Admissions Guidelines

Please find below our Open House dates for the next academic year:

  • October 8th
  • October 31st
  • November 23rd
  • November 29th (For Middle School prospective families only)
  • February 22nd
We are now accepting applications for the Academic Year 2013-2014, please contact our Admissions office

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA
Download Admissions Guidelines PDF 2012-2013Download Admissions Guidelines PDF 2013-2014
TIS accepts students into a grade in accordance with their age.

The birthday cut-off date at TIS is September 30th.

In certain instances, enrollment may be granted outside this age requirement depending on the applicant’s past school experience and actual developmental and academic levels.
In the Admissions process, the following criteria are carefully considered:
  • space availability
  • English language ability
  • balance of languages, genders and academic strengths in a class
  • physical and social maturity, especially for younger children
  • suitability of the School’s educational program for the prospective student
  • previous schooling records and reports and whether the child is within our range of academic requirements.
Our Pre-K classes have a maximum of 12 students. Children must be able to interact positively with both children and adults, have an appropriate degree of self-control and listening skills, and be fully toilet-trained prior to entry. Kindergarten classes have a maximum of 18 students.From Grade 1 to Grade 8 we have a maximum of 20 students, with a maximum of five children who share a common language other than English.

In each primary school class language support is available to a maximum of three students with no or limited English ability.
In middle school some language support may be available for students with limited English on a case-by-case basis.
Students who have a strong grasp of the host country language (Japanese) are required to speak, understand, read and write English at their grade level at the time of application.
At least one parent is required to be able to communicate fluently in English without the help of a translator.
Pre-K students have priority to enter the Kindergarten classes. However, they are not guaranteed enrollment and will be screened informally like all other applicants.
Siblings of currently enrolled students have priority over other applicants when all other entrance criteria are met.

Tokyo International School does not have the facilities or personnel required to serve the educational needs of students who have significant physical or emotional challenges, or learning difficulties that may hinder their success in the classroom.

SCHOOL INFORMATION TOURS

Open House sessions are held each year. The schedule is available on our website and at the Admissions Office. Individual school information tours can also be arranged by appointment (phone, fax, e-mail) before or after an application is received.

Application Timeline

Applications for admission will be accepted within one year prior to the date of entry.

Internationally transferring students may be admitted any time throughout the year, based on availability.  Students transferring within Tokyo may be accepted up to the first day of the third school term.

Throughout the year: Applications and enrollments for the current school year

From the first day of the new school year: Accepting applications for the following school year

By End-November: Submit complete applications in view of Kindergarten group screening in Mid-January

By End-November: Submit complete applications in view of Pre-K group screening in February

Mid-January: Kindergarten group screening

Beg-February: Pre-K group informal screening

From January onwards: Individual interviews for all grades, based on expected availability in August  

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1.The following documents are required for the application to be processed.

For Pre-K and Kindergarten

  • On-line application
  • School reports for the past two years if available, or our Pre-school Assessment form filled out by the classroom teacher if no report is available.Confidential Letters of Reference may be requested as deemed necessary.
  • A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate, or appropriate pages from the passport
  • For group screening applicants two passport size photographs. If applying at any other time, please provide one.
  • One recent family photograph

For Grades 1-8 applicants outside Tokyo

  • On-line application
  • All records or school reports for the two previous school years (reports issued in another language than English must be translated)
  • Two Confidential Letters of Reference from teachers who know the student well (only one letter is required in the case of a transfer from a Pre-school)
  • Any psycho-educational evaluation if applicable
  • A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate, or appropriate pages from the passport
  • A passport size photograph of the applicant and one recent family photograph

For Grades 1 to 8 transfers within Tokyo

  • On-line application or hard copy of the Application Form
  • Full official report cards from the previous school
  • Two Confidential Letters of Reference from teachers who know the student well (only one letter is required in the case of a transfer from a Pre-school)
  • A copy of the applicant’s birth certificate, or appropriate pages from the passport.
  • A passport size photograph of the applicant and one recent family photograph.

Forms of Pre-school Assessment and Confidential Letter of Reference are available upon request at the Admissions Office.

2. In addition we do require an interview in English with one/both parents as well as a screening test for the child. The screening test will only be organized when the application is complete and space is confirmed available in the appropriate grade.

If a child applying from overseas cannot be screened at TIS, a distance screening package will be sent for him/her to complete under the supervision of his/her current teacher. Once completed, the screening package should bear the school’s official stamp and be countersigned by the Head of School.

For Kindergarten and Pre-K, group screenings are organized each year in January and February in preparation for the following school year. Candidates applying after the group screenings will be interviewed individually if space remains available.

ENROLLMENT

Confirmation of student enrollment at TIS will be made after:

  • The application folder has been completed.
  • An opening is available in the appropriate grade.
  • The screening test has been performed.
  • It has been determined that the child fits within the school’s entrance criteria

For students admitted ahead of time, acceptance will be confirmed upon receipt of the Billing Information and Tuition Agreement forms as well as payment of the non-refundable registration fee.

For students who wish to start school immediately, attendance will be possible two days after the Billing Information and Tuition Agreement forms have been filled out and returned to the Admissions Office.

When no space is available in the requested grade, complete applications can be kept in the waiting pool for up to two years.  School reports need to be updated regularly for the application to remain active.  After two years, new applications need to be submitted.

Incomplete applications will not be kept further than the desired entry date.

 
Admissions Contact

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