SCHOOL INFORMATION INDEX
So you and your family are here on Okinawa (or getting ready to PCS to our lovely island) and you’ve got questions about the schools. Well, we’ve got some answers.
Links to DoDEA Websites
DoDDS Kindergarten & First Grade Entrance Age Requirements: “Kindergarten students must be five years old on/or before 1 September of the current calendar year to be eligible to register for the upcoming school year. First Grade students must be six years old on/or before 1 September of the current calendar year to be eligible to register for the upcoming school year.”
School Commuting Zones (Guide & Maps)
School-Aged Services Program on Kadena Air Force Base and Marine Corps Bases
Off-Base Childcare and Preschool Reviews
Listed below are the preschools we have information on, all submitted by our readers. Please keep in mind that these are all parent-submitted reviews; Okinawa Hai does not endorse or recommend any specific schools, and the information about fees and costs may not be entirely up-to-date. Please contact each school directly for more accurate information.
Chatan, Okinawa City, Sunabe Areas (convenient to Kadena Air Base, Camp Lester, Torii Station)
Okinawa Montessori School International- 2013 review; 2007/2010 review Montessori preschool; ages 2.5 to 6; Sunabe
Baby 123 Island Style Daycare – English-speaking daycare; ages 6 weeks to kindergarten age; Chatan
Ai International Preschool – Montessori-style; ages birth to 5 years; Chatan
All Souls’ Episcopal Church Children’s Program – Christian-based preschool; ages 2-4; Chatan
American Preschool Mihama – English-speaking daycare & preschool; ages 1-6; Chatan
Busy Bee International School – ages 2 years -3rd grade; Chatan
East West Montessori School – Montessori; ages 3-6; Chatan
Golden Mind Achievers International Preschool – Montessori-style daycare & preschool; 6 weeks to 6 years old; Chatan
House of Joy Child Care & Learning Center – ages 6 weeks to 6 years; Chatan
Kids Place 24 Hour Rush Daycare – CLOSED
Kids Plus 1 – Japanese drop off daycare; ages 1 to 12 years; Chatan
Koza Seibo Yochien – Japanese-language preschool; ages 2-5; Okinawa City
Kuwae Preschool – American preschool; ages 3-5; Lester Navy Base
Matsumoto Daycare and Preschool – Japanese daycare & preschool; ages 1-6; Matsumodo
-Admissions CLOSED to New English Speaking Students
Rainbow Montessori Education Center – 2012 Review; 2008 Review Montessori preschool; birth to age 6; Sunabe
Z’s International Daycare & Preschool – daycare & preschool; 6 months to age 5; Chatan
Ginowan, Kitanakagusuku, Nakagusuku Area (convenient to Camp Foster)
AmerAsian School of Okinawa – American-style grade school on Okinawan schedule; grades 1-9; Ginowan
Cherry Blossom Preschool – ages 2 months to 3 years; Kitanakagusuku
Clover Montessori International Preschool – 2-6 (Montessori program; after school care up to age 10); Ginowan
Educare Montessori International Preschool – 6 weeks to 5 years; Kitanakagusuku
Hirayasu Yochien – Japanese-language preschool; ages 3-6; Nakagusuku
Kids Plus 1 – Japanese drop off daycare; 1 to 12 years old; near Camp Foster
Sunshine Montessori School Montessori preschool; birth to age 6; near Camp Foster
Uruma Area (convenient to Camp Courtney & Camp McTureous)
Da Vinci International School – International School; preschool to Highschool available
Hanazono Yochien – Japanese-language preschool; ages 3-6 years; between McTureous & Courtney
Youzefu Yochien – Japanese-language preschool; 2-5 years; Uruma
Urasoe Area (convenient to Camp Kinser)
Sonrise English Preschool & Kindergarten Christian preschool; 2-5 years; near Camp Kinser
Off-Base Elementary School Options
Listed below are posts about off-base elementary school options on Okinawa, all submitted by our readers. Please keep in mind that these are all parent-submitted reviews; Okinawa Hai does not endorse or recommend any specific schools, and the information about fees and costs may not be entirely up-to-date. Please contact each school directly for more accurate information.
Okinawa Christian School International – American/Christian-based curriculum; K4 to 12th grade; Yomitan
Maranatha Baptist Academy – American/Christian-based curriculum; K4 to 4th Grade; near Kadena AFB
World Mission Christian School – American/Christian-based curriculum; pre-K to 12th grade; Nakagusuku
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On-Base Childcare & Preschool Options
Sure Start – preschool program at DODEA schools
Kadena Child Development Center & Preschool Programs & – daycare & preschool; ages 6 weeks to 5 years; Kadena Air Base
*Kadena Air Base Child Development Centers
*Kadena Air Base Family Child Care Program
Helpful Reader Comment: The Family Child Care office on Kadena offers a list of off-base childcare providers. They are located at building 1850 behind the *Kadena Youth Center. Their number is 634-3464, if you want to call. They are on the same road as the USO; coming in Gate 2 take the first right just past the entrance to the USO; it will be on your right (the building looks like a fire dept. building.)
*Okinawa Marine Corps Bases Child Development Centers
Note: CDCs on USMC bases (run by MCCS) do not have preschool programs. In our research we were told they have “age appropriate curricula” for children up to five years old, but they do not have a dedicated preschool program.
*Okinawa Marine Corps Bases Family Child Care Program
*Link to official DoD webpages
Below are schools for which we had reviews here on Okinawa Hai, but which we have subsequently removed at the request of the schools’ administration. Please note that in accordance with our Legal Page policy we will not publish updated reviews of these schools in the future. Thank you for your understanding.
Duke’s Preschool Center (removed December 2015)
Santa Monica International Kids School (removed April 2013)
Wee Care International Preschool (removed June 2014)
Do you have a child enrolled in a school not listed here? Want to let other parents know what you think of it? Email our Submissions Manager about filling out a template.