| Kumon Leysin Academy of Switzerland | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Leysin, Vaud, Switzerland | |
| Information | |
| Type | Boarding school |
| Religious affiliation(s) | No religious affiliation |
| Established | 1990 |
| Principal | Hiroshi Watanabe |
| Enrollment | 180 (as of Dec, 05) |
| Campus | Leysin |
| Website | www.kumon.ac.jp/klas/en |
Kumon Leysin Academy of Switzerland (KLAS) is a private high school in Leysin, Switzerland, founded by the Kumon Gakuen Educational Foundation in 1990. The school focuses on Japanese and Western university preparation for grades 10-12. KLAS is recognized by the Swiss Service de la Protection de la Jeunesse, Département Sociale et des Assurances and is a member of the European Council of International Schools (ECIS). KLAS is also accredited by Mombu-Kagaku Sho (Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology) as an oversea educational facility. As such, the students obtain eligibility for entrance into Japanese universities upon graduation.
The mission of KLAS is to foster the personal growth of each student, instil a sense of self-awareness as an international citizen, and encourage respect for achievement. The school strives to develop powers of critical and creative thinking, to prepare its students for life as citizens of the world. Recognizing the importance of personal development and self-esteem, the school provides students with varied opportunities for achievement and personal fulfillment through academic studies and other extra-curricular pursuits.
All tenth grade students follow the same curriculum, with approximately half of their 35 fifty-minute classes per week taught in English. Students attend seven classes per day, five days a week. Prior to entering the eleventh grade, students choose a course of study that reflects where they intend to pursue university studies.
Those students wishing to attend non-Japanese universities and who are deemed capable of embracing a rigorous academic program and workload enter the American College Preparation(ACP)program. This prepares students for undergraduate study in western universities, whilst also providing continued language support in ESL classes. In the senior year, students have the opportunity to take Advanced Placement(AP)courses in either Calculus or Studio Art.
KLAS students who plan to return to Japan for undergraduate studies take the Japanese College Preparation(JCP)program. Nevertheless, up to half of their weekly classes are offered in English, reflecting the core mission of KLAS as a bilingual educational institution. JCP students prepare for study at a Japanese university but, with their ever-developing English skills, the possibility for further studies at a non-Japanese university remains very strong.