Tokyo YMCA International School (TYIS)

The Tokyo YMCA International School (TYIS) is a highly accredited, co-educational day school established in 1998, located in Koto-ku, East of Central Tokyo. Affiliated with the global Christian-based YMCA organization, TYIS distinguishes itself by grounding its educational philosophy in the core YMCA values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility, aiming for the holistic development of the body, mind, and spirit. The school is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), ensuring that its curriculum is recognized and transferable worldwide. TYIS serves approximately 150 students from over 23 nationalities, spanning Kindergarten (Age 5) through Grade 12. Its academic foundation is built upon a North American Curriculum that follows learning outcomes and content standards, including Common Core. The High School program is focused on university preparation, with an emphasis on STEM fields and the development of Advanced Placement (AP) courses. All instruction is in English, and Japanese is included as a mandatory co-curricular class. The student environment is highly supported, featuring a small student-to-teacher ratio (1:12) and average class sizes of 20. The school offers a learning support program called ASK (Academic Support for Kids), which provides extra assistance through push-in and pull-out models, though applicants for Grades 6-9 with no English experience are typically not accepted. The co-curricular program is robust, including weekly mandatory classes like physical education, swimming, music, art, and computer skills, making use of the school's superior facilities, which include a 25m indoor swimming pool and tennis courts—a notable advantage for a school in central Tokyo.