This paper examines China’s point-based school admission system (PES) as a governance tool managing migrant children’s access to urban public education. Rooted in the hukou system, PES allocates school seats based on quantifiable indicators such as housing, insurance, and parental background. Although intended to enhance fairness and efficiency, the system has reinforced educational inequality. Privileged migrant families can meet scoring thresholds, while lower-income groups are excluded by rigid criteria and commodified items like paid certificates. The inclusion of extracurricular achievements also adds academic pressure. Drawing on policy reviews and case studies from cities like Beijing, Dongguan, and Shenzhen, this study argues that PES reflects broader urban development priorities while exacerbating social divisions. It concludes that PES, though innovative in form, poses critical challenges for equitable urban integration.