The grade-6 'which junior high?' survey: what each answer means for the ward

In grade 6, the elementary school may send a survey on where your child will go next (進路希望調査, shinro kibō chōsa, "future-path survey", or a similar title). It can look like a simple tick box. Behind each answer is a different procedure with the ward, and some have deadlines in the autumn.

This article uses Chuo ward's page for April 2027 entry (中央区「新入学手続き（中学校）」, posted 1 September 2026) to show what each answer leads to. Your ward's system and dates may differ.

Answer: the ward junior high (区立中学校)

• The assigned school. The board of education assigns a junior high from your home address (通学区域, tsūgaku kuiki, "school district"). If that is your plan, you do not need to apply.
• A different ward school, by choice. Chuo runs a free-choice system (中学校自由選択制) for children living in the ward. In Chuo the online application is 2–16 October 2026. If too many apply, there may be a lottery in late November, with results in early December.
• A different ward school, for a specific reason (指定校変更): health, a certain move, an older sibling there at the same time, or your elementary school sitting in that junior high's district. Chuo's window was 15 September–1 October 2026.

Either way, the ward posts a school-entry notice (就学通知書, shūgaku tsūchisho) in late December. It names the school and the entrance-ceremony date. Bring it to the ceremony.

Answer: a national, metropolitan or private junior high (国立・都立・私立)

The ward still has to know where every child of compulsory-school age goes. Once a place is confirmed, the page says to get the admission permit (入学許可書, nyūgaku kyokasho) from the new school and file it with the ward promptly:

入学先が決定次第、入学する学校長が発行した「入学許可書」等を事前に準備し、速やかに申請してください。

If you had also applied for the free-choice system or a school change, withdraw it. The ward page links a form that does both.

Answer: a public junior high in another city

Tell the ward's school-affairs section (学務課, gakumu-ka) once the other city's board has approved it.

If your child is not a Japanese national

If your child holds only a foreign nationality and you want the ward junior high, Chuo's page says to apply for it at the school-affairs section, bringing the residence card (在留カード) or special permanent resident certificate. The date for April 2027 entry was 24 September 2026. The page says you can still apply after that date, but as early as possible:

期限を過ぎた場合も手続きは可能ですが、なるべく早めにお申し込みください。

Children with dual nationality who will go to an international or foreign school have a separate procedure (就学免除・就学猶予). Contact the school-affairs section.

Before you tick the box

• Ask the elementary school what the survey is for and whether your answer can change later. The ward page does not cover the school's survey.
• If you are applying to private or metropolitan schools, you may not know the result when the survey is due. Ask the school how to answer.
• Put your ward's dates in your calendar now. In Chuo, three of them fell in September and October of grade 6.
• For support needs, the ward runs school-placement consultations (就学相談) through its education centre.