School Profile
Hokkaido International School is a private, coeducational day/boarding school that offers an American-style education from pre-school through high school for students of all nationalities. English is the language of instruction. The school has an enrollment of 190, with 88 students in the secondary school and 13 in the graduating class of 2010. Students represent 28 different nationalities. Hokkaido International School was founded in 1958 and is the only international school on the island of Hokkaido.
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
1-55, 5 jo 19 chome
Hiragishi, Toyohira-Ku
Sapporo, Japan 062-0935 |
Telephone:
(81) 11-816-5000
Fax:
(81) 11-816-2500 |
Email:
his@his.ac.jp
|
CEEB Code (school code):
680175
|
|
Hokkaido International School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS) and the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS).
Map and Directions to HIS
From Odori Station (the downtown hub station for Sapporo’s subway system), take the Nanboku Line headed in the direction of Makomanai, and get off at Sumikawa Station. The cost for a one-way ticket will be ¥240. (Note that the Nanboku line comes above ground at Minami Hiragishi Station and Sumikawa is the second station on the elevated section of the system). Get off the train at Sumikawa, turn around and take a moment to look back across the rail line you came in on, through the large windows of the station. Towards the crest of the hill you will see the green roof of Hokkaido International School. This should help you to orient yourself. Proceed down to the first floor of the station, through the ticket stiles and then exit the station through the back east exit, not the main, Max Value supermarket side of the station. There is a newsstand/kiosk beside the exit that you should use. The route to school is marked in blue on the map above. Turn right out of the station and then make an immediate left. You will walk past a hairdressing salon on your right and a fenced in house and garden on your left. Cross the main road running behind the station and walk up the street indicated on the map. At the intersection, turn right and look for the stairs and concrete walkway leading up to and through a small park. From the park exit, continue up the street towards the school, which is highlighted in green on the map. The school building will be visible from the park. The walk from Sumikawa Station to Hokkaido International School takes approximately five minutes.
For a printer-friendly copy of the map and directions above you can click Directions to HIS (PDF 336 KB).
The Community
Hokkaido International School is located in Sapporo, the prefectural capital of the island of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost populated island. A metropolis with a population of 1.9 million, Sapporo is the biggest city on the island. Surrounded by rugged mountains and vast areas for outdoor recreation, Sapporo also hosts the world famous Yuki Matsuuri (Snow Festival) each February. Sapporo is the fifth largest city in Japan.
The Faculty
HIS has 21 full time and four part time teachers, Pre-K-12. The upper school has 11 teachers, six who share time in elementary. Teachers on staff come from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, and Japan. Of the secondary staff, 70% have advanced degrees. Student/Teacher ratio in the upper school is approximately 8:1 and class size average is about 14 pupils per class.
The School Year
The HIS school year is 179 days long and since 2008 is divided into semesters, and was previously on trimesters. Report cards are distributed twice yearly. The use of final exams/projects is an option for the teacher but is not required. High School is officially grades 10-12 following the Japanese high school grades, though 9-12 are reported on transcripts.
The Curriculum
HIS offers primarily a US-style, college-preparatory curriculum culminating in AP offerings in Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, European History, US History, Comparative Government, Studio Art, English Language and Literature, and Japanese.
Grading Scale (Due to small class size, HIS does not compute a class rank.)
A = 93.3%-100%
A- = 90%-93.2%
B+ = 86.6%-89.9%
B = 83.3%-86.5%
B- = 80%-83.2%
C+ = 76.6%-79.9%
C = 73.3%-76.5%
C- = 70%-73.2%
D+ = 66.6%-69.9%
D = 63.3%-66.5%
D- = 60%-63.2%
F = <60%
(HIS does not give A+)
High School Courses Offered
English: American Literature (10-12), World Literature (10-12), European Literature (10-12), AP English Literature and Composition (10-12), Speech and Drama (elective).
Math: Geometry, Algebra II, Pre Calculus & Trigonometry, Calculus (AP option).
Social Studies: US History, European History, World History (all with AP options); Comparative Government (AP option); Philosophy & Psychology as electives.
Science: Biology (AP option), Chemistry (AP option), Physics (AP option).
Modern Languages: Japanese as a Second Language I, II, III, IV; Japanese for Proficient Speakers (FPS) I, II, III, IV, V, and Spanish I, II, III.
Fine Arts/Humanities: Art (AP studio art option), Choir, and Jazz Band (each can be taken for three years).
Physical Education: General P.E./Health.
Community Service: various opportunities for both on and off campus Community Service.
ExtraCurricular Involvement Requirement
Students are required to earn two EIR ‘credits’ for involvement in activities outside of the classroom. This requirement applies to High School students only, and High School students must accrue six approved credits prior to graduating (two per year.) Participation in HIS sports teams, sports teams outside of HIS, HIS clubs and activities, volunteer work, community service activities, and other not-for-profit activities for students can qualify as EIR credits.
Graduation Requirements (grades 10-12 for a General Diploma)
English: 3 credits
Social Studies: 3 credits
Math: 2 credits
Science: 2 credits
Fine Arts/Music: 1 credit
Modern Lang: 2 credits
Phys Ed: 1 credit
Electives: 6 credits
Post Graduate Information
College Attendance
Approxiamtely 85% of HIS graduates attend university, with 65% of those going to the US for college. Australia and Canada are increasingly attractive options, and some graduates attend universities in England as well as Japan.
College Entrance Test Information
Recent SAT Scores by Graduating Classes with scores of all test takers included:
Year
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
|
% Native English Speakers
17%
20%
15%
21%
15%
8%
20% |
Verbal Average
540
500
489
453
487
535
517
|
Math Average
620
610
618
598
556
650
574 |
Writing Average
505
500
491
457
|
Essay
7.5
|
Recent SAT II Scores by Graduating Classes, in some cases, scores may represent few or one student.
Post Graduate Studies
Recent graduates have enrolled in the following schools:
2010
Arizona State University
Brigham Young University
Chaminade University of Honolulu
Hull College - England
Imperial College London
International Christian University - Tokyo
University of British Columbia
University of Santo Tomas - Philippines
Vancouver College of Art and Design
Westminster Choir College - New Jersey
|
2009
Depaw University
Franklin & Marshall
International Christian University - Tokyo
Miami University
Pace University
Ritsumeikan University in Japan
Royal Melborne Institute of Technology
San Francisco State University
SUNY - Fredonia
University of California - San Diego
University of Hawaii
University of Richmond
|
2008
International Christian University - Tokyo
Oxford Brookes - UK
Santa Barbara City College
School of Visual Arts in Manhattan
Temple University - Japan
University of British Columbia
University of California - Santa Cruz
University of Oregon
University of Rochester - New York
Waseda University in Tokyo |
2007
American Musical & Dramatic Academy - NY
Chaminade University
Masters College
Purdue University
Sarah Lawrence
SUNY - Plattsburg
University of British Columbia
Union College
University of Australia
University of Minnesota
|
Prior to 2007
Boston University
Brigham Young University
Middlebury
Mt. Royal College - Calgary
Lewis and Clark College
Pomona
|
Reed College
Regis College
Simmons College
University of Kent
University of Vermont
Virginia Commonwealth |
