The Japanese education system is basically comprised of 6 years of elementary school, 3 years at junior high school, 3 years at senior high school and 4 years at university (or 2 years at college).
Among these, elementary school and junior high school are compulsory.
Entrance to high school and university is, in principle, decided by an admissions examination.
There are also colleges and schools for mainly junior and senior high school graduates that teach technical and occupational skills.
There are national schools managed by the state, public schools managed by prefectures, cities, wards, town and villages and private schools managed by school foundations.
The school year begins in April and continues until March the following year.

Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, Technology -Homepage(Website)
http://www.mext.go.jp/english/org/f_formal_16.htm
(Formal Education – in English)

Nursery schools provide care services for parents who can’t take care of their child (from 4-monthold up to elementary school entrance age) during daytime for long-term due to their job.
(Inquiries) Children's Welfare Division

Kindergartens in this city provide pre-school education for children from 3 years of age (for a 3-year course), from 4 years of age (for a 2-year course) and from 5 years of age (for a 1-year course). Enrolment procedure is at each kindergarten.
(Inquiries) General Affairs of Education Division

An elementary school is a school for children between the ages of 7 years old and 12 years old whose birthday is between April 2 of the year they wish to enter school and April 1 of the following year.
A junior high school is a school for children between the ages of 13 years old and 15 years old whose birthday is between April 2 of the year they wish to enter school and April 2 of the following year.
(Inquiries) General Affairs of Education Division

• Elementary school
  Guardians of eligible children will receive a ‘Notification of health checkup when attending school’ in October. They will receive a ‘school attendance notice’ in Feburary of the following year. And Schools provide guidance about entrance into a school in March.
• Junior high school
  Children in the 6th grade of municipal school will receive a 'school attendance notice' from elementary school. We send it to guardian of Other children.
• If children don’t enter municipal school, guardians should report a ‘letter of acceptance’or an ‘enrtrance permit’ to ‘General Affairs of Education Division’.

(Inquiries) General Affairs of Education Division

We provide child care services for those primary school children who require protection and care due to the absence of their parents in the home during the day.
List of Children Enhancement Club
Children Enhancement Club of Ikoma-Kita Elementary School (TEL: 0743-79-3402)
Children Enhancement Club of Shikanodai Elementary School (TEL: 0743-79-0410)
Children Enhancement Club of Mayumi Elementary School (TEL: 0743-79-0675)
Children Enhancement Club of Asukano Elementary School (TEL: 0743-78-6623)
Children Enhancement Club of Ikomadai Elementary School (TEL: 0743-74-5081)
Children Enhancement Club of Tawaraguchi Elementary School (TEL: 0743-74-9178)
Children Enhancement Club of Sakuragaoka Elementary School (TEL: 0743-74-5406)
Children Enhancement Club of Ikoma Elementary School (TEL: 0743-74-1077)
Children Enhancement Club of Ikoma-Higashi Elementary School (TEL: 0743-74-1084)
Children Enhancement Club of Ichibu Elementary School (TEL: 0743-77-6611)
Children Enhancement Club of Ikoma-Minami Elementary School (TEL: 0743-77-6081)
Children Enhancement Club of Ikoma-Minami-daini Elementary School (TEL: 0743-76-6355)
(Inquiries) Children's Welfare Division

• Consultation content
  Consultation of all types for the concerns and problems troubling young people
• Location
  Adolescent Center on the 3rd floor of Ikoma Seisei Building
• Times
  The building is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for holidays and the yearend period from December 29 to January 3.
• Persons in charge
  Social education personnel

(Inquiries) Adolescent Center (in Ikoma Seisei Building,6-12,Moto-machi 1-chome,Ikoma City )TEL 0743-75-0237

A high school is a school for students who have graduated from junior high school.
In Japan, more than 90% of the population advance to high school.
To enter a high school, a person must take an examination. There are also schools which have a recommendation entrance system.
Even if a person has not graduated from a Japanese junior high school, if the person obtained an education that is recognized as being equal to a junior high school education, the person can take an entrance examination.
There are many kinds of high schools. Classes are divided according to content; schools can offer regular courses, specialist courses (technical, business, agricultural and foreign language courses, etc.) and general studies courses.
Schools are also classified according to the hours classes are held; daytime (zennichi sei), part-time (teiji sei), and correspondence (tsushin sei) schools.
Besides these, there are new types of high schools.
Some schools have special systems for foreigners.

Universities and colleges are schools for students who have graduated from senior high school.
You must sit an entrance examination in order to enter a university.
If a person has not graduated from a Japanese junior high school or senior high school, that person is still eligible to sit an entrance examination if he/she has obtained an education the equivalent of a Japanese senior high school.
Some universities and colleges have special systems for foreigners.

Links to【Education-Elementary and Junior High Schools-Adolescents consultation】

Japanese can be learned at a Japanese language school, Japanese language classes and Japanese language courses.
Tuition fees must be paid at Japanese language schools. However, there are cheap or free Japanese language courses and classes offered by various organizations and groups. For information on these, enquiries should be made at the international exchange organizations in your area.

The Ikoma Board of Education conducts Japanese language classes as one of its programs to create a multicultural community comfortable for Japanese and foreigners alike.

• Habataki Class
  Time: Every Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  Location: Kita Community Center ISTA Habataki
• Library Class
  Time: Every Saturday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  Location: Ikoma City Library
• Content
  Japanese language education conducted by volunteer teachers
• Fees: Free (Expenses are required for textbooks and other material.)
• Applications and inquiries
  Send a postcard or e-mail with your name, address, telephone number, and native language to the Human Rights Education Division
  

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(Inquiries) Human Rights Education Division