New International School of Japan

The New International School of Japan is located at 3-18-32 Minami-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 171-0022, Japan. It sits in the Minami-Ikebukuro district, within easy reach of Ikebukuro Station and Zoshigaya Station, with access to multiple transit lines. The campus comprises two main buildings and additional facilities nearby in Ikebukuro. The school is about a 9–10 minute walk from Ikebukuro Station and about a 3 minute walk from Zoshigaya Station on the Toden line.

The New International School of Japan serves Pre-K (age three) through Grade 12. Classes are organized in a dual-language, multi-age model, with mixed-age groupings rather than strict single-age cohorts.

The school is a private international school. It operates as a private, non-governmental institution offering education from early years through high school level.

As of the 2024–25 school year the student body is about 275 students and represents many nationalities. The most common nationality is described as dual nationals of Japanese and another nationality, reflecting a diverse bilingual community; the school does not publish a fixed local-to-international ratio.

Public information does not list a dedicated SEN program or established SEN facilities. Parents considering additional learning needs should contact admissions for specific provisions.

There is no formal country affiliation published for the school.

There is no religious affiliation noted for the school.

Public pages do not publish exact start/end times for the regular school day. The school does run a Saturday program from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and a Summer Program from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The school runs a bus service with two 28-seat buses and four smaller buses. Bus routes are managed by the school office, and families can apply via OpenApply; inquiries should be directed to the bus coordinator at busservice@newis.ed.jp.

New International School of Japan provides a bilingual, multiage education for children aged 3 through Grade 12. The curriculum is delivered in English and Japanese, reflecting a dual-language, student-centered approach and organized around a three-year thematic cycle. The program draws on the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence and is informed by the Compass and Putney Schools for secondary study. Mandarin Chinese is offered as an elective from about age six, and violin instruction begins by ear from that age. As of the 2024-25 school year, about 275 students are enrolled across the 3–12/Grade 12 range, graduates attend universities in Japan or abroad, and there are Saturday and Summer programs available.

The New International School of Japan supports social and emotional learning through a developmentally-based, multiage, dual-language environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion, fosters self-motivation and a healthy self-image, and develops academic and social skills in English and Japanese.

The publicly available materials do not specify a dedicated SEN program or list the kinds of Special Educational Needs the school can support, nor is NewIS described as a specialist SEN institution.

EAL support is embedded in the dual-language framework: instruction occurs in English and Japanese; home languages are celebrated and supported; students become bilingual or multilingual, with Chinese offered as an additional language.

Mental wellbeing is supported as part of the SEL approach, with emphasis on self-motivation, a healthy self-image, and respect for others within an inclusive, diverse learning community.

Safeguarding and child protection are prioritized; NewIS is committed to child protection and safeguarding in all practices.

1. Orientation attendance: Attendance by one or both parents at an online or onsite orientation is required. The school offers online or in-person orientations, run in English and in Japanese, and registration is done via the orientations page. These sessions explain the program, admissions steps, and how to begin the application. Plan to attend before submitting any application materials.

2. Open Apply online application: Complete the OPEN APPLY online application form. There is no application fee, and after submitting you should verify and open the parent account as directed. This form initiates the formal admission process and collects initial information about the child and family.

3. Health history form: Complete an online Health History Form for each child. These forms are available from the Open Apply parent account once it is opened.

4. Transcripts and supporting documents: Provide transcripts or copies of reports for the most recent two years for each child. For applicants to grades 10–12, transcripts from Grade 8 onward are required. Transcripts may be uploaded in OPEN APPLY, emailed, or mailed to the school; for Early Learning Center or Grade One applicants, a transcript may not be required if the prior school does not issue one.

5. Interview: An interview with parent(s) and child(ren) is conducted online or onsite. If neither parent speaks English or Japanese, an interpreter should be provided by the family. This interview assesses fit with the school's program and mission.

6. Language proficiency (grades 9–12): Applicants to Grades 9–12 must have sufficient proficiency in English and/or Japanese to follow the curriculum. The school reviews language readiness as part of the admission decision.

7. Admission decision: After the interview and review of all materials, admission is granted subject to available space and completeness of records, and when the school is confident the child will benefit from the program and the family will support school policies. Decisions are made on a rolling basis, so early application is advised to avoid a waiting list.

8. Enrollment and fees: If admitted, the Entrance Fee must be paid within ten days to hold the space. The remainder of the fees is paid according to the schedule and payment options provided by the school. A bus application form is also available in the Open Apply dashboard for families who want transportation.

9. Transportation (optional): If you plan to use the school bus, submit the bus application form via the Open Apply dashboard or contact the school bus coordinator. The school operates several bus routes; the bus service is coordinated through the bus coordinator, with contact available in the School Bus Service page.

Corporate Contribution and Scholarship Program: New International School is a non-profit (Gakko Hojin) institution that participates in a Corporate Contribution and Scholarship Program established in 1978 under an agreement with Japan's National Tax Administration Agency. Corporations or organizations can donate directly to the school instead of providing taxable educational benefits to expatriate employees' families; donations fund corporate scholarships for employees' children and support facility and resource development. If a decision to participate is made after enrollment, prepaid fees (including the entrance fee) may be refunded. For more details, contact the school.

Waitlist/pool status: Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis, and early application is advised to avoid a waiting list. In addition, Expanded Facilities from the 2025-26 school year include a new building that eliminates waiting lists from the Fall Term 2025, signaling a shift toward in-area availability for new students. This suggests that waitlist pressures were reduced starting in Fall 2025 due to expanded capacity.