Admissions Policy and Process
Admissions Policy
HIS is a school dedicated to serving the expatriate community of Sapporo and Hokkaido, as well as others pursuing a western style education. Admission applications are reviewed and decided on by an Admission Committee consisting of two or three staff members and chaired by the Head of the School. This group will also make initial grade-placement decisions.
Priorities in admission
When the number of eligible applicants exceeds the availability of spaces for a particular grade year, students may be placed in a wait pool until space becomes available. Students with siblings already enrolled at HIS are given priority status within the wait pool, as are children of HIS staff and alumni, students returning to Japan who have previously attended HIS. We consider various other criteria in selecting students from the wait pool, including whether the student has other viable educational options, their level of English and general academic proficiency, and the gender and nationality balance of the class/grade.
When placing an applicant in a wait pool, we try to provide the candidate with a realistic assessment of the chances and possible timing for admittance. However, candidates should be aware that, like most international schools, the enrollment situation at HIS is dynamic and often unpredictable. Parents of applicants in the wait pool are asked to submit updated school reports as they become available to confirm their wish to remain in the wait pool. We will of course notify applicants at the earliest opportunity if space does become available.
HIS, as a western style educational school, expects parents to
- Take an active role in the life of the school (i.e. attend and take part in school/ PTA activities)
- Be able to communicate with the teachers and staff in English work with your child at home in your native tongue (i.e. encourage reading; help with homework, etc.)
- While HIS cannot admit students with profound learning difficulties, HIS may be able to accommodate students with mild special needs. Continued enrollment at HIS is always dependent upon a student’s satisfactory achievement, behavior and effort.
If you have any questions, please contact admissions@his.ac.jp.
Sincerely,
Tim Schlosser
Head of School