About Gifu Sogo Gakuen High School

About Us

Gifu Sogo Gakuen High School is located in the southern part of Gifu Prefecture in central Japan. With the Nagara River streaming to the west nearby, and Mt. Kinka overlooking, our school is next to the Gifu Government Building. Gifu Sogo Gakuen High School was established in 1997 after the merging of Gifu Nish Technical High School and Gifu Daiichi Girls' High School, with the new school motto of 'Independence', 'Creativity', and 'Friendship.'

In Japan there are three types of high schools: 1. academic, 2. vocational, 3. integrated. This system started in 1995, of which our school is the latter, and is one of more than 200 in Japan.

Our school instructs 9 areas of study: "Natural Science", "Mechatronics", "Environmental Technology", "Information Technology", "Social Welfare", "Physical Science", "Intercultural Studies", "Tourism and Business", and "Art and Culture".

Our school has three year levels, and each has seven classes of forty students from ages 16 to 18. About 65 % of the students are girls. Of the staff of 80, one is a native speaker of English, who is participating on the JET program.

First year students take core subjects like other academic high school students. The second and third year students take elective subjects according to their interests and their career goals including practical training. We offer 140 subjects. Some classes are very small and some classes combine second year and third year students, which is very rare here in Japan.

Students make their own timetable according to their own interests, but they share club activities and school events like sports and cultural days.

Approximately 80% of the students go on to tertiary education such as university, junior college or politechnical school.

Our school buildings have some of the best state of the art facilities in Gifu. The newest building is totally computerized and so-called the intelligent building.

Our school in its present form was reborn in 1997. So we have an opportunity to make our own traditions and develop a culture which pursues our ambition for independent, creative and friendly students.

We trust that the students enjoy their school life at Gifu Sogo Gakuen. Each student has the opportunity to create their own destiny, and are encouraged to discover, unleash and develop their hidden talents and aspirations.