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The American School in Japan
Web: www.asij.ac.jp
2008-2009
The American School in Japan, founded in 1902, is a private, coeducational day school, serving students from age 3 to grade 12 on two campuses: the Early Learning Center (Nursery-Prekindergarten-Kindergarten) in Roppongi and the Chofu campus in western Tokyo (kindergarten-grade 12). The School serves students of all nationalities, with the majority having U.S. citizenship. The school year comprises two semesters, August-January and January-June.
Organization: The School is governed by a 15-member Board of Directors elected for one-year terms by the Trustees of the American School in Japan Foundation, the sponsors of the School. Usually Board members are U.S. citizens. Trusteeship in the Foundation is extended to representatives of businesses, U.S. government, church organizations, alumni, and staff who have an interest in and provide financial support to the School.
Curriculum: The curriculum is similar to that of U.S. college-preparatory schools except that Japanese language and area studies are offered to all students. Four libraries of 77,000 titles, staffed by three professional librarians and aides, promote an emphasis on student research. Among an extensive range of elective courses, Advanced Placement courses are offered in 18 subjects. The School has no provisions for students with significant learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. The School is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. For the most part, graduates go on to colleges and universities in the United States.
Faculty: In the 2008-2009 school year, there are 172 full-time and 12 part-time faculty members, including 121 U.S. citizens, 21 host-country nationals, and 42 third-country nationals.
Enrollment: At the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, enrollment was 1,623 (N-grade 5: 704; grades 6-8: 365; and grades 9-12: 554). Of the total, 1,147 were U.S. citizens, 238 were host-country nationals, and 238 third-country nationals. Of the U.S. enrollment, 84 are dependents of the U.S. government, direct-hire or contract employees and 1,063 are dependents of U.S. business or private U.S. citizens.
Facilities: The Chofu campus (kindergarten-grade 12) features libraries, fine arts facilities, video studios, laboratories, 800+ computers with Internet access for student use, choral and instrumental music rooms, an auditorium, three gymnasiums, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and playgrounds/sports fields. Optional bus service to/from central Tokyo and the Chofu campus is available, with an average transit time of 50 minutes. The Early Learning Center (nursery-kindergarten) features its own library, music room, community room, and playground.
Finances: In the 2008-2009 school year, about 85% of the School's operating income derives from tuition and fees. The remainder comes from donations, grants, investments, and auxiliary enterprises. Annual tuition rate (computed at ¥110 to $1.00) is $18,725 for nursery-grade 12, payable in Japanese yen or in U.S. dollars at the prevailing rate of exchange. (All fees are quoted in Japanese yen.)
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