Education

Zama Middle High School (ZMHS) is a Department of Defense Education Activity School (DoDEA) located on Camp Zama Army Base in Zama, Japan. Zama is in the Kanto Plain Region or central area of the main island of Honshu. ZMHS serves primarily Army, Navy and DoD civilian dependents from Camp Zama, NAF-Atsugi, and the Sagamihara US Army Depot and Housing areas.

DoDEA Student Information System (DSIS) online registration is for families registering in schools serviced by Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). DSIS reduces manual forms and makes it easy for parents to register their child for school.

Zama MS/HS

School Address
Unit 45005
Camp Zama
APO, AP 96343-5005
Sagamihara, Japan
Phone: 046-407-3181
Fax: 046-407-3826
DSN Phone: 315-263-3181
DSN Fax: 315-263-3826
From US: 011-81-46-407-3181
From the US Fax: 011-81-46-407-3826

Shirley Lanham Elementary School provides services to the military dependent children of the men and women stationed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi and Marine Base Camp Fuji. It also hosts dependent children of Department of Defense civilian employees as well as children of foreign nationals. Currently, our enrollment stands at about 266 kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Dependent children in grades sixth through twelve are bused to Camp Zama Army Base to attend Zama American Middle-High School. John O. Arnn Elementary School, located on the Sagamihara Housing Area (SHA), services the children of families stationed at Camp Zama Army Base.

School Address
PSC 477 Box 38
NAS Atsugi
FPO, AP 96306-0005
Atsugi, Japan
Phone: 
0467-63-3664
Fax: 0467-63-4467
DSN Phone: 315-264-3664
DSN Fax: 315-264-4467
From US: 011-81-467-63-3664
From the US Fax: 011-81-467-63-4467

Schools will notify parents when DSIS Re-registration begins. During this process, parents will be able to update contact information, update Sponsor’s employment status, and indicate whether their student will return for the next school year. DoDEA parents are required to annually re-register their student(s).

The Student Transportation Office (STO) is dedicated to providing the community with safe school bus transportation services that are timely and comfortable. There is at least one STO at every DoDEA Pacific school complex. Each STO is staffed by highly trained and capable transportation specialists to manage the complex’s student transportation operation. We strive for continuous process improvement in all areas of our operation.

A BUS PASS IS REQUIRED FOR STUDENTS UTILIZING DAILY COMMUTE STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

Requirements for registering a student to ride the school bus:

Please visit our office located in Zama Middle/High School (BLD 919, Rm 508) to register for student transportation. You can walk-in  without an appointment but prefer you call ahead (DSN 263-4151) before your visit. In order to register you will need:

1. DD Form 4500: Transportation Request Form
2. The Student must be present for the photograph.

Walking Distances

The walking distance for grades 6 and below will not normally exceed 1 mile from their primary residence to the school or designated bus stop. Students in grades 7-12 may walk up to 1.5 miles from their primary residence to the school or designated bus stop. These distances may be slightly expanded or contracted to conform to natural boundaries such as housing areas or neighborhoods. In locations, such as Okinawa, having middle schools, which include grade 6 (i.e., grades 6-8), the walking distance criteria shall be the same as the criteria for grades 7-12.

Student Transportation / Daily Commutes

This is defined as the transportation of students from their assigned bus stop to school at the beginning of their school day, mid-day, and the return to their assigned bus stop at the end of the normal scheduled school day. Maps illustrating bus stops and commuting zones are available at the base housing office and the STO office.

Only one trip to and from school per day is authorized for each student.

Transportation is not authorized to take students to their homes or to eating facilities for their mid-day meal.

Only students attending DoDEA schools, bus drivers, dispatchers, STO personnel, assigned safety/security attendants, community bus monitors, and security personnel assigned by the installation commander are authorized to ride daily commuting services. Additional authorized passengers are U.S. Military Police and host nation police while in the performance of their official duties, and persons authorized in writing by the DoDEA Principal or his or her designee, the contracting officer, or the STO.

Other Student Transportation Authorizations

Daily round trip transportation may be provided to students residing outside the commuting area but are transported at their own expense to an existing school bus stop within the commuting area.

Non-federally connected, space-available, tuition-paying students may be permitted to utilize school bus commuting services on a space-available basis. Even though space-available service may be initially provided, it may be withdrawn at any time.

Off Base Transportation Availability

Transportation is available for many off base housing areas around installations with schools; however, before signing a lease for an off base house please check with the STO to ensure transportation is available in that area for the school you plan your child to attend.

A map and/or narrative description is used to identify the commuting area for each school is available at each STO.

To register to attend a DoDEA School the following age requirements must be met.

A child must be:

• four years old by September 1 to attend pre-kindergarten or Sure Start.
• five years old by September 1 to enroll in kindergarten.
• six years old by September 1 to attend first grade.

Overseas and Domestic School Eligibility

DoDEA eligibility & enrollment policies differ for DoDEA's two types of schools: Domestic Schools and Overseas.

Overseas Department of Defense Schools, DoDEA Europe and DoDEA Pacific and Cuba

Eligibility to attend DoDEA Europe or DoDEA Pacific schools is outlined in Section 921-932 title 20 U.S.C. and DoDEA regulation 1342.13, Eligibility Requirements for Education of Elementary and Secondary School-age Dependents in Overseas Areas.

The Department of Defense Dependents Schools (Pacific and Europe) and Cuba was established to provide high quality education for authorized dependents of DoD personnel assigned overseas, and to provide enrollment on a space-available, tuition-paying basis for others identified and prioritized by the Secretary of Defense.

ENROLLMENT CATEGORIES

Qualified dependents are authorized to enroll in one of four enrollment categories based on the request of the sponsor. Dependents in enrollment category 1 receive first priority, all others are enrolled on a space-available basis in priority of category of enrollment.

REVALIDATION/RE-REGISTRATION

Revalidation of the student's registration for the next school year starts in the spring.

• If the sponsor's DEROS/PRD has expired by September 1, extension orders (IPCOT, R.A.T., Command Letter) are required.
• If the sponsor's DEROS/PRD is indefinite, proof of continued overseas assignment is required.
• If the sponsor is a locally hired DoD civilian, current year certification of employment from the servicing HRO and a copy of notification of personnel action (DA 3434 and SF 50) is required.

Shirley Lanham Elementary School and Zama American High School are part of the Department of Defense Dependent School (DoDDS) System, providing an education program for the dependents of U. S. military and civilian SOFA status personnel at NAF Atsugi.

To learn more about each school, please visit their respective websites:

•  Shirley Lanham ES
•  Zama American MS
•  Zama American HS

Standardized test scores for the Atsugi Schools are available through the DoDEA Data Center via the following links: Shirley Lanhan Elementary School Test Scores, Zama Middle School Test Scores, Zama High School Test Scores.

Adult continuing education courses are available at Navy College Website, University of Maryland Golbal Campus. Navy Learning Center is also available to assist navy personnel, spouses and their dependents to review for SAT, GED, ACT, ASVAB and other courses free of charge.

The School Liaison Officer (SLO) serves as a "link" between Navy families and schools. The SLO specializes in serving military families and offers a variety of services, enabling families to become more involved in their child's educational experience. These services include: support families with inbound/outbound school transfers; provide information on local schools and boundaries; assist with school choices; help families understand the special education process; provide information about graduation requirements; make military/community agency referrals, support families with home schooling process; and assist with post-secondary preparation. Want to learn more? Stop by or call DSN 315.264.4732 to meet the School Liaison Officer and see how she can assist your family with topics concerning school.

School Liaison Officer
Teen Center • Little Theater Building 294
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (or by appointment)

Calling from Local Phone
DSN Line: 264-4732
Commercial Phone or Portable Device: 264-4732 off base (Cell) 0467-63-4732<

Calling from CONUS & U.S. Territory
DSN Line: 315-252-4732
International: 011-81-0467-63-2206

Email Addresses: M-AT-MWR-SLO@fe.navy.mil

Mailing Address: PSC 477 Box 20, FPO AP 96306

School Attendance policy for school age dependents of US Naval Air Facility Atsugi is covered by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the US government of Japan that encouraged all eligible dependents that has not completed high school to enroll in DoD dependent school system (DoDDS). If the program is unsuitable to the parents, the installation commander will encourage the parents to enroll their dependents in an alternate program.

Home schooling, local Japanese schools, both public and private, and a few international schools are available around Yokohama and Tokyo area.

Home Schooling

Guidelines have been set by the DoDEA Policy Memorandum 02-OD-002, dated 06 November 2002 regarding home schooling. DoDEA encourages DoD sponsors who wish to home school their dependents to communicate their desire to their commanders to determine if there are any command policies or other rules ensuring that home schooling practices meet host nation, state, commonwealth, or territory requirements. The Kanto Home Educators' Association (KHEA) provides information, support and guidance for home schooling families. KHEA offers monthly meetings to provide continual support.

Japanese Yochien

Pre School is called "Yochien" in Japan. School hours vary in each yochien, however it usually ranges from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The student/teacher ratio is approximately 25 students per teacher. Once a child is enrolled in yochien, parents must be responsible for providing their own translator between the parent/school. Fees are different per yochien. Be prepared for other fees depending on the requirements of the school.

***Parents must have their own point of contact who can translate for registration into the kindergarten/school. Parents must have their own contact who can translate between parent and teachers. ***

Below is a list of Yochien schools:

1. Ryosei Yochien (Ayase City) is approximately a 15 minutes drive from NAF Atsugi West Gate. Can speak English. Please call 011.81.467.78.5012.
2. Draper Kinen Yochien (Ayase City) is approximately a 10 minutes drive from NAF Atsugi East Gate. Please call 011.81.467.78.1550.
3. Ayase Chuo Yochien (Ayase City) is approximately a 5 minute drive from NAF East Gate. Please call 011.81.467.76.2920.
4. Kobato Yochien (Ayase-City) is approximately a 5 minute drive from NAF Atsugi Main Gate. Please call 011.81.467.78.4110.
5. Ayase Yutaka Yochien (Ayase City) is approximately a 5 minute drive from NAF Atsugi Main Gate. Please call 011.81.467.78.1794.
6. Akebono Yochien (Yamato-City) is approximately a 20 minute drive from NAF Atsugi East Gate. Please call 011.81.462.67.6611.