Axis International School vs United School of Tokyo

	A Axis International School Tokyo, Japan	U United School of Tokyo Tokyo, Japan
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year ¥1,947,330 - 3,001,350	Fees / year ¥1,700,000 - 2,000,000
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 14 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), American Curriculum, Christian Curriculum	Curriculum American Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 30	Pupils 230
Typical class size	Typical class size 8	Typical class size 14
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2003	Opened 2014
Bus service	Bus service Yes	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location Axis International School is located in Kichijoji Hon-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo, Japan. The main campus address is Kichijoji Nanai Building, 1-35-14 Kichijoji Hon-cho, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-0004. The preschool operates in Mitaka, with directions available from Mitaka Station; the main campus is reachable from Kichijoji Station, with walking directions provided for visitors.	Location United School of Tokyo is located in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, in the Tomigaya district. The campus address is 151-0063 Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Tomigaya 2-21-10, Central Tomigaya Building. It has convenient access to several stations: Komaba-Todaimae on the Inokashira Line is a 5-minute walk away; Shibuya Station is a 15-minute walk or a 7-minute bus ride (bus stops include Tokyu Bus 55 and Keio Bus 61, alighting at Todai Ura); Yoyogi-Hachiman on the Odakyu Line is about a 12-minute walk; and Yoyogi-Koen on the Chiyoda Line is about a 13-minute walk.
Stages	Stages Axis International School provides elementary, junior high, and high school. A separate Axis Preschool serves younger children, establishing an age range from preschool through high school.	Stages UST serves children aged 3 to 14 across three divisions: Kindergarten (K1–K3), Elementary (G1–G5), and Middle School (G6–G8).
School type	School type Axis International School is a private international program delivering a complete American-style curriculum in English through Griggs International Academy; a preschool program is offered as well. The school emphasizes a full academic pathway from elementary to high school, with a dedicated ESL option for language support.	School type Private, international, co-educational school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix Foreign-national students represent about 52% of the student body. Nationalities include 48% Japanese, 10% American, 12% Chinese, 4% Ghana, 2% German, 4% Indian, 12% Korean, 2% Lithuanian, 2% Malaysian, 2% Filipino, 2% Singaporean, 2% British, and 2% Ukrainian.	Pupil nationality mix The student body represents 40+ nationalities, reflecting a genuinely international community; no official public ratio of local versus international students is published.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Language support is provided through an English as a Second Language (ESL) program. ESL is designed for non-native English speakers and is limited to about 10% of the student body; applicants are assessed to determine English readiness before placement.	Additional learning support Learning support and ESL services are available. ESL and learning support fees include a pull-out service (3,850 yen per session) and in-class support (2,750 yen per session) per week.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation The curriculum is based on the Griggs International Academy program and aligned with U.S. standards (Maryland State Education Department) through Griggs; official grades come from Griggs, USA. This establishes a U.S.-aligned framework for Axis's diplomas and coursework.	Country affiliation The school follows an American curriculum based on the American Common Core standards (American Curriculum).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Axis has no formal religious affiliation; Bible study is included as part of the program, with younger students covering Bible stories and older students engaging in Bible-related discussions.	Religious affiliation No religious affiliation is indicated in the official materials.
School day structure	School day structure The school day begins at 9:00 AM, with 9:30 AM as the main instructional start. There is a short break around 10:50–11:00 AM, lunch from 12:00–1:00 PM, and dismissal at 2:50 PM. Preschool daily routines start earlier (opening at 8:30 AM, with a typical end-of-day around 6:00 PM for those on the bus).	School day structure Regular school day start times are not published; extended care is available from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The school provides an organic lunch service during the day.
Bus service details	Bus service details Axis offers a school bus service with a monthly fee for morning and afternoon transportation (JPY 32,400). The preschool program notes that some students are picked up by the bus, with a final pick-up around 5:30 PM.	Bus service details UST operates four bus routes serving central Tokyo. Annual round-trip bus fees are 300,000 yen and annual one-way bus fees are 200,000 yen; payments can be made annually or by term. For specifics on stops and schedules, contact the school.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application / Entrance Fees - Preschool entrance fee: JPY 330,000. - Grade 1–12 entrance fee: JPY 550,000. Annual tuition (with per-semester and per-month breakdowns) - Preschool annual tuition: JPY 1,956,000 (12‑month year). - Per semester (two semesters per academic year): JPY 978,000. - Per month: JPY 163,000. - Grade 1–12 annual tuition: JPY 2,102,100 (10‑month academic year). - Per semester (two semesters per academic year): JPY 1,051,050. - Per month (10‑month academic year basis): JPY 210,210. Other compulsory fees and academic materials - Annual building fee: JPY 200,000 (Preschool and Grade 1–12). - Textbook / material fees: - Preschool: JPY 61,080. - Grade 1–5: JPY 196,350. - Grade 6–8: JPY 244,650. - Grade 9–12: JPY 501,417. Bus service, holiday school and optional fees - Bus service (monthly rates): - Morning only: JPY 21,400. - Afternoon only: JPY 21,400. - Morning and afternoon: JPY 42,800. - Spring / Summer school (per day): - Axis students: JPY 10,815 per day. - Non-Axis students: JPY 12,600 per day. Billing schedule and payment terms - The school operates two semesters per academic year: 1st Semester 01 Sept – 19 Dec and 2nd Semester 05 Jan – 30 Jun. All fees must be paid, or a payment plan put in place, 30 days before each semester begins. Fees are therefore billed on a per‑semester basis unless an approved payment plan is agreed. Family and other discounts - Family tuition discount: 10% discount for the second enrolled child. - Third child discount: 50% tuition discount for a third enrolled child where there is no company assistance and all other fees JPY 0 (conditions apply). - Diplomat discount: consumption tax is waived for eligible diplomats. Boarding - Boarding is not listed; no boarding fees are published for Axis International School. Uniform and other incidental costs - A specific uniform fee is not published on the school's fee schedule. Textbook/material fees (listed above) are published; other incidental costs such as uniforms, extracurricular clubs, overseas trip participation or special activity charges are not detailed in the published fee table. These items should be treated as potentially additional costs. Refunds - A refund policy is not published in the school's fee schedule. No specific refund terms or procedures are listed with the fee information. Fee payment options - The published fee information does not specify accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, etc.). For payment method details and to arrange payment plans, contact the school directly by phone or email.	Fee details One-time joining fees (new students) - Application Fee: JPY 25,000. - Registration Fee: JPY 400,000. - Development Fee: JPY 400,000. - Total one-time joining fees (new student): JPY 825,000. Annual fees & tuition (2025–2026) — by division (amounts shown per term where applicable and annual total) - Kindergarten (K1–K3): - Maintenance Fee (annual): JPY 300,000. - Fall Tuition: JPY 560,000. - Winter Tuition: JPY 455,000. - Spring Tuition: JPY 385,000. - Annual total: JPY 1,700,000. - Elementary School (Grades 1–5): - Maintenance Fee (annual): JPY 300,000. - Fall Tuition: JPY 645,000. - Winter Tuition: JPY 520,000. - Spring Tuition: JPY 445,000. - Annual total: JPY 1,910,000. - Middle School (Grades 6–8): - Maintenance Fee (annual): JPY 300,000. - Fall Tuition: JPY 690,000. - Winter Tuition: JPY 540,000. - Spring Tuition: JPY 470,000. - Annual total: JPY 2,000,000. Tuition discounts - Second sibling discount: 5% (applies to tuition only, self-paying families). - Third sibling discount: 10% (applies to tuition only, self-paying families). Other fees and typical additional costs - ESL and learning support (per 45-minute session): - Pull-out service (1 session/week): JPY 3,850 per session. - In-class (push-in) support (1 session/week): JPY 2,750 per session. - Technology requirements and likely costs: - Grades 3–5: students are required to have an iPad (specification detail available from school office). - Grades 6–8: students are required to have a MacBook. - Bus service (annual): - Annual round-trip bus fee: JPY 300,000. - Annual one-way bus fee: JPY 200,000. - Bus fees may be paid annually or by term. - School trips and activity costs (examples and ranges — family responsibility): - K1–G8 day field trips: ~JPY 500 per trip on average (varies by destination). - G3–G8 ski trip: JPY 50,000–70,000 (package-dependent). - G6–G8 residential trip: JPY 60,000–80,000 (destination-dependent). - PTA fee: JPY 25,000 (annual). - Extra-curricular activity fees: vary by activity; fees are charged separately. Boarding fees - No boarding fees are listed; the school operates as a day school with no separate boarding provision indicated. Billing schedule and payment terms - Term billing/payment deadlines (standard schedule): - Fall tuition due: April 25. - Winter tuition due: October 25. - Spring tuition due: January 25. - Invoices are issued 7–8 weeks before the end of the previous term. Parents remain responsible for timely payment even when a third party (e.g., employer) is paying. Students with unpaid tuition at the start of a term will not be permitted to attend and the school may reallocate the place. - Fees for the new academic year must be paid by April 28; failure to pay by that date may result in reallocation of the student's place. Joining fees for new students must be paid within one week of receiving the joining-fee invoice to secure the place. - Late enrollment: tuition and bus fees for students enrolling after the school year has started are calculated by the school's three academic terms; fees for partially attended terms are not prorated and must be paid in full before the student's start date. Re-enrolling students who previously left are required to pay the Registration Fee; the Development Fee is waived for returning students. Refunds and withdrawal notice - The Application Fee (JPY 25,000) is non-refundable once paid. One-time joining fees and annual fees are not refundable. Tuition is not refunded for partially attended terms. Refunds are issued only when the school receives notice in accordance with the school's notice rules and a term has been fully unattended. - Notice period: a minimum of one complete term's prior written notice is required to withdraw a student. If a parent does not provide at least one full term's written notice, one full term's fees must be paid in lieu of notice. The school will withhold report cards, recommendations, and release of records until outstanding fees are settled. Late payment policy and penalties - Late payments without prior notice may result in prohibition from class attendance and/or withholding of grades, transcripts, recommendations, or other school records. - A weekly late charge of JPY 10,000 applies to delinquent payments. Payment methods and bank details - All fees must be paid by bank transfer and paid under the student's name. - The Application Fee (JPY 25,000) may alternatively be paid in cash at the school office or by bank transfer. For overseas transfers, families must ensure the amount received in JPY equals the invoiced amount after all handling fees; applicants are responsible for all transfer fees. - Bank information (payable to Kabushiki Gaisha United School of Tokyo, Mizuho Bank, Shibuya Chuo Branch; Ordinary account 1609328; Swift Code: MHCBJPJT) is supplied for transfers. Important additional notes - All fees and tuition amounts include sales tax. - One-time fees are stated as non-refundable once paid. - Fees and tuition are reviewed annually and are subject to change.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details Axis International School offers a full English-language curriculum for elementary through high school based on the Griggs International Academy program, with official grades issued by Griggs, USA. All full-time students study Bible, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, with elementary students also studying Handwriting, Music, and Spelling. High school students may enroll in dual-credit classes if their GPA is at least 3.0, enabling up to one year of college credit; AP is offered but does not grant college credit, and the IB program is not used for college credit. Assessments include annual Stanford standardized tests for Grades 4–12, and the most recent high school class achieved an SAT average of 1340 with a GPA of 3.89. Preschool features a customized age-appropriate curriculum with emphasis on language development, music, art, science, and field trips, with small class sizes. The school operates with a low student-to-teacher ratio (about 1:8) and prepares graduates for American university pathways.	Curriculum details The United School of Tokyo's curriculum is built around systematic skill development delivered through a theme-based program of 5–6 units per year, with four cross-cutting themes: responsibility and caring, global citizenship, environmental impact, and experiential education. In Early Childhood (K1–K3, ages 3–6), the curriculum is theme-integrated and learner-centered, with literacy via daily reading and Jolly Phonics, a Japanese program taught twice weekly in preschool and three times weekly in Kindergarten, and Math focusing on counting, numbers, simple operations, telling time, measurements and shapes; Science and Social Studies emphasize exploration of the environment and community, and Visual Arts, Music, and Technology are integrated. Elementary (G1–G5, ages 6–11) develops the whole child through 5–6 units per year, using Common Core math standards with Math in Focus (Singapore Math) as the main program, and Reading and Writing Workshop models for literacy; Japanese is taught daily according to the Japanese National Curriculum, while Social Studies uses Social Studies Alive!, and Visual Arts and Music follow National Standards for Arts Education. The curriculum also includes Technology and Information Science to build digital literacy, ESL and Learning Support beginning from K2, with pull-out or small-group assistance, and after-school tutoring to support English or other subjects. Field trips and experiential learning are embedded within units, with an emphasis on assessment through varied methods, targets, and feedback, and a commitment to fostering global-minded, environmentally aware, and socially responsible students.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio Low student-to-teacher ratio; small classes (about 1:8).	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results Grade 4–12 take Stanford standardized tests; the most recent high school class had an SAT average of 1340 and a GPA of 3.89; 60% of graduates go to the world's top 50 universities.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates typically continue at American universities, with potential dual-credit up to one year of college credit and transfer options to other countries; graduates have pursued programs in the US, Canada, Korea, Japan, Portugal, and Russia.	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented No separate Gifted and Talented program is described in Axis International School pages.	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Step 1 – Eligibility: Axis International School serves elementary through high school and begins with an eligibility check to confirm the student fits the program scope. The school emphasizes strong pastoral care and a supportive environment, with the Student Services team guiding families through the application journey. Enrollment includes an assessment to determine the student's ability to complete English coursework and to confirm the appropriate grade level. If a student cannot study entirely in English, intensive private classes and a structured adjustment period are arranged, with bilingual support available to families as needed. Step 2 – Application: Families submit an application to Axis International School. The admissions materials emphasize delivering high quality education and maintaining ongoing pastoral care and support during the process, with the Student Services team assisting applicants through the application journey. After submission, the school reviews the materials to determine fit and to plan next steps in the process. There are admission forms available to complete as part of this step. Step 3 – Review Process: The admission review assesses the materials to determine whether the applicant is a good match for the school's program and community. The process is described as rigorous, with the school noting a strong reputation in its statements about the review. The outcome of this step leads to a decision about next steps for enrollment. Step 4 – Success (Offer and Enrollment): If the review is favorable, the family is welcomed into a thriving student‑led learning environment. Once admitted, families move to enrollment and fee arrangements, with payment due or a payment plan set up 30 days before each semester begins. The school operates with a 12 month year for preschool and a 10 month year for other grade levels, and offers family and diplomat discounts as described in the fee schedule.	Admissions 1. Check availability and divisions. United School of Tokyo operates three divisions: Early Childhood (K1–K3), Elementary (G1–G5), and Middle School (G6–G8). The annual admissions process opens in October of the year prior to the next academic year, and space must be available for an applicant to be considered. Admissions priorities favor international families with no local educational alternatives, and Japanese families relocating back to Japan from an English-speaking educational setting; all applications are reviewed to determine fit. 2. Tours and interviews. Tours and interviews are scheduled within the admissions window to help families assess fit and to allow UST staff to learn about the applicant and family. For the 2025–2026 academic year, tours and interviews were held from October 20, 2025 to December 5, 2025. 3. Enrollment application deadline. The enrollment application deadline for the 2025–2026 cycle was January 9, 2026. 4. Screening and assessments. Screening and assessments take place from January 12, 2026 to March 30, 2026. 5. Acceptance announcements. Acceptance announcements are issued between March 9, 2026 and April 3, 2026. 6. Joining fees due date. Joining fees are due two weeks after the Acceptance Letter is issued. One-time joining fees total 825,000 JPY (Application 25,000; Registration 400,000; Development 400,000). 7. Fall term tuition due. Fall term tuition is due on April 25, 2026. Tuition can be paid by term or annually; all fees include sales tax, and one-time joining fees are non-refundable.
Scholarships	Scholarships Scholarships: Axis International School does not publish a merit‑based scholarship program. They do offer tuition‑related discounts, including a 10% family tuition discount for the second enrolled child and a 50% discount for a third enrolled child when there is no company assistance and all other fees are waived. A Diplomat Discount is also available, defined as a waiver of the current consumption tax. All fees are subject to change, and last update was October 1, 2025. Fees must be paid or arranged via a payment plan 30 days before each semester begins.	Scholarships The United School of Tokyo offers a Scholarship Program that provides a reduction in tuition and joining fees for eligible families. Scholarships are available to students in Elementary and Middle School (Grades 1–8). In addition to regular admission requirements, applicants must demonstrate the need for international education, the family's inability to pay full tuition and/or joining fees, native English proficiency, and high academic potential. The number of scholarships is limited to five per year, and awards are for one academic year but may be renewed subject to satisfactory progress and reassessment of family means. Documents that may be requested include an annual tax certificate, an employment certificate, a housing rental agreement, and bank statements. Scholarships are valid for one academic year.
Waitlist	Waitlist There is no published waitlist or pool policy on Axis International School's admissions materials. The available admissions steps are Eligibility, Application, Review Process, and Success, with no mention of a waiting list or waiting pool.	Waitlist There is no published formal waitlist or pool system. Admissions operate on space availability; applicants may be considered when seats are open, and the school indicates that students may join at any time during the year if a place is available. Priority is given to international families without local educational alternatives, and to Japanese families relocating back to Japan from an English-speaking setting.
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