”School Choice System” Which Offers Choices Of Schools You Can Attend

While some areas in Japan have “school district systems” where children go to a public school that is designated to the area where they live, other areas give families choices of schools their children can attend, which is called “school choice system”.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of The “School Choice System”

The school choice system makes it so that families are able to choose their child’s school by considering its characteristics and educational policies. On the other hand, your child’s commuting time may increase, and they may feel less connected with the local community. The possibility of mental and physical burdens, as well as crime and traffic safety, should be taken into consideration when choosing a school for your child to attend, especially for first-grade children as they are just starting to go to and from school on their own.

Important Notes On The “School Choice System”

Note that the school choice system is not offered by all local governments. Choices of schools may also be limited within the area even where the school choice system is offered. You may want to check with your local government about your choices in advance if you want your child to attend a specific public school.

Schedule For Using The ”School Choice System”

The following is an example of the overall schedule for the 2023 school choice system in Adachi-ku:

(Source: Adachi-ku website）

Preparations must be started in the previous school year in order to use the school choice system. It is recommended to check the schedule and start preparing early if you wish to use this system.