Japanese Middle Schools

Secondary Education in Japan is split into middle schools (中学校 chūgakkō), which cover the seventh through ninth years, and high schools (高等学校 kōtōgakkō) which mostly cover years ten through twelve.

Lower-secondary school covers grades seven, eight, and nine—children between the ages of roughly twelve and fifteen—with increased focus on academic studies. Although it is still possible to leave the formal education system after completing lower secondary school and find employment, fewer than 4% did so by the late 1980s.

The teaching force in lower-secondary schools is two-thirds male. Schools are headed by principals, 99% of whom are men. Classes are large, with thirty-eight students per class on average, and each class is assigned a homeroom teacher who doubles as counselor.

Unlike elementary students, middle school students have different teachers for different subjects. The teacher, however, rather than the students, moves to a new room for each fifty-minute period.

All course contents are specified in the Course of Study for Lower-Secondary Schools. Other subjects, such as foreign-language study (usually English) begin at this level. The curriculum covers Japanese language, social studies, mathematics, science, music, fine arts, health, and physical education. All students also are exposed to either industrial arts or homemaking. Moral education and special activities continue to receive attention.

Students also attend mandatory club meetings during school hours, and many also participate in after-school clubs.