Kyuyou High School

Today, we visited an academically rigorous high school in central Okinawa City. Like most high schools in Japan, students take an entrance exam at the end of junior high (end of 9th grade) that is used to get into high schools. This high school requires a pretty high exam score to get in, and the difference in students' motivation, seriousness, and studiousness compared to students in elementary and junior high was clear. In fact, we were allowed to wander freely through all classes except for the third floor, which is where the 12th graders have classes, as their entire academic year is spent preparing for university entrance exams.

Exam results from last year listing the names of all the students who passed entrance exams to the top public universities - a little more than a 1/3 of last year's 12th graders passed.

Students in each class were serious - all were taking notes and studying quite intently. Teaching was through lecture-style, but the teachers were relaxed, joking with students and trying to make sure that everyone understands. This style seems to really work for students, but then again, most go to juku, or cram schools, for another 2 or so hours of extra studying each day. Self-motivated studying seems to be a big focus - motivating kids is not seen as teachers' responsibility.


Students' belongings are kept in their classroom - teachers come to them, students stay in the same room for most of the day.

Okay, none of my videos are loading, so you'll have to trust me that they're good... when I have a better internet connection, hopefully, I can upload them then.