Nagoya International School | Everything You Need to Know About Curriculum, Activities, and Academic Success
- egcisjp
- 3月12日
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About Nagoya International School
Nagoya International School (Nagoya International Academy, Nagoya International School, NIS) is a private, co-educational international school established in 1964, located in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. It consists of Preschool (Pre-K), Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12), with more than 450 students from over 35 countries. All classes are conducted in English.
NIS is officially accredited by WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) and CIS (Council of International Schools). It is the first school in Aichi Prefecture to be fully authorized by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization to offer all three programs—Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and Diploma Programme (DP). Upon graduation, students earn an American high school diploma, and they can also obtain an IB Diploma by completing the IB Diploma Programme.
Location & Facilities
Nagoya International School is located in Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, in a spacious campus surrounded by a quiet residential area. It is ideally situated for learning while maintaining easy access to central Nagoya and nearby areas.
Address: 2686 Minamihara, Nakashidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya, Japan
Access & Transportation
Nearest Stations
Kozoji Station (JR Chuo Main Line, Aichi Loop Line) – About 10 minutes by taxi from the south exit.
Owariasahi Station or Sangō Station (Meitetsu Seto Line) – About 15 minutes by taxi.
School Bus Routes
Shuttle bus to Kozoji Station & Issha Station
Five bus routes covering Komaki Station & major city areas
Access from Nagoya Station
Take the JR Chuo Main Line (downbound) towards Tajimi, Mizunami, or Nakatsugawa.
The travel time from Nagoya Station to Kozoji Station is approximately 30 minutes.
Campus & Facilities
NIS is situated on a 7.5-acre (approximately 3-hectare) campus, with five modern buildings connected by terraces, gardens, and covered walkways. The campus architecture is designed to create a safe and inspiring learning environment, featuring:
Classrooms for all grade levels
Specialist areas
Outdoor learning spaces
Design & Fabrication Lab
Sports fields
Play areas for younger students
All classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards and a high-speed Wi-Fi network for learning support.
Curriculum Overview
NIS adopts the International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP, MYP, and DP, emphasizing student-centered, inquiry-based learning.
Early Learning Center (Pre-K & Kindergarten) | Ages 3-5
This is a crucial stage where children develop independence and curiosity. The ELC at NIS follows the Reggio Emilia approach and IB PYP, promoting experiential learning to develop cognitive skills and self-esteem. The classroom environment is optimized for reading, writing, and speaking, with teachers supporting learning through individual, small-group, and whole-class activities. UOI (Units of Inquiry) foster critical thinking, creativity, and self-expression.
Elementary School (Grades 1-5)
In the PYP program, students deepen their knowledge, apply their learning, and recognize their social responsibilities through inquiry-based learning.
The curriculum integrates:
Languages (English & Japanese)
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies
Physical Education
Arts
Computers
Students explore six UOIs (Units of Inquiry) annually, encouraging cross-disciplinary learning and global awareness.
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Middle school focuses on academic growth, self-confidence, and social responsibility, supporting students through small class sizes and personalized instruction. The MYP curriculum goes beyond knowledge acquisition, fostering real-world applications and preparing students for high school and the IB DP program.
Core Subjects:
Language & Literature (English or Japanese)
Individuals & Societies (History, Civics, Geography, Culture)
Integrated Science
Integrated Math
Physical & Health Education
The Arts (Visual Arts, Drama, Music)
High School (Grades 9-12)
High school is divided into two phases:
Grades 9-10 (Final stage of MYP)
Grades 11-12 (IB Diploma Programme DP)
Grades 9-10 (MYP)
Students take seven core subjects, plus Design Technology and an elective course:
English / Japanese (Language A or B)
Individuals & Societies (History, Civics, Geography, Culture)
Integrated Science / Integrated Math
Physical & Health Education
The Arts (Grade 9 only)
Grades 11-12 (IB DP)
Students choose either the NIS diploma only or IB Diploma.
Six Subject Groups:
Language & Literature (English / Japanese)
Language Acquisition (Japanese or other online courses)
Individuals & Societies (History / Economics)
Sciences (Biology / Chemistry / Physics)
Mathematics
The Arts (or another course from the five groups above)
All students take TOK (Theory of Knowledge) and complete CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) activities.
Co-Curricular Activities
NIS provides a wide range of extracurricular activities (CCA) for student development.
Elementary CCAs: Outdoor & indoor activities (updated quarterly).
Middle & High School CCAs: Student Council, Model UN (MUN), Global Issues Network, Yearbook Club, and student-led clubs.
Dolphin Sports: Volleyball, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball/Softball, Badminton, Cross Country. Compete in WJAA & EAISAC leagues.
Dolphin Arts: Theater, Musicals, Art Exhibitions.
Summer Program
Held late July to early August, featuring art, crafts, team games, IT, science experiments. Open to ages 4-12, with eligibility based on English proficiency, international school enrollment, or recent returnees.
Academic Achievements
IB DP (2023 Results)
23 graduates, 19 pursued the IB Diploma, 16 earned it
Highest score: 42
NIS average: 33.9 (Global average: 30.2)
University Admissions
US: Boston, Carnegie Mellon, UC Berkeley, NYU
UK: Imperial College London, King’s College London, LSE
Canada: Toronto, UBC, McGill
Japan: Keio (PEARL), Waseda, ICU, University of Tokyo
Other: Melbourne, Sydney, Seoul National University
Admissions Process
Admission Assessment
NIS evaluates applicants based on academic ability, English proficiency, learning motivation, and developmental stage to determine eligibility for admission.
Application Deadlines
Applications are accepted year-round, but new admissions and transfers for Grade 12 are not permitted. Students who wish to enroll in the IB Diploma Programme (DP) must join before the start of Grade 11.
Required Documents
All Applicants: Online application form, academic transcripts (last 2 years), photos, passport or proof of residency, application fee (20,000 JPY)
Elementary, Middle, and High School Applicants: Recommendation letter
ELC Applicants: ELC-specific recommendation letter
Interview & English Proficiency Test
After document screening, an interview in English will be conducted. Applicants may be required to take an English proficiency test if deemed necessary.
EAL Program (English Support)
Students with insufficient English skills may receive EAL (English as an Additional Language) support, but this is not available for students in Grade 11 or above.
Grade Placement & Conditional Admission
Grade placement is determined based on age criteria, and grade retention upon admission is generally not allowed unless under exceptional circumstances.
For overseas applicants, a "Conditional Admission Approval" may be granted if space is available and certain conditions are met.
Academic Performance & Grade Retention
Students must maintain satisfactory academic performance. If their progress is deemed insufficient, they may be required to repeat a grade or be held back.
Contact Information
Website: NIS Official Site
Phone: +81-52-736-2025
Email: admissions@nis.ac.jp / info@nis.ac.jp
Conclusion
Nagoya International School (NIS) offers a full IB curriculum with a strong focus on academics, extracurricular activities, and global citizenship. Students broaden their international perspective in a multicultural environment while preparing for admission to top universities worldwide.
If you need admissions preparation or academic support for international schools, EGCIS is here to help. Sign up for a free trial lesson using the link below.
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