Kyoto International School

Kyoto International School is located in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It operates on two campuses in central Kyoto: Juraku Campus at 317 Kitatawara-cho, Kamigyo-ku 602-8247, and Taiken Campus at 536-1 Waraya-Cho, Kamigyo-ku 602-8144. The school describes itself as being in the heart of Kyoto, reflecting its central city location. The Juraku and Taiken campuses are both in Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto.

KIS provides the International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum from Early Years through Secondary. It currently serves Early Years through Grade 10 and is expanding to complete Grade 12 by 2026, with Grade 11 planned to open in 2025 and Grade 12 in 2026. This makes KIS Kyoto's Rostered K–12 IB school once the expansion is complete.

The school is co-educational and operates as a day school. It is a not-for-profit institution.

Public information indicates approximately 130 students in the school, representing around 20 countries. The exact distribution of nationalities, the most common nationality, and the local-to-international ratio are not publicly published.

KIS provides a dedicated student wellbeing and support team to address student needs. The school also maintains a Child Safeguarding Policy. Specific SEN accommodations are not publicly detailed on the main pages.

There is no formal country affiliation stated for Kyoto International School; it is described as an international IB World School.

Kyoto International School does not indicate any religious affiliation.

The school publishes Saturday session hours: 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. The nearest bus stop is 堀川中立売, served by Kyoto City Bus routes 9, 12, and 50. The campus entrances are on the east side during visits. Weekday start and end times are not publicly published on the main pages.

The school provides bus-access information for international families. The nearest bus stop is 堀川中立売 (Horikawa Nakadachiuri) and bus routes 9, 12, and 50 stop there. There is nearby coin parking around the campus, and visitors are advised to park in nearby facilities if needed.

Kyoto International School is an IB Continuum World School in Kyoto, delivering the IB framework from Early Years through Upper Secondary and planning to complete the full K-12 continuum by 2026, with Grade 11 launched in August 2025 and Grade 12 expected in 2026. Instruction is conducted in English, and the school operates an English-immersion program, including a Saturday English class for ages 3–12. Early Years (ages 4–6) use the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) with a play-based, constructivist approach designed to develop learners' thinking and learning skills. Primary School implements the IB PYP as its curriculum framework, emphasizing inquiry-based, meaningful learning across subjects. Lower Secondary follows the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) with a broad, structured subject set (Language & Literature, Language Acquisition, Individuals & Societies, Sciences, Mathematics, Arts, Physical Health Education) and a well-being and social-emotional learning component. Upper Secondary offers the IB Diploma Programme (DP) for 16–19 year-olds, including the DP core (Creativity, Action, Service; Extended Essay; Theory of Knowledge) and six subject options typically arranged as three Standard Level and three Higher Level subjects, with the DP hours specified (150 SL, 240 HL).

Kyoto International School emphasizes holistic development within the IB framework, nurturing students cognitively, physically, emotionally, and socially. The school's mission and vision describe fostering a supportive, internationally minded community that develops compassionate global citizens. The Student Life section highlights a strong emphasis on student well-being and a safe, supportive environment designed to guide students through challenges. A dedicated wellbeing support team exists to ensure every student's needs are met. Social-emotional development is reinforced through the House system and a broad range of co-curricular activities that promote belonging, teamwork, and healthy choices.

KIS describes its safeguarding-oriented approach to supporting at-risk students, including those with health issues, social or academic difficulties. The KIS Child Safeguarding Policy and Handbook sets reporting procedures for suspected abuse and states that any employee who suspects abuse must report, with self-reporting for students. Staff, faculty, and administrators are required to report safeguarding concerns, and reports are handled with confidentiality and prompt action. The policy describes a Child Safeguarding Committee and an action plan to coordinate safeguarding across the school. It also indicates safeguarding education is part of the educational programs, including an Online Safety Guideline. The policy notes that safeguarding standards align with international conventions and central rights of the child. The school does not publicly disclose information regarding any specialist SEN provision or in-house SEN program.

The school publicly discloses a strategic partnership with New Horizons Education to support English language development. New Horizons provides English language development opportunities and supports a tri-lingual learning environment for students in Japan. The partnership includes governance and international partnership activities as part of the collaboration. Public information does not detail a stand-alone in-house EAL program or EAL staffing at KIS. The collaboration highlights English language development as a component of KIS's international education approach.

Mental wellbeing is a core element of Kyoto International School's approach to student welfare within the IB framework. The Student Life section signals a strong emphasis on student well-being and a safe, supportive environment. A dedicated wellbeing support team exists to address student needs. Safeguarding policies provide education and resources to protect mental health and respond to concerns, including a designated counselor and reporting processes. Counseling or pastoral support is part of safeguarding, with procedures for notifying appropriate staff and addressing concerns.

The KIS Child Safeguarding Policy and Handbook has been adopted and approved by the Executive Board and Board of Trustees. Safeguarding is embedded in school life and aims to prevent abuse, protect health and development, and ensure safe environments. All staff and regular visitors are mandated to report safeguarding concerns, and staff must report to the counselor within 48 hours for immediate response; all reports are confidential. There is a dedicated Child Safeguarding Committee and an Action Plan to coordinate safeguarding across the school. An Online Safety Guideline is part of the safeguarding framework, and safeguarding education is integrated into wellbeing and advisory programs.

1. Step 1 – Student Details: Complete the main application form to be considered for admission. Upload a recent passport‑size profile photo and a copy of identification (passport, birth certificate, or health insurance card) to verify date of birth. Enter the student's legal name in English/Roman characters and select the Campus—Juraku Campus or Taiken Campus—and the Enrollment Year (2025‑2026 or 2026‑2027). The general recommendation is to submit this application at least two months before the intended enrollment date; for an August start, the application should be submitted by May 15 of the starting year. Note that KIS does not offer boarding facilities and cannot support student visa applications.

2. Step 2 – Family & Emergency Details: Provide up‑to‑date family contact information and emergency contacts. Include primary contact details, relationships, and any special instructions in case of an emergency. Ensure that all phone numbers and email addresses are active and accessible to the school, and update information promptly if circumstances change. This step is completed within the OpenApply form, which prompts for Family & Emergency details as part of the application flow.

3. Step 3 – Education History: Enter the applicant's education history, listing prior schools and grade levels completed or currently enrolled. If the student is entering after early years, include transcripts or academic records from previous schools. The Education History section is part of the OpenApply process and helps the admissions team assess prior academic coursework.

4. Step 4 – Submit & Pay Application Fee: Review all entered information and submit the application, then pay the online application fee. The system directs applicants to complete payment as part of the submission flow. This step ensures the application is officially submitted for consideration.

5. Step 5 – Provide Supporting Documents: After submitting the form and payment, upload or provide any required supporting documents as requested by the admissions team. Supporting documents may include transcripts, recommendations, or other school records requested by KIS. The OpenApply form specifies this step as part of the application process.

6. You can also find the campus contact numbers on the admissions pages.

KIS offers an IBDP Scholarship for Diploma Programme entrants. The scholarship opportunity is open to students currently in Grade 10 (the first year of Japanese high school). Successful applicants may enter Grade 11 at Kyoto International School and begin the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in August 2025. Application Deadline: May 12, 2025 at 23:59 JST. Application Process: (1) Submit your application online via kyoto.openapply.com and pay the application fee; (2) the admissions team will schedule an interview on May 16, 2025; (3) if you pass the interview, you will receive detailed information about the scholarship exam; (4) take the scholarship exam on May 31, 2025 (online, 17:00 JST); (5) scholarship results will be announced in early June. Exam format is online and no additional exam fee is required. Scholarship details indicate a potential award of up to 100% tuition discount, based on scholarship exam performance, with conditions applied. Scholarships are limited and awarded on a competitive basis. The DP scholarship information is provided on the KIS IBDP Scholarship page and is reflected in the OpenApply scholarship field during the application process.

Waitlist / pool: Public admissions materials do not publish a formal waitlist or pool policy for Kyoto International School. The application process is conducted through OpenApply with explicit campus (Juraku or Taiken) and enrollment year options, and there is no publicly documented waitlist workflow in the available materials. The OpenApply steps and campus/year options support applicants being considered as spaces allow, but no formal waitlist procedure is described.