Gifu High School Serves 62% Foreign Students

Why this is here: Tōnō High School’s Japanese program boasts an 85% success rate in guiding graduates toward higher education or full-time employment.

Wada Satomi, a teacher at Gifu Prefectural Tōnō High School in Japan, observes her students writing scripts in Japanese. The school’s student body is roughly two-thirds students with foreign backgrounds—a demographic shift reflected in the curriculum. Students from the Philippines, Brazil, and Nepal now comprise over 200 of the school’s 360 pupils, up from just three in 2006.

Tōnō High established a special Japanese language program to support these students. Tenth graders focus on reading, eleventh graders on drama, and twelfth graders practice skills for employment or further education. Teachers also consult with universities to refine the curriculum and added a driving-focused unit based on student requests.

About 85% of graduates from the program pursue higher education or secure regular employment. This rate surpasses the national average of roughly 10% who do not continue education or find stable work and another 40% who take on non-regular positions. The school continues to adapt its methods to best serve a growing and diverse student population.