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Okinawa International School offers International Baccalaureate (IB) courses and an International Liberal Arts (ILA) course, providing a global, inquiry-based learning framework from middle school through high school. The IB and ILA curricula emphasize inquiry, critical thinking, and cross-disciplinary understanding to prepare students for university study. The school provides guidance services to support university admissions and career planning for students, including college counseling. The Diploma Programme (DP) is a major pathway in the upper years, as reflected in student communications and program offerings.
There is an Art & Design studio where students learn design, illustration, and Okinawan traditional crafts. The campus includes a well-resourced library that supports inquiry and creative projects. The Multipurpose Hall is used for music and karate classes and for official events, while the Function Room Auditorium hosts guest speakers and special classes, supporting arts and performance activities. These facilities enable visual and performing arts opportunities across grade levels.
The school's summer program centers on Okinawan culture and SDGs, conducted in English as an inquiry-based learning experience. Activities include field trips and hands-on experiences that connect language learning with culture, such as visits to cultural centers and nature experiences. Okinawa International School operates from two campuses in Naha and Nanjo, reflecting a bilingual, culturally diverse educational environment.
The campus provides a gymnasium and athletic fields for physical education and sports events. The Multipurpose Hall supports music classes, karate, and student presentations, while the auditorium space hosts faculty training and guest lectures. An on-site school bus system serves multiple routes, facilitating safe transportation for after-school activities and events. These facilities and transportation options support social, recreational, and performing-arts activities beyond regular classroom time.
The Summer Program is SDG-focused and includes community-oriented and cultural-engagement activities in Okinawa, designed to foster environmental awareness and social responsibility. The program features fieldwork and hands-on projects that connect students with local communities and environments, including nature-related activities and local culture experiences. These activities are designed to develop students' sense of civic responsibility and global awareness through English-language exploration.
Leadership development is a stated outcome of the Summer Program, which emphasizes inquiry, problem-solving, and collaboration to prepare students for leadership roles. The program highlights leadership as part of its three featured pillars, alongside inquiry and safety. In addition, the school provides guidance services and information sessions to support university and career planning.
The school campus offers exercise facilities, including a gymnasium and a full track, used for PE and sports events. The Nanjo City gymnasium is used for physical education, and the campus provides a full-scale track for athletic activities. The Summer Program includes activity-driven days that emphasize physical wellness, nature exploration, and arts, contributing to students' physical and mental wellbeing.
Okinawa International School (OIS) opened in April 2003 and provides education from preschool through high school across its programs. OIS is an IB Continuum School. It became authorized for IB PYP (2011), IB MYP (2016) and IB DP (2020), making it Okinawa’s first and only school offering the full IB pathway. In the elementary years, students learn through the IB PYP approach and complete a PYP Exhibition, presenting inquiry learning. OIS also highlights a local-language element in elementary school by offering “しまくとぅば” (Okinawan language) classes. At high school level, OIS offers an IB course and an additional International Liberal Arts (ILA) course option.