International School of the Sacred Heart vs New International School of Japan

	I International School of the Sacred Heart Tokyo, Japan	N New International School of Japan Tokyo, Japan
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year ¥2,640,000 - 2,940,000	Fees / year ¥2,160,000 - 2,800,000
Age range	Age range 3 - 18 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational, Girls School	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IPC (International Primary Curriculum), Advanced Placement (AP), Bespoke Curriculum, EYFS (Early years foundation stage)	Curriculum Bespoke Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 585	Pupils 275
Typical class size	Typical class size 22	Typical class size 20
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English, Japanese
Opened	Opened 1908	Opened 2001
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location International School of the Sacred Heart is located at 4-3-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012, Japan. The Hiroo district is a residential part of Tokyo with convenient access to central Tokyo by subway. The campus is a short walk from Hiroo Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, and the area offers safe off-street drop-off and pick-up.	Location 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.
Stages	Stages The school comprises Kindergarten (K3–K5), a Junior School (Grade 1–4), a Middle School (Grade 5–8), and a High School (Grade 9–12). Kindergarten is coeducational, while the Junior School, Middle School, and High School serve girls only.	Stages 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.
School type	School type Independent international school; co-educational in Kindergarten, girls-only from Grade 1 onwards.	School type The school is a private international school. It operates as a private, non-governmental institution offering education from early years through high school level.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix The school represents students from about 50 countries, and languages spoken at home total 31. The most represented nationality is not publicly published. Admission policy requires non-Japanese passports for Grade 9 and below, indicating a diverse international intake.	Pupil nationality mix 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.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The Learning Support program is designed to support individual student needs. The school recognises that some students may require additional support even when admission is at or above grade level, using a variety of methods and materials.	Additional learning support Public information does not list a dedicated SEN program or established SEN facilities. Parents considering additional learning needs should contact admissions for specific provisions.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation ISSH is a truly international school and is not affiliated with any one particular country or culture. It is a part of the Sacred Heart network of schools and hosts frequent exchanges with sister schools worldwide, including chances for high school students to study abroad in at Sacred Heart schools in countries such as the United States, France, and Germany. At ISSH, students use curricular materials from a wide variety of countries around the world, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.	Country affiliation There is no formal country affiliation published for the school.
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation ISSH is a Catholic school and is affiliated with the Sacred Heart Network of Schools. The school is a diverse and welcoming environment, enrolling students from more than 15 different faith traditions as well as those who do not identify with any particular religion.	Religious affiliation There is no religious affiliation noted for the school.
School day structure	School day structure The school day starts around 8:20-8:30 am with a morning break for snack and an early afternoon hour for lunch. The time of each break varies slightly by school level; please check ISSH's website for more details. Kindergarten and Junior school dismissal is between 2:50 and 3 pm, while Middle and High School dismissal is at 3:30 pm.	School day structure 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.
Bus service details	Bus service details There is no school bus service; families typically use public transit or private arrangements for transport.	Bus service details 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.
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and entry fees - Application Fee: ¥30,000 per student (non-refundable). - Registration Fee: ¥300,000 per student (non-refundable, one-time). - Educational & Building Development Fee: ¥600,000 per student (non-refundable, one-time). - Building / Maintenance Fee: ¥220,000 per student (non-refundable, annual). Tuition — annual and per academic quarter (per year group) - Kindergarten 3 and 4: Annual tuition ¥2,420,000; per academic quarter (annual ÷ 4) ¥605,000. - Kindergarten 5: Annual tuition ¥2,530,000; per academic quarter ¥632,500. - Grades 1–8: Annual tuition ¥2,620,000; per academic quarter ¥655,000. - Grades 9–11: Annual tuition ¥2,640,000; per academic quarter ¥660,000. - Grade 12: Annual tuition ¥2,720,000; per academic quarter ¥680,000. (Quarter amounts are calculated from the published annual tuition; the school uses academic quarters for proration of tuition for late enrollment.) Billing schedule and payment terms - All tuition and school fees must be paid in advance. - For students who enroll after the school year begins, tuition is calculated on an academic quarter basis; attendance for any portion of a quarter requires payment for the entire quarter. Tuition and fees must be paid in full prior to enrollment. - The published information does not include a public calendar of invoice dates or a multi-installment billing schedule; the requirement stated is payment in advance and quarterly proration for late starters. Fee payment options and bank details - Payment currency: Japanese Yen only. Payment method: bank transfer. The payer is responsible for any bank processing charges. - Bank details (as published): - Account Name: International School of the Sacred Heart - Bank/Branch: Mizuho Bank, Ltd., Roppongi Branch - Account Type: Ordinary Account - Account No.: 2236320 - SWIFT Code: MHCBJPJT - (Japanese account name and branch details are provided in Japanese on the school's payment information.) Boarding fees - The school operates as a day school and does not publish boarding facilities or boarding fees. No boarding fees apply. Other costs and recurring extras - School Shop: the school shop sells school-spirited merchandise and certain uniform items (for example, kindergarten smocks and PE T-shirts). Full uniform availability and specific uniform items are managed through the school's uniform supply channels. Prices for uniform items are not published on the public admissions/tuition pages. - Extended Day Program (EDP): SEMESTER FEE ¥265,000 per student. Families pay for an entire semester at a time; the fee is a flat semester amount and does not pro-rate for days not attended. The EDP is not available on national holidays. The EDP fee is non-refundable. - Additional optional costs that may apply (not itemized in the public tuition page): after-school activities, special event fees, supplies, trips, examination fees, elective or program-specific charges may be billed separately; those items are not listed with fixed amounts on the publicly accessible tuition page. Refund information - The following published fees are explicitly non-refundable: Application Fee, Registration Fee (one-time), Educational & Building Development Fee (one-time), and Building/Maintenance Fee (annual). - The Extended Day Program semester fee is stated as non-refundable. - The school requires tuition and all school fees to be paid in advance and uses quarterly proration for late enrollment; there is no publicly posted tuition refund or withdrawal refund schedule on the school's published admissions and tuition pages. The publicly published pages do not provide a detailed refund timetable for tuition when a student withdraws mid-year. Notes on amounts and calculations - All amounts above are published in Japanese Yen. Annual tuition figures are listed per year group; quarter figures shown above are straightforward divisions of the published annual tuition by four, consistent with the school's use of academic quarters for proration. If you need any specific line-item clarifications that are not publicly posted (for example, uniform price lists, installment billing dates, or a formal withdrawal/refund schedule), those items are not available on the public admissions and tuition pages; the published statements above are the school's public tuition and fee positions.	Fee details One‑time entrance and capital fees - Entrance fee: JPY 330,000 per child (due upon acceptance). - Building and facilities fee (one‑time, payable with initial tuition payment): JPY 450,000 for the first child; JPY 300,000 for each second and subsequent child. Annual tuition fees (amounts published for the 2025–2026 school year) — shown by year group and sibling order - Pre‑Kindergarten (PK1, PK2; ages 3–4): - 1st child: JPY 1,960,000 per year. - 2nd child: JPY 1,800,000 per year. - 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 1,600,000 per year. - Kindergarten (K) – Grade 1 (ages 5–6): - 1st child: JPY 2,360,000 per year. - 2nd child: JPY 2,050,000 per year. - 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 1,800,000 per year. - Grades 2 – 6: - 1st child: JPY 2,450,000 per year. - 2nd child: JPY 2,150,000 per year. - 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 1,850,000 per year. - Grades 7 – 8: - 1st child: JPY 2,560,000 per year. - 2nd child: JPY 2,260,000 per year. - 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 1,960,000 per year. - Grades 9 – 12: - 1st child: JPY 2,600,000 per year. - 2nd child: JPY 2,320,000 per year. - 3rd child (and subsequent): JPY 2,000,000 per year. Annual resource & program development fee - JPY 200,000 per child (annual). Per‑term fees - The published materials give tuition as annual amounts. No published per‑term tuition breakdown (specific term instalments or per‑term invoice amounts) is provided on the tuition and fees page. Annual fees are presented as the standard reference. Billing schedule and payment terms - Entrance fee is due upon acceptance. The building and facilities fee is due with the initial tuition payment. Annual tuition for new students is stated and is prorated by month for late entrants. No detailed billing calendar (specific invoice dates, term‑by‑term due dates, or instalment schedule) or late‑payment penalties are published on the tuition and fees page. Sibling discount / pricing structure - Tuition is reduced for second and third (and subsequent) children as shown in the year‑group rates above (distinct 1st, 2nd and 3rd child amounts). Optional program and service fees - Extended care: JPY 2,000 per day. - School bus service (optional): - Round trip: JPY 350,000 for the first child; JPY 250,000 for each subsequent child. - One‑way: JPY 250,000 for the first child; JPY 175,000 for each subsequent child. Boarding fees - No boarding provision or boarding fees are listed; tuition and optional service fees reference day‑school services only. Uniforms and other school charges - The published tuition and fees page does not itemize a uniform fee or list materials/uniform charges. Other routine or incidental charges (for example field trips, specialist programme fees, personal supplies) are not detailed on the tuition and fees page. Refund information - No specific refund policy for entrance, building or tuition fees is published on the tuition and fees page. The only payment‑timing details provided are entrance fee due upon acceptance and that annual fees are prorated by month for late entrants. No published statement on refunds or fee cancellation terms appears on the tuition and fees page. Fee payment options (methods) - The tuition and fees page does not list accepted payment methods (for example bank transfer, credit card, etc.) or bank details. Summary of items not published on the tuition page - Specific per‑term invoice amounts or a term instalment schedule, exact billing dates, detailed payment terms (accepted payment methods, bank details), an explicit refund/cancellation policy for fees, and any uniform or materials charge are not listed on the school's published tuition and fees page. For clarity: entrance fee (JPY 330,000), the building/facilities one‑time fee (JPY 450,000 / JPY 300,000), annual tuition rates by grade and sibling order, the JPY 200,000 resource/program fee, extended care and bus fees are published.
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 ISSH offers an all-English K‑12 curriculum built on the Sacred Heart Goals and Criteria, with a Values program and an international-mindedness focus that aims to develop women leaders. Kindergarten (K3–K5) is co‑educational and uses the International Primary Curriculum framework for science and social studies, with Language Arts and Mathematics taught through specialist instruction in Art, PE, Music, Library, and Japanese and with technology integrated into learning. The school is organized as Junior School (Grade 1–4), Middle School (Grade 5–8), and High School (Grade 9–12), with a co‑educational Kindergarten and an all‑girls program from Grade 1 to Grade 12. In High School, ISSH offers a broad Advanced Placement program with about 22 AP courses, including AP English Language and Composition, AP Biology, AP French Language and Culture, AP Japanese Language and Culture, AP Calculus AB/BC, AP World History, AP Economics, AP Computer Science A, AP Art courses, and AP Music Theory. Graduation requires earning at least 22 credits across core subjects and requirements (English, Mathematics, Language, Science, Social Studies, Electives, Values, Art, PE, Options, Personal Finance, and Personal Education). ISSH is accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and is a member of the Kanto Plain Association of Schools.	Curriculum details 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.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results ISSH does not publish exam results, however, 100% of graduates matriculate to college, university, or other tertiary education. See below for more details.	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression 100% of ISSH graduates matriculate to college, university, or other tertiary education. Recent highlights include: Australia: University of New South Wales University of Melbourne University of Sydney Canada: McGill University University of Toronto University of British Columbia United Kingdom: University of Oxford UCL University of Edinburgh University of Manchester King's College London University of the Arts London United States Harvard University Yale University Cornell University Dartmouth College Duke University Emory University University of California—Berkeley University of California—Los Angeles Georgia Institute of Technology The New School—Parsons School of Design Pratt Institute A full list can be found here: https://www.issh.ac.jp/academics/post-graduation/college-acceptance	Higher education progression —
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	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 1. Step 1 — Admissions policy, eligibility, and language: Begin by reviewing ISSH's Admissions Policy and Guidelines. ISSH serves Pre-K and Kindergarten (ages 3–5) and girls in grades 1–12, with admissions governed by age cutoffs and passport nationality rules; for grades 9 and below, an applicant or at least one parent must hold a non-Japanese passport. The school states that the educational program is provided in English and that one parent must be able to speak and read English. These factors inform whether ISSH is a suitable fit for your family before applying. 2. Step 2 — Language considerations and ELA: Applicants come with varying English proficiency, and ISSH maintains an English-language program with an English Language Acquisition (ELA) pathway for those needing support. The admissions process notes that all applicants participate in English reading and writing assessments, with the ELA program offering in-class and small-group support where needed. Space for ELA is limited and allocations are made on a case-by-case basis, potentially placing some applicants in a waiting pool if ELA seats are full. 3. Step 3 — Admissions timeline and rolling process: ISSH uses rolling admissions, processing applications as spaces become available. Applications for the next school year open in September, and families should aim to finalize applications for Grades 1–12 by early December to be considered for available seats. Kindergarten has its own timelines (e.g., K3–K5 have specific milestones), with first-round interviews typically scheduled in January–February of the following year and additional interviews in March if spaces remain. 4. Step 4 — Online inquiry and application initiation: The process begins with an inquiry and proceeds to an online application. Families complete the online application, attach required school reports and documents, and initiate requests for teacher or school recommendations through the online portal. 5. Step 5 — Application fee: The application fee is ¥30,000 per student and is non-refundable. The fee is paid by bank transfer, and the payer covers any bank charges; you must include the applicant's official name to ensure proper attribution of the payment. 6. Step 6 — Application documents: Submit reports, transcripts, and any standardized test results in English (or with English translations where needed). Required documents vary by grade but typically include school reports from the current and prior years, translation if necessary, and confidential recommendations submitted through the online portal. 7. Step 7 — Application review: After all materials are received, the admissions committee reviews each application. Some applications may be declined at this stage, and all decisions are final with no public feedback on reasons. If a class has no available places, applicants may be placed in the waiting pool and reviewed when seats reopen. 8. Step 8 — Screening and assessment: All applicants for Grades 1–12 must complete a screening or assessment; Kindergarten applicants are screened on a case-by-case basis. The assessments differ by grade level (e.g., online math and English for Grades 1–4; math, English reading comprehension, and English essay for Grades 5–12). 9. Step 9 — Interview, admission decision, and enrollment: Applicants who pass the screening proceed to a family interview (both parents and the student). Interviews are conducted by the Principal and a member of the Admissions team, and may be held via Google Meet for overseas applicants. Following the interview, the Director of Admissions notifies families of the outcome; all admissions decisions are final. If offered a place, families complete the online enrollment checklist and pay the registration fee; for August enrollment, the remaining fees and tuition invoice may be issued in May. 10. Step 10 — Post-acceptance enrollment logistics: Successful applicants must complete enrollment steps and pay the registration fee promptly. ISSH notes that invoicing for tuition and the remaining balance may follow the enrollment period, especially for August enrollment. 11. Step 11 — Additional policy notes: Applications are submitted online with no reliance on third-party agencies, and ISSH does not offer priority admissions from outside programs. Siblings of current students and children of alumni receive priority if space is available, and applicants may be added to the waiting pool if spaces are not yet open.	Admissions 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.
Scholarships	Scholarships Scholarships: ISSH has named scholarship funds intended to support tuition for students for whom paying full tuition would be prohibitive. The Sister Culhane and D'Huarte Scholarship Funds are established to provide tuition assistance to eligible students. Gifts to these scholarship funds may be restricted to this purpose, and donors can designate restricted gifts to support financial aid. The school also runs fundraising programs (Annual Fund) to support broader needs, including financial aid. Details about specific eligibility criteria or application processes for these scholarships are not published publicly, but the scholarship funds exist to provide tuition support to qualifying students.	Scholarships 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	Waitlist Waitlist/Pool: When a class has no available space or when there are no available English Language Acquisition (ELA) seats for a student requiring ELA support, applicants may be placed in the waiting pool. Waiting pool placement is valid until the end of the school year for which the applicant applied, and interested applicants are encouraged to submit a new application for the following school year if they remain interested. Siblings and alumni may receive priority, provided space is available and the screening/interview results are favorable.	Waitlist 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.
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