It was founded in 1997 to "provide a diverse, child-centered and inquiry-based education."[2] The school contains a pre-school, elementary, and middle school, with a total student population of approximately 370 students representing over 60 nationalities. The 5 full-time faculty members come from 13 different countries.[3] Instruction is in English and the school follows the International Baccalaureate Organization curriculum guidelines. It is accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Council of International Schools.[1] TIS is also a Columbia University Readers and Writers 'Project' school. This means it receives regular visits on an annual basis from teacher trainers from Columbia University. Admission guidelines are designed to ensure each class has no more than 20 students. Located in the Minami Azabu area of central Tokyo, it is one of the few internationally accredited international schools in the center of the city. The TIS Mission is to "To nurture confident, open-minded, independently thinking, and well-balanced inquirers for global responsibility."
The Good Schools Guide International called it "lively and imaginative."[1]
A bus at Tokyo International School
History
In 1997, American-Japanese husband and wife Patrick Newell and Ikuko Tsuboya-Newell started Tokyo International School to provide an education for their two daughters. Starting with 12 students and one classroom, the school moved twice in the Meguro area of Tokyo before moving to Shirokane in 2000. In March 2004, due to a growing number of students, the school moved to a new location in Tamachi, the site of the recently vacated Nankai Elementary School. The schoolyard was resurfaced and the building was reinforced and painted a distinctive blue, orange, and yellow before the school moved in. After ten years at the Tamachi location, in August 2013 the school moved to its current location in Minami-Azabu. The school began offering Grade 10 courses in August 2023.[4]
Students
Students at Tokyo International School come from over 60 countries. No nationality makes up more than 20% of the student body. The largest represented nationalities as of 2023 are the United States (17%) and Japan (15%), followed by Australia, South Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.[3]
Teachers
The Teachers at Tokyo International School generally have lived in various countries, with the largest represented nationalities as of 2023 being the United States, Australia, Japan and New Zealand.[3]
