Marie International School Shukugawa

Marie International School Shukugawa is located in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. The Shukugawa campus sits in a riverside area and is about a five-minute walk from Kurakuenguchi Station. The Primary School address is 302, 6-7 Minamikoshikiiwachou, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo 662-0075, and the Kindergarten is at 2F, 3-8 Hinoikechou, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo 662-0084. The school operates alongside other MIS campuses in the region, including Ashiya and Matsuyama.

Marie International School Shukugawa offers three levels: Kindergarten (ages 3-6), Primary School (ages 6-12), and Secondary School (ages 12-15).

The school is a private, all-in-one international school offering programs from Kindergarten through Secondary. It operates as a day school and does not list boarding facilities.

The school has around 60 students representing about six nationalities. The most common nationality is Japanese, and the local to international student ratio is approximately 9:1.

The school provides small classes with a 1:8 student-to-teacher ratio and offers English language support for students not fluent in English, with additional language classes available at the primary level. After-school and seasonal programs are available for outside students as well.

Japan. The school is located in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan, and does not have a formal country affiliation.

No religious affiliation is indicated.

Core instruction typically runs from 9:00 to 15:00, with after-school care extending to 18:00 for MIS students. The overall MIS program emphasizes a day across multiple campuses from morning until late afternoon, with extended care available.

MIS Shukugawa operates a school bus service. A school-provided bus was referenced during a 2023 moving day when the school relocated within Shukugawa; further route details are not published.

Marie International School Shukugawa offers Kindergarten (ages 3-6), Primary (ages 6-12), and Secondary (ages 12-15) across its campuses, with small class sizes of about 10 students. The Kindergarten uses a Creative Curriculum with daily English instruction and a timetable that includes math, science, and arts alongside language development. Primary School uses a nine-subject framework divided into Core and Expressive Subjects, with differentiated teaching and a milestone-based assessment approach plus performance tasks. English language assessment is embedded in Primary via EIKEN, while Secondary also uses a nine-subject structure and includes EIKEN in its timetable. Secondary's daily program includes wellbeing, global studies, art, languages (Spanish and English) and Japanese, with a focus on experiential learning. MIS provides an all-English environment across its campuses (including Ashiya and Matsuyama openings) and runs seasonal English-language programs based on TOEFL materials, including a 2025 Spring English Language Acceleration Program with TOEFL Primary Step 1/2 and TOEFL Junior groupings.

Marie International School's SEL approach centers on its guiding statement 'Confidence to Be.' It defines this around three traits: Knowing Me (self-awareness), Knowing You (empathy and effective communication), and Expanding Us (courage, resilience, open-mindedness). Teachers act as facilitators who model responses to student experiences and provide a supportive net to help students cope with challenges. The school emphasises social and emotional skills through its values, notably empathy, respect, and strong communication. Small class sizes (a 1:8 teacher–students ratio) support close relationships and timely, individualized social-emotional development. The Extended Learning offering, including Saturday Academy, reinforces SEL by providing language support and structured personal-growth activities such as the Mind Growth Program and beginner-to-advanced English options.

The MIS public materials do not list a dedicated SEN department or specialist SEN provisions. The school notes small class sizes and close teacher–student engagement as a general support mechanism (1:8 ratio), which can aid learners with diverse needs. After-school and Saturday Academy programs offer differentiated English and mathematics instruction (Beginner and Advanced levels) and a Mind Growth Program, illustrating a range of supports beyond standard classroom teaching. There is no explicit mention of the kinds of Special Educational Needs MIS can support or whether it operates as a specialist SEN institution. Therefore, MIS's publicly available information does not specify formal SEN staffing or targeted SEN services.

MIS provides explicit English-language support through its Saturday Academy, which is open to current MIS students and external learners. English and Math classes in Saturday Academy are divided into Beginner and Advanced levels, ensuring instruction matches each learner's proficiency. The program includes an EIKEN®/TOEFL class as part of its English-support offerings, along with a Mind Growth Program. The school emphasises English-language development in its extended programs, including a Summer Program that promotes an All-English environment in practice (no-Japanese policy in that context). For families where home use of English is limited, MIS notes a focus on English language growth within its after-school and Saturday offerings.

MIS articulates a pastoral-oriented philosophy through its guiding statement, which highlights teachers as facilitators who support students in navigating emotional events and developing resilience. The school highlights small class sizes (1:8) to enable close relationships and attentive care from staff. School events are designed to promote a sense of community and mutual respect among students, supporting social belonging and wellbeing. The All in One School model extends supervision from 9:00 to 18:00, helping families with long days and potentially reducing stress related to care arrangements. Extended Learning and after-school options provide structured, supervised environments beyond core hours, contributing to a sense of safety and routine for students.

Admissions Process (Shukugawa Campus)
1. Step 1 – Application for School Tour (Secondary & Primary). Parents should submit the Contact Form on the MIS site to request a tour. After submission, MIS contacts the family by email to confirm the date and time of the school tour. The information session during the tour covers MIS's curriculum, academic programs, and events, giving families a comprehensive overview before proceeding. This step helps families determine fit and plan subsequent steps.

2. Step 2 – School Tour (Secondary & Primary). The school tour includes an information session and an opportunity to view classrooms and facilities. Families meet teachers and staff, and MIS explains its curriculum, assessment approach, and student life in detail. You can ask questions about language support, class size, and the school day structure during this visit.

3. Step 3 – Submission of the Application Form (Secondary & Primary). After the tour, families submit the official Application Form. MIS will notify the applicant of the result within 1 week of receiving the form. This step marks the transition from inquiry to formal consideration for the coming enrollment period.

4. Step 4 – Payment of Application Fee (Secondary & Primary). An invoice for the Application Fee will be issued, and the fee is charged regardless of the outcome of the Interview and Entrance Exam. There are no refunds for this fee. This ensures the school can allocate resources to process applications efficiently.

5. Step 5 – Submission of Recommendation (Secondary & Primary). Families should provide a Letter of Recommendation and Report Card from the current school. If a template is needed for the Letter of Recommendation, MIS can provide one. The sending school should forward these directly to MIS.

6. Step 6 – Interview and Entrance Exam (Secondary & Primary). After the Application Fee is confirmed as paid, MIS will schedule the Student Entrance Exam, Student Interview, and Parent Interview. The assessment considers recommendations, academic records, and English-language proficiency. This step determines readiness for MIS's program and placement.

7. Step 7 – Acceptance Letter (Secondary & Primary). An Acceptance Letter is sent by email, and families are asked to make the payment via bank transfer. This formalizes enrollment and confirms the student's place.

8. Step 8 – Admission Documents Form (Secondary & Primary). Families receive the Admission Documents and are expected to complete and submit them. Completing these documents is required before enrollment can proceed.

9. Step 9 – Parent-Teacher Meeting and Orientation (Secondary & Primary). MIS will arrange a meeting to discuss collaboration for the child's development and success. Families should submit the completed Admission Documents on this day to finalize enrollment plans.

10. Step 10 – Enrollment (Secondary & Primary). Ensure the child has everything needed before the first day. All fees must be paid by the specified deadline prior to Enrollment. This step completes the admissions process for MIS Shukugawa.

11. Kindergarten & Preschool (Students interested). Step 1 – Application for School Tour: Submit the Contact Form to request a tour and receive an email with the time and date. Step 2 – School Tour: Attend an information session and tour, with an explanation of MIS's programs and events. Step 3 – Submission of Application Form: Submit the Application Form and await notification of the result within 1 week.

12. Kindergarten & Preschool (Students who have decided to enroll). Step 1 – Payment for Application: The invoice for the registration fee will be sent by the MIS office, and admission is accepted once payment is confirmed. Step 2 – Admission Documents: The required documents are provided and must be submitted to MIS. Step 3 – Enrollment: Ensure all requirements are satisfied before the first day.

Notes relevant to language and placement: English is the language used for MIS communications and instruction. Parents who do not use English as their home language should support English-language communication with teachers and their child's education. Letters of recommendation in English are preferred but can be submitted in other languages. The admission process includes an English-language assessment as part of the screening.

Waitlist / pool: Marie International School uses a rolling admissions approach. Applications are accepted all year round and are reviewed on a rolling basis provided spaces are available. There is no published, separate waitlist system; admission decisions for April enrollment typically occur between February and early March, while September enrollment decisions occur between July and August. For applicants transferring from MIS, the admission process runs October–January for April enrollment and February–June for October enrollment, with dates announced separately. In short, admissions depend on space availability at the time of review.