Quick summary of key school information
All the details about this school in their own words
Nationalities
Number of students |
140 |
Number of nationalities represented in the school |
20-25 |
Most common nationality |
Japanese |
Ratio of local students to international students |
1:1 |
Languages
Native English speaking teachers |
Yes |
Language support for students not fluent in English |
English as an Additional Language classes are available for ELL/ESL students from Grades 5-8 (Middle School). |
Additional language classes offered by the school |
In addition to Japanese, which is part of our main curriculum, we have offered an additional range of foreign language classes over the years in our Electives system, including Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Greek, and Dutch. These additional elective classes, however, depend on what is being offered during the semester and are not a guaranteed part of our curriculum. |
Classroom
Max. number of students per class |
6 for Pre-K / 10 for Kindergarten-G2 / 12 for G3-6 / 14 for G7-8 / 18 for G9-12 |
Average number of students per class |
10 |
Does the school employ teaching assistants? |
Yes, the school employs classroom assistants to support with classes and tutoring/support sessions. |
Use of technology in the classroom |
Students have access to laptops for school work. Every classroom has a screen or projector. English & Math Labs (Grades 1-8) involve the use of learning software to track individual student progress and data. |
Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
Yes, during emergencies (such as the COVID-19 lockdown), we are equipped to provide 100% online lessons without resorting to 'asynchronous' learning or sacrificing the students' equitable access to the curriculum. |
Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
KAIS International School is a secular school. Although we do not explicitly adhere to or teach a specific religion, students do learn about various religious belief systems in their Social Studies classes. |
How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion? |
Religious or not, we try our best to accommodate all requests from families as long as they align with our policies and procedures. |
Academics
External examinations or assessments available |
Students from Grades 3-8 take the ISA (International Schools' Assessment) yearly. Kindergarten students participate in the Baseline diagnostic to determine their starting points and growth metrics for their first year at school. Grade 8 students take the PSAT in preparation for high school. |
Results in these examinations |
Students typically score at or above average on the PSATs. Based on ISA results, we are typically above the international average in all subject areas. |
Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
Yes |
Approximate hours of homework given |
The amount of time needed to complete homework depends on the students' age and grade. The typical school day involves a Homework Lab in which students can complete most or all of their homework at school in the presence of a teacher. |
Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation |
99-100% |
Student support
Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
We have a School Counselor, School Nurse, and classroom assistants. |
Learning support offered |
We offer weekly Social Awareness classes as a 'universal intervention' in order to practice communication and emotional regulation strategies, as well as to respond to topics of immediate importance for students from Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12. To address individualized needs, we schedule weekly check-ins with the school counselor. Any needs that exceed our ability to support the child are addressed with the family, and recommendations for third-party specialized support are provided. |
The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
Students who need challenge opportunities may be placed in a higher level classes, depending on teacher observation, family request, and assessment metrics. More often than not, we implement differentiation strategies for students who want to extend themselves above and beyond the main curriculum. |
Student access to education psychologist |
Our school currently does not employ an educational psychologist, but we do collaborate with third-party professionals should the need arise. |
Admissions
Entry evaluation for students |
Yes, we conduct Math and English diagnostic assessments to better understand the students' needs. Prospective students also must complete a trial day during a typical school day. This allows both us and the family to see if the school and child are a good fit. We also observe the student's behavior to better understand if they would contribute to the classroom dynamic (ex. we use a tier system to as part of our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) approach to maintain a healthy classroom dynamic for each grade). |
Brief description of entry evaluation required |
The Math and English diagnostic assessments are paper-based examinations to assess student knowledge in relation to Common Core standards and to better understand thes incoming students' learning needs. |
Waiting list |
Yes, once we reach maximum capacity. |
Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
We accept new student registrations throughout the year for grades where there is availability. |
Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes |
School day
School start time |
School starts at 8:40 at the Elementary & Middle School campus, and at 9:00 at the High School campus. |
School finish time |
Our Elementary & Middle School finishes at 15:45 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and at 14:45 on Wednesdays.
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Supervised care before/after school |
We offer specialized morning support sessions to students to address short- and medium-term learning needs in English and Math, from Grades 1-8.
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School bus service available |
No |
School provided lunches |
Lunch can be purchased from our third-party lunch provider, Kiwi Kitchen. |
Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc) |
Our third-party provider accommodates for several types of dietary needs/restrictions. |
Uniform required |
No |
Extracurricular activities
Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Athletics Club (soccer, volleyball, basketball), Cinema Club, Creative Art Club, Anime Club, School Band, Broadcasting, School Newspaper |
Sports activities included |
We have weekly Physical Education classes for every grade, as well as sports electives on Wednesdays (ex. Soccer: Ball Mastery, Table Tennis, Boxing & Fitness, Bouldering). |
Sports teams or sport competitions available for students |
Our school is a member of ISTAA, a sports league for international schools. Our team, the Llamas, competes against other schools in the league in various sports. |
Facilities
Facilities at the school |
School library, classroom libraries |
Sports facilities at the school |
Bouldering wall, ping-pong tables, multi-use sports room |
About the school
Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
KAIS is dedicated to providing a unique and personalized educational experience that goes beyond the traditional classroom. Founded with a vision to foster creativity, critical thinking, and a love for learning, KAIS has grown into a thriving community where students are encouraged to explore their passions and reach their full potential. Our approach combines the best of traditional and progressive education, ensuring that our students are not only academically prepared but also equipped with the social and emotional skills needed to succeed in today’s world. Since opening the school in 2014, we have welcomed students and families from over 20 countries. We are dedicated to providing a unique international learning experience that fosters your child’s natural inclination towards curiosity, self-discovery, personal excellence, and joy. Our school accomplishes this by offering (1) personalized instruction, (2) high academic standards, (3) interdisciplinary, project-based learning, (4) an emphasis on inquiry and experience, and (5) a responsible approach to discipline in which students are encouraged to take responsibility for their actions. Mission
Vision
School Culture - KAIS students are … Welcoming: We cultivate connection, community, and friendship with people across a diverse range of backgrounds, interests, and personalities.
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Teaching approach of the school |
KAIS International is committed to providing high quality teaching and learning experiences for all the students in our care. Learning is the purpose of the whole school and is a shared commitment among all teaching and non-teaching staff. This commitment to excellence serves to guide our students toward a healthy, stimulating, and fulfilling life wherein learning and growth become established habits. We recognize that education involves children, parents, staff, and the community, and that to ensure the most favorable outcome all should work closely together in alignment to support the process. KAIS students, teachers, and staff collectively model the traits of the KAIS Culture Words to co-create a learning environment that nurtures welcoming, enthusiastic, curious, reflective, self-motivated, resourceful, resilient, responsible, and global-minded individuals. High Quality Teaching and Learning High quality teaching and learning at KAIS is student-centered and empowers students to take ownership of their learning. It is marked by a strong emphasis on critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. It involves the ongoing evaluation of student progress and the use of evidence to inform future instruction. Overall, high quality teaching and learning at KAIS is engaging, meaningful, relevant, and helps students to develop the skills and competencies they need to succeed in the 21st century world. We ensure high quality teaching and learning at KAIS is taking place by implementing the principles of John Hattie's Visible Learning research. Visible Learning is a body of research that synthesizes over 1,600 meta-analyses of educational research studies to identify the factors that have the greatest impact on student learning and achievement. The Visible Learning research indicates that one of the most powerful influences on student learning is how teachers think about learning and their role within the learning process. |