Columbia International School

Columbia International School is located at 153 Matsugo, Tokorozawa, Saitama 359-0027, Japan. The campus sits in a nature-rich suburban area about 20 km northwest of central Tokyo (Shinjuku). The nearest rail access is Higashi-Tokorozawa on the JR Musashino Line, with travel times around 22 minutes from Omiya, 40 minutes from Shibuya, 45 minutes from Tokyo, and 64 minutes from Yokohama. A boarding dormitory is located about an eight-minute walk from the campus.

The school serves Kindergarten through Grade 12, with divisions for Kindergarten, Elementary, Junior High, and Senior High.

Columbia International School is co-educational and offers a boarding option via a dormitory for boarding students (for both girls and boys).

The school has students from more than 21 nationalities. A large portion of the student body is Japanese, with many international students from Asia; the community includes returnees and dual-ethnicity families.

All courses are taught in English by certified teachers; Japanese Kokugo lessons are offered daily up to Grade 8. The school provides ESL support to help students integrate into the curriculum.

The school follows the Ontario (Canada) curriculum, culminating in the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

There is no formal religious affiliation stated in the school materials.

A public daily timetable is not published on the site. The school offers After School Care (ASC) for younger students and operates a published school bus service with multiple routes and times. Boarding students receive breakfast and dinner on weekdays and weekends per the dormitory provisions.

The bus network includes routes to Omiya/Fujimino, Kawaguchi/Wako-shi, Tokorozawa, and Higashi Tokorozawa. Example morning and afternoon stops/times are published (e.g., Omiya: 7:10 pickup and 16:20 drop-off; Fujimino: 8:00 pickup and 15:45 drop-off; Columbia: 8:35 pickup and 15:10 drop-off).

The school offers the Ontario Program (Canada) curriculum; all courses are taught in English by certified teachers, and Kokugo (Japanese) lessons are offered daily up to Grade 8. Kindergarten (ages four to five) is an English-based program built around six developmental areas and a holistic, whole-child approach to promote physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth. Elementary emphasizes bilingual development, with language-rich classrooms to foster fluency in both English and Japanese, along with clubs and extracurricular activities. Junior High (grades 7–9) provides two tracks—one for proficient English speakers and one for students needing language support—supported by small classes and language/academic assistance; Kokugo/Japanese is available up to Grade 8. Senior High (grades 10–12) continues the Ontario curriculum and awards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), enabling entry to universities worldwide.

Columbia International School integrates social and emotional learning through a 'whole child' approach across its curriculum. In Kindergarten, teachers promote the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of each child in a safe and caring environment. The Elementary program reinforces this with a positive, whole-child framework that emphasizes health, safety, engagement, support, and challenge, alongside bilingual English–Japanese language development. In Junior High, there are two language tracks—one for English-proficient students and another for language learners—delivered by experienced teachers in small classes to foster language growth and curiosity. This structure supports social integration and personal development as part of the school's wellbeing approach.

The site does not publicly disclose information about dedicated SEN provision or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution. The Inclusion page states that the school accepts students regardless of race, skin color, nationality, or gender, and that staff work to maintain an open, fair, and inclusive environment with equal opportunities. In Junior High, there are two tracks: one for English-fluent students and one for those needing English language support. There is no explicit listing of specific SEN categories, SEN staff, or dedicated SEN facilities on the site. Consequently, public details about SEN provisions are not disclosed.

The Ontario Program curriculum is taught in English by certified teachers. Japanese language lessons are offered every day up to Grade 8. In Junior High, there are two tracks: one for students proficient in English and another for those needing language support. Saturday School is taught in English with Japanese supports to help prospective students become familiar with Columbia. Saturday School and Summer School provide additional English-language exposure, with English instruction complemented by Japanese assistance.

Kindergarten emphasizes the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of each child within a safe, caring environment. The Elementary program uses a positive 'whole child' approach, focusing on health, safety, engagement, support, and challenge, with bilingual language development. The Inclusion page highlights an open, respectful, and non-discriminatory environment that supports wellbeing and equal opportunity. In Junior High, small-class language support structures and varied programs contribute to personal growth and wellbeing. Overall, wellbeing is embedded in the curriculum through development of social and emotional skills alongside academic learning.

Columbia International School maintains Child Safeguarding policies to provide a safe environment for students and staff. The school supports the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. All employees, external contractors, and volunteers receive safeguarding training. If abuse is suspected, it must be reported to the school principal or the school nurse. Safeguarding regulations are reviewed annually and shared with the school community.

1. Rolling admissions overview. Columbia International School accepts new students on a term-by-term basis in a rolling admissions style, with applications reviewed as they are received. This approach means there isn't a single fixed deadline for every term, and families may be considered for upcoming terms as vacancies arise. The 2026–2027 admissions materials note that the Spring term for G1 was already full with a waiting list, illustrating how capacity can limit available seats.

2. Admission Procedure. Begin by filling out the Application Form and any other required forms, then submit four profile photos (size 4 cm x 4 cm), the applicant's academic reports for the last three years, and pay the Application Fee of ¥25,000. You'll also need to provide bank details for the Kinder to Junior program as part of the process. After submission, the school processes the application promptly and arranges an Admission Examination and interview(s) with the applicant and parent(s). The school uses the Ontario curriculum with English-language instruction for all courses, while Japanese Kokugo lessons are offered daily up to Grade 8.

3. Application Periods and Rounds. For 2026–2027, the application periods are limited to specific windows by division: Kindergarten and Elementary in July (first round) and October (second round, if seats remain); Junior in October (first round) and January (second round, if seats remain); High School in October (first round) and January (second round, if seats remain). In 2026, a second round was open January 5–31 for New K1, G7, and G10, with only a subset of seats available in each division; transfers may be considered if vacancies exist. Applicants who apply in the second round receive admission decisions by email, and some applicants may receive a conditional letter with an offer contingent on payment and other conditions.

4. Admissions Decision, Fees, and Payment. After the examination and interviews, applicants are notified by email of their admissions status. If an offer is made and accepted, the correct amount of fees must be paid within one week by bank transfer to one of the school's accounts. The fee schedule is disclosed per division: Kindergarten first year totals 1,984,500 JPY (210,000 JPY entrance; 1,762,500 JPY tuition; 12,000 JPY PTSA; lunch and entrance donation are optional/discretionary). Elementary first year totals 2,652,000 JPY; Junior first year totals 2,727,000 JPY; High School first year totals 2,727,000 JPY (all figures include the relevant tuition, facility/maintenance where applicable, and PTSA but exclude optional items). In addition, optional Lunch Fees and a discretionary Entrance Donation (200,000 JPY per set) may apply, and a 12,000 JPY PTSA fee per family per year is charged. Fees are not refundable under any circumstances. Discounts exist for multiple children (10% for the second child, 30% for the third child; only one discount can apply per child; families already receiving a scholarship are not eligible).

5. Grade Placement and Visa Considerations. The enrollment cut-off is April 1; by that date, applicants must meet the age requirements shown in the Grade Eligibility Chart to be considered for the corresponding grade. Placement is based on age and an assessment of prior learning credits in line with Ontario Secondary School Graduation requirements. For international students requiring a study visa sponsorship, a separate visa admissions process applies, including deposits, interviews, an acceptance letter and invoice, and timelines for visa processing; the first-year total for visa students is substantially higher due to international student fees and dormitory/related costs. The visa guidelines also specify that nonrefundable application fees and additional costs may apply, and the admissions process for visa students is described in the accompanying PDF.

6. Curriculum Context (for clarity). The school uses the Ontario (Canada) curriculum, with all courses taught in English by certified teachers; Japanese language lessons are provided daily up to Grade 8. This context helps explain the admissions requirements (e.g., language considerations, grade placement) and the visa sponsorship pathway for international students.

Columbia International School offers scholarships, including a Student Diversity Scholarship and a Priority Enrollment Program (PEP).

- Student Diversity Scholarship: This program provides a reduction of school fees by up to 50% for junior high school students. Recipients are selected after a review of applications, school records, and an interview by the Principal. Scholarships are awarded for one academic year with renewal options up to graduation, and the school commits to maintaining confidentiality regarding recipients' circumstances. Interested families should contact admissions for details.

- PEP Program (Priority Enrollment Program): The PEP recognizes partner preschools and kindergartens as meeting CIS criteria to gain priority for Grade 1 entry. PEP families have access to school tours in April, May, and June before open campus days, facilitating early exposure to CIS.

Columbia International School operates on rolling admissions, and when a class is full, a waiting list is used. As of September 10, 2025, the 2026 Spring term G1 class was reported as full with students on a waiting list, and a second-round application window was announced (January 5–31) for New K1, G7, and G10, with a limited number of seats remaining in each division. Transfers may be considered if vacancies exist. For Fall/Winter terms, transfers require contacting the admissions team for vacancies. Applicants accepted in the second round may be placed on a waiting list or given conditional acceptance if seats become available. Results for second-round admissions are typically communicated by email, with conditional acceptance possible if seats are not immediately available.