Originally opening as “Sagano Girls' High School” in 1941 and becoming co-ed in 1950, Sagano High School has a history of more than 70 years. It is located in the north-western section of the ancient capital of Kyoto, with areas such as Sagano and Arashiyama being located nearby. The school has 2 departments, the “General Academic Department” and the “Kyoto Cosmos Department,” the latter of which is a special department established in 1996 in order to provide more advanced-level education which could prepare students for further academic research at universities or other higher educational institutions.
Motto and creed
The school's motto is: "Empower students for success through synergetic interaction". The school's creed is: 和敬 – “wakei” – Be harmonious and respectful 自彊 – “jikyo” – Strive for self-improvement 飛翔 – “hisho” – Act globally The school's goal is to educate and nurture "global learners".
Typical course, class, and school description
Sagano High School has two different program departments, the Kyoto Cosmos Department and General Studies Department. The Kyoto Cosmos Department includes three programs of study, the Super Science High track, a humanities track, and a social-science track. The school was designated as a “Super Science High School” by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in 2012 for a 5 year period. The school was again re-authorized for another 5 year period in 2017. This designation calls for the school to be "a hub school for science and mathematics education". As such a school, Sagano collaborates with nearby Kyoto University and other research institutions and providing advanced education in the field of natural sciences. The school was designated as a “Super Global High School” by MEXT in 2014. The research and development focus for this designation will be "Fostering leaders through Kyoto Global Studies utilizing local educational resources and in cooperation with overseas institutes." Lessons in the Kyoto Cosmos Department are to feature various kinds of unique activities to help develop students’ logical thinking, deep insight and judgment through collaboration with universities and research institutions. Students do small-group research in teams and pick an area of specialization. Students have an opportunity to do hands-on fieldwork, participate in a lecture series, and work on academic research projects and presentations. Most students participate in clubs, i.e. extra curricular activities, including sports clubs and culture related clubs. The school conducts various exchange programs with international schools as well.
