The Innovation Fellowship (TIF) is a new, cutting-edge international school in Shibuya that completely reimagines what high school can be. Students have the space and support to discover their passions, design personalized projects, and dive deeply into the work that excites them most. Guided by world-class faculty invested in their holistic growth, students learn to stay motivated through challenges, develop future-focused skills to thrive in their studies and careers, and create value in the world through entrepreneurial endeavors and civic engagement. Along the way, students receive mentorship from industry experts, pursue internships, conduct research, lead excursions, and receive personalized support to attend the universities that best fit their academic and professional goals.
The school offers a dynamic and rigorous curriculum that exceeds Common Core standards and culminates in an American high school diploma recognized by leading universities worldwide. TIF is a candidate for accreditation by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS) and is designated by College Board School Code 664040.
| Number of students |
TIF is small by design, with a maximum enrollment of 30 highly motivated students. As a new school (founded in 2023) with a selective admissions process (18% admit rate for AY 2024-25), we currently have a student body of 11 students. For the 2026-2027 academic year, we anticipate growing to 15-20 students. |
| Number of nationalities represented in the school |
Currently we have 7 nationalities represented by our eleven students. |
| Native English speaking teachers |
Yes, our program is taught in English and all teachers are native English speakers. |
| Language support for students not fluent in English |
We do not offer extra classes at this time. English fluency is required to join the school. |
| Additional language classes offered by the school |
- |
| Max. number of students per class |
Our maximum number of students is 7 students to a class. |
| Average number of students per class |
3 students / class. |
| Use of technology in the classroom |
Technology is integrated into all aspects of our curriculum. |
| Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures) |
We are equipped to use virtual classroom technologies as needed. |
| Do students practice religion at the school? What religion? |
There is no limitation on what religion a student is able to practice privately, but religion is not practiced at TIF as part of our curriculum. |
| External examinations or assessments available |
Our rigorous curriculum exceeds Common Core standards and prepares students for success on their Advanced Placement and SAT exams. |
| Do teachers assign homework to their students? |
We aim to complete the curriculum during school hours and do not assign homework. However students often continue to work on their projects outside of school out of their own interest. |
| Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs |
We do not have specialized staff or specialized programs to support children with special learning needs at this time. |
| The school supports gifted, able and talented students |
Our school is especially equipped to support gifted, able and talented students. Our curriculum is completely personalized to each student so each student is able to go at their own pace and realize their full potential. |
| Entry evaluation for students |
We do not have an entrance exam. Our screening process currently involves an application questionnaire, two interview rounds with faculty members, and a trial day campus visit to ensure the student is a good-fit for our school curriculum and environment. |
| Brief description of entry evaluation required |
During the interviews we are looking for students who are curious, self-driven, compassionate and desire to make a change in the world. We are also looking for strong alignment from both parents and students with the mission and values of our school. |
| Waiting list |
Not at this time. |
| Deadline for registration (new academic year) |
We have rolling admissions and are able to accept new students at any time in the year. |
| Students can join after academic year begins |
Yes, we can fully support students to join an academic year that has already started. |
| School start time |
Our school starts at 8:30am. |
| School finish time |
Our school finishes at 3:30pm. |
| Supervised care before/after school |
Students are able to stay on campus with their parent's permission as late as 8:00pm. |
| School bus service available |
There is no school bus services, but our school is a 5 minute walk from Shibuya station. |
| School provided lunches |
Our school currently does not provide lunches for the students. Students can bring their own lunch or access food services nearby the campus. |
| Uniform required |
Students are not required to wear a uniform and can wear whatever they like as long as it is not inappropriate. |
| Extracurricular activities or clubs offered |
Our school facilitates students to access extracurricular activities and clubs from various external organizations around Tokyo. |
| Facilities at the school |
Our school facilitates students to access external high quality facilities as needed/desired. |
| Qualities and characteristics best defining the school |
The Innovation Fellowship (TIF) is an independent international high school in the heart of Shibuya, Tokyo. TIF engages students with individualized learning opportunities designed to maximize their life success, ignite their passions in collaboration with peers, and enable them to utilize their inner excellence to create value in society through their education. The school offers a dynamic and rigorous curriculum that exceeds Common Core standards and culminates in an American high school diploma recognized by leading universities worldwide. |
| Teaching approach of the school |
Through project, inquiry, and problem-based learning, students at TIF bring their authentic interests to real-world issues, designing interdisciplinary solutions and developing the skills crucial for admission to their best-fit university. Grounded in a commitment to student-centric pedagogy, TIF fosters student engagement and happiness while preparing them to achieve academic and professional excellence. |
Do you wish you could spend your time in school working on projects you truly care about? Do you wish your work could actually create real-world impact? Do you wish you were surrounded by ambitious peers and world-class mentors? Do you wish you could do all this while gaining access to meaningful internships and best-fit universities?
At The Innovation Fellowship, your dreams become reality. This is high school reimagined.
The best way to understand what we're all about is to hear directly from our students. Watch this video to see how our students talk about what differentiates TIF from other schools, how they are supported by our coaches and mentors, how they would describe their peers, some of their favorite TIF moments, and what advice they would give to prospective students.
Every year, our students present the culmination of their project journeys to a public audience at our annual Demo Day. Watch some of our student presentations to get a better idea of the kind of projects they work on. These presentations highlight how students discover their passions, turn them into projects with real-world impact, and share their work with confidence and clarity.
TIF students develop their projects beyond the classroom to create real-world impact. They connect with communities, organizations, and industry professionals to put their ideas into practice and see the difference their work can make. Along the way, they learn how to navigate challenges, build relationships, and refine their projects through feedback and iteration. These experiences prepare them not only for college, but for a lifetime of meaningful contributions to society.
"Two years later, I’ve watched Andi grow in ways that defy simple measurement. He is thriving academically and stepping into a new maturity. This year, he began designing games to teach financial literacy—projects now slated for use in two schools.
But more than that, he has been learning to translate academics into know-how, curiosity into projects, and projects into purpose. Around him, his peers are charting their own bold paths: writing bilingual children’s books, restoring coral reefs, filming cultural spaces, prototyping cushions to ease anxiety. Together, they are discovering what it means to build a life, not just a résumé."
Our college advisory team brings over a decade of experience supporting hundreds of students in identifying and gaining admission to their best-fit universities around the world. With this expertise, we help each student translate their project and research experiences into compelling portfolios and personal statements, while clarifying their academic and professional aspirations. Students advised and coached by our faculty have gone on to attend a wide range of institutions - from Ivy League universities in the US to leading institutions in Japan, Canada, the UK, Europe, Asia, and beyond - reflecting the breadth of higher education pathways available to participants.
The Innovation Fellowship (TIF) is delighted that you’re considering our school for your child’s education.
We’re looking forward to answering all of your questions and welcoming your family to our school.
