Admissions

If you are interested in applying for admission in September 2026, please contact the Sano International School Office.  Once we receive your application, we will reach out to schedule an interview. 

Students applying to Elementary or Junior High will complete assessments in Math and English.

Transfer students are expected to demonstrate reading and writing skills at their entering grade level, or no more than one grade below.  

Entrance Admission Requirements:

For Kindergarten:

Students are required to be five years old by September 1 of the academic year.

To help your child start Kindergarten with confidence, we ask that incoming students meet the following basic language and math expectations:

English Language

• Speaking: Students should be able to use basic greetings, say “please” and “thank you,” make simple requests (e.g., “May I go to the restroom?” or “I’m done.”), and introduce themselves.

• Reading: Students should recognize the letters of the alphabet and understand their basic sounds.

• Writing: Students should be able to write uppercase and lowercase letters of the alphabet and write their full name.

• Listening: We encourage families to practice listening to English at home—such as through simple songs, stories, or short videos—to help build comprehension and comfort with spoken English.

Mathematics

• Students should be able to count, recognize, and write numbers up to 10.

For Grade 1:

To ensure a smooth transition into Grade 1, incoming students should demonstrate foundational skills in English and Math. (Eikken level 5-4)

English Language

• Speaking: Students should be able to use basic communication for everyday needs and be familiar with common sight words such as come, was, said, is, away, what, want, me, we, you, are, he, she, and they.

• Reading: Students should know the alphabet, be able to read CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words (e.g., cat, dog, sun), and understand simple sentences.

• Writing: Students should demonstrate the ability to write uppercase and lowercase letters with correct placement within the lines, form CVC words, and write simple sentences such as “I see a cat.”

• Listening: Students should be able to understand and follow simple classroom instructions, such as:

• “Open your textbook to page ___.”

• “Take out your pencil or notebook.”

• “Put away your textbook.”

• “Raise your hand.”
  They should also be comfortable using and responding to common phrases like:

• “How are you?”

• “May I go to the restroom?”

• “Are you ready?”

Mathematics

• Students should be able to count, recognize, and write numbers and objects up to 20.

• They should also be able to complete simple addition and subtraction problems up to 10.

Transfer Requirements (Grade 2 and Above)

For students transferring into Grade 2 or higher, please contact the school office for more information regarding placement and admission requirements. Our team will be happy to review your child’s academic background and determine the most appropriate placement to support their learning and growth.

English proficiency requirements for placement are as follows:

• Grades 3–4: TOEFL Primary Step 2 score of 200 or above

• Grade 5: TOEFL Primary Step 2 score of 220 or above

• Grade 6: TOEFL Junior score of 700 or above