Admissions Policy
General
- Report cards and previous school teacher recommendations in English or Japanese are preferred. If a recommendation in another language is submitted, a certified translation will be requested by the school.
- MBIS reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if it is found that relevant documentation has been deliberately withheld from the school. Please note that the Admissions Team will contact previous schools to verify documentation.
- In most cases, students transferring from a school which follows a different academic calendar are required to continue at the grade level that they have just completed. For example, a student who has completed Grade 7 in December in Australia would remain in Grade 7 at MBIS until July.
- English is the primary language of instruction and communication at MBIS. Japanese language translation (e.g. during conferences) is also available. Limited informational materials are provided in Japanese, when possible.
- The final decision for admission decisions rests solely with the Head of School. The school is not obligated to release admission test results, or provide detailed responses when declining an admission request.
- Unsuccessful applicants must wait a minimum of twelve months before reapplying to MBIS.
- All documents should be submitted before testing is arranged.
- We encourage families to take a school tour. Any interested families are welcome to take a tour of the school before or after applying. School tours will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays to correspond with applicant testing days.
Montessori
- We are currently reviewing the age at which children can enter the first year of Montessori.
- Students must be able to use the toilet independently.
- Students who have completed Japanese Kindergarten, and are entering the Montessori Program in April, will join our Kindergarten class for the remainder of the academic year.
Lower School
- Grade level placement will be determined by a range of factors, including previous grade level completion, age, and admissions testing data.
- Students transferring from Japanese schools in March will be required to remain in their current grade level (e.g. if they graduated Grade 6 in March, they will enter MBIS at Grade 6 and remain at that grade level until the end of the MBIS school year, in June).
Upper School
- Grade level placement will be determined by a range of factors, including previous grade level completion, age, and admissions testing data.
- Students transferring from Japanese schools in March will be required to remain in their current grade level (e.g. if they graduated Grade 8 in March, they will enter MBIS at Grade 8 and remain at that grade level until the end of the MBIS school year, in June).
- Students applying for grades 9-12 are required to submit academic transcripts that clearly indicate completed courses and academic credits.
- The MBIS ELL Program supports students from grades 1-8. As a result, we are unable to accept students in grades 9-12 who do not meet the required academic English standards.
- The MBIS IB Diploma Programme is a two-year course of study, beginning in Grade 11. As a result, we do not accept applications for entry into Grade 12. IB DP transfer students may be considered, if their course selections match those available at MBIS.
Special Needs
- MBIS welcomes all applicants, however, parents/guardians should note that MBIS personnel and facilities cannot accommodate the entire range of student needs. Admissions and placement will therefore be determined on an individual basis. The Admissions Team will make recommendations to the Administration regarding any academic support required. The Head of School, in consultation with the Admissions Team, makes all decisions regarding acceptance and additional supports required.
- MBIS facilities do not include ramps or elevators, therefore limiting access to students with special access requirements.
- Any identified learning needs or related, relevant issues must be fully disclosed during the application process. Failure to do so may result in a denial or revocation of admission.
Wait Lists
To optimize the learning environment, MBIS places limits on class sizes. As a result, successful applicants may be wait-listed.
Wait lists are not organized on a first-come first-placed basis. Priority within wait lists may be determined by the following factors:
- Children who have previously been enrolled (i.e. returning students)
- Children with siblings currently enrolled at the school
- Children of teachers and staff
- Children of MBIS alumni
- Gender (if a class gender ratio is significantly unbalanced)
- English proficiency (if the overall level of English proficiency in the class is a current concern)
- Availability of alternate enrollment opportunities