Yokohama International School

Yokohama International School (YIS) is non-sectarian and accepts children of all nationalities. The school promotes in its curriculum an understanding and respect among students of the differences between cultures and a sensitivity towards those who are less privileged.

Established in 1924 by the expatriate business community, Yokohama International School is an independent co-educational day school which caters for students from nursery age to grade 12. The school prides itself as being a pioneer in the field of international education for at its inception it was one of the first schools world-wide to use the term ‘international’. Teachers are drawn from different parts of the world, highly qualified for their experience, subject area, teaching methods and enthusiasm for children.

The academic programme in the elementary school follows the Primary Years Programme of the IBO which is enquiry-based and can be adapted to meet individual needs. Throughout the elementary school materials from the US, the UK and Australia are used and there is an emphasis on writing and reading skills which are integrated into the various subject areas. The high school curriculum is a college preparatory course. Within this framework students take the IGCSE (University of Cambridge Board) examinations at the end of Grade 10. In the final two years of high school students prepare for the International Baccalaureate examinations with the option of earning either IB Certificates or the IB Diploma. Assistance is also provided for students who wish to prepare for the Advanced Placement examinations. All external examination costs for IGCSE, SAT 1 and 2, IB and AP are borne by the school. YIS graduates are regularly accepted by the most prestigious universities in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.

Extra curricular activities are available throughout the year. A week of field studies takes students from grades 7-12 to various parts of Japan.

Yokohama International School is situated next to a park in the historic residential area of Yokohama known as ‘The Bluff’. It overlooks the harbour and Tokyo Bay. The school has recently completed a major new building and refurbishment programme. Besides regular classrooms, the school has well equipped science and computer labs, art and music studios, a centralized library/media centre, a gymnasium, a cafeteria and an auditorium. The facilities of Yokohama Country and Athletic Club are used for field sports.

Admission to Yokohama International School is dependent upon satisfactory academic and medical reports. The school year starts in late August and ends in mid-June.