15-18 Adolescent Program

Beyond Preparation, Into Life Itself

Rooted in Tokyo's international community, adolescents engage in meaningful work through internships, entrepreneurial ventures, and community partnerships. They discover their purpose by testing themselves against genuine challenges, developing the clarity of vision needed to shape the future of human society.

This is Montessori's vision for adolescence, fully realized: an education where students become confident communicators, culturally responsive global citizens, resilient problem-solvers, and passionate change agents ready to bridge differences with compassion and pursue work that serves the greater world.

What is a Montessori High School?

We believe that to shape the future, adolescents must actively participate in the present. Our 15-18 Adolescent Program responds to the two needs of adolescents: Protection during their transition from childhood to adulthood and a rich understanding of the society they are about to enter. Students spend their days engaging in interdisciplinary projects, running small businesses, and engaging in internships across Tokyo; all while honing their passions and purpose.

What’s most important is that all learning is designed to impact the world in a positive way. Our focus isn’t on memorization of knowledge, but meaningful application of it.

What Makes MST's Program Distinctive

Real-World Integration
- Students run businesses, complete internships, and tackle authentic problems in Tokyo and beyond.
Individualized Montessori Approach
- Each adolescent follows an individualized pathway based on their passions.
Graduates Who Know Themselves
- Our students graduate knowing who they are, understanding their purpose, and with a realistic plan for pursuing it. They’ve already done the work of adulthood—and it shows in university applications and beyond.

University Pathways

MST's 15-18 program is designed to ensure students have clear pathways to universities in Japan and around the world. We are pursuing accreditation through Cognia, an internationally recognized accrediting body that will ensure our graduates' transcripts are accepted by universities globally, including Japanese institutions. This accreditation validates that our innovative, student-centered approach meets rigorous academic standards while honoring authentic Montessori principles.

Ready to learn more? We invite families to visit campus, speak with our guides and current students, and explore whether MST's approach to adolescent education aligns with your family's values and your student's needs. Contact us to schedule a conversation.

An Evening of Music and Community

This year’s Instrumental Recital Night happened at Densho Hall, in the Shibuya Cultural Center. It was a very beautiful hall. The neatly rowed seats were cushioned on the back and studded with golden seat numbers on the top. The stage was lit from the center outwards giving the performer a kind of glow to them when they entered. Getting a chance to perform in such a beautiful hall really added to the night. Musical pieces included opera, Chinese traditional music, folk, rock,

May 13

Growing Connections and Opportunities in the High School Program

Dear MST Families, Thank you to everyone who joined our Coffee and Conversation session on the 15-18 Adolescent Program. Below is an overview of our conversation and some new updates about the 15-18 Program! Partnerships with Local Schools We are building partnerships with other international schools in Tokyo to ensure our students have access to a wide social circle. I am pleased to share that KAIS International School has expressed strong enthusiasm for collaborating with o

May 13

Envisioning the High School Together

I just wrapped up an energizing week at MST, diving deep into the visioning work for our 15-18 Adolescent Program. I spent time with students in both the Eucalyptus and Willow classes, facilitated our Parent Visioning Session, and I'm excited to share what emerged from these conversations. Working with Our Students The Eucalyptus students shared with me what makes their current experience meaningful: the freedom to choose their own work, the balance of individual and coll

Dec 15, 2025

Together We Build: Exciting Progress on MST’s High School Program

Dear MST Families, I'm thrilled to share the momentum building around our Upper Adolescent (High School) program! This month has brought positive developments that bring us significantly closer to offering your children an authentic Montessori adolescent experience that will truly prepare them to be global citizens and leaders. Advisory Council Expands We've just welcomed Dr. Ben Freud, Head of Upper School at Green School Bali, to our Advisory Council. The Advisory Council,

Nov 5, 2025

Mapping Out the MST High School

Welcome to a new school year! My name is Andrew Faulstich, and I am the Upper Secondary (High School) Development Coordinator here at MST. I spent the week before school began on campus getting to know our faculty, staff, and families as we prepare to start our high school program. I'm excited to share the outcomes of the staff Upper Secondary visioning session and invite you to be part of the next phase of our journey. What Emerged from Our Staff Week Collaboration During ou

Sep 4, 2025

Expanding Horizons with Japan's First Montessori High School

MST will be taking meaningful steps toward establishing Japan's first Montessori program that will serve children all the way through to 18 years of age. This expansion will allow the option of attending MST through Grade 12 for all students enrolled at MST in the 2025-26 academic year, with the Grade 10-12 program envisioned to take shape over the subsequent three years. The Timeline of Expansion As part of this phased approach, Grade 10 will be added to the existing ado

Mar 31, 2025

- Maria Montessori