions or participated in major school art exhibitions (with school verification). Eligibility for recitation categories also recognizes achievements in language competitions organized by the aforementioned authorities. For fine arts, applicants must demonstrate basic skills and submit an independently completed sketch. All awards or performances must align with the intended specialty. The "junior high school period" is defined as August 31, 2023, to August 31, 2026. While the municipal bureau sets the baseline criteria, individual schools may impose higher standards.
The application procedure involves two main steps. First, candidates must submit their application forms and required supporting documents to their chosen schools by May 13. Schools will compile lists of eligible candidates and upload the reviewed rosters to the Fuzhou High School Entrance System by May 15, using the specified template, and also submit scanned reports on applicant numbers and art test requirements. Second, schools will conduct on-site eligibility reviews at application centers, verifying candidate information and intended specialties, advising on important considerations, and informing candidates of the review outcome immediately. Candidates who make errors can correct their applications within the deadline, with reminders about the early admission batch for citywide schools. Approved candidates can collect their admission tickets from their applied schools by May 19.
Testing will be organized with timing and locations determined as follows: tests for municipal public high schools will be centrally scheduled by the Education Bureau, tentatively set for May 23-24, while other schools will arrange their own tests, with details published in their respective recruitment plans.
The admission process requires all applicants to participate in both the specialty tests administered by their chosen schools and the 2026 Fuzhou High School Entrance Examination. Applicants for sports and arts specialty classes will be considered in the early admission batch, which offers two tiered choices with unique codes for these programs. Applicants for sports and arts specialty students will be processed in the first regular batch, sharing the same code as general admissions and requiring placement as the first choice (1A) to be valid.
For public schools (including comprehensive programs), the admission methods vary. Fine arts specialty classes will first conduct qualification tests, selecting a shortlist double the enrollment quota (with each subject score no lower than 60), then admit based on entrance exam scores above the minimum control line, subject to standard subject grade requirements. For sports and arts (excluding fine arts) specialties and classes, dual cut-off scores for both the entrance exam and specialty test will be set above the minimum control line. Eligible candidates will be ranked by specialty test scores within their project, with ties broken by entrance exam scores, and must meet standard subject requirements. These cut-off scores must be specified in school plans beforehand.
Private school specialty classes will hold a single qualification test before the entrance exam, with no retests allowed. A shortlist triple the enrollment quota will be determined (with scores at or above 60, and each fine arts subject at or above 60) and submitted to the management system. Admission will then be based on entrance exam scores above the minimum line, with no subject grade requirements. Test results from public schools can only be used for private school admissions in the same project during the supplementary placement round.
A special talent category exists for exceptional candidates. Sports special talents must meet one of three criteria: top-three finishes in provincial or higher government or education department competitions, top-three in provincial youth championships, or holding a Level 1 Athlete certificate. Arts (excluding fine arts) special talents must have won first prize in provincial or higher education department competitions. Recitation talents require top provincial awards in specific national events. Fine arts special talents need first prize in provincial or higher art competitions. Applicants must also rank in the top three in the school's specialty test. The "junior high school period" definition applies.
Special talent status requires application by the candidate and guardian to the school, followed by review and submission to the relevant education authority for approval. Final lists must be submitted to the Municipal Education Bureau by June 25 for review, publicity, and confirmation.
In terms of admission, special talents are first considered under the standard specialty admissions process. If not admitted there, they can utilize the special talent policy, which allows admission with an entrance exam score as low as 70% of the minimum control line, with no subject grade requirements, provided the school and project match the talent recognition.
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