koukou

Kōkō, written in kanji as 高校 and commonly romanized as kōkō or koukō, refers to high school in Japan. It denotes the upper secondary level of the Japanese education system and follows chūgakkō (middle school). Attendance is not compulsory, and most students enter kōkō around age 15, completing the three-year program around age 17 or 18.

The kōkō curriculum varies by track. The most common is futsūka (普通科), a general program emphasizing core subjects such as Japanese, mathematics, science, and social studies. Other tracks include senmonka (専門科), which offers specialized subjects in fields like science, engineering, business, agriculture, or arts, and sōgōgakka (総合学科), which combines general education with vocational or career-oriented study. Many schools also provide extracurricular activities and club programs.

Admission to kōkō is typically through entrance examinations conducted by both public and private schools. Some schools admit students through recommendation or screening processes, and entrance competition varies by region and school type. Public kōkōs are funded by prefectural or municipal authorities, while private kōkōs operate independently.

Graduates pursue diverse paths: university or junior college, vocational schools, or direct entry into the workforce. The high school experience in Japan is a pivotal stage for academic specialization, skill development, and social transition, and it remains a central feature of the country’s education landscape. See also: Education in Japan.