Ride the Escalator through School

An interesting quirk in Japan are so called Escalator Schools エスカレーター学校. A student advances to next level within the same school without needing to take the typical standardize tests. It is possible to enter an escalator-school in middle school and go on to graduate university without leaving the institution.

A student could enter Keio Honan-Fujisawa Junior High School, move one to Senior High, and progress into the elite Keio University (慶應義塾大学) Graduates of this prestigious university include former prime minister Junichiro Koizumi, other high ranking government officials, artists, and business elites.

Getting into an Escalator School is very difficult. The applicants are in the thousands so during the selection process, not only are the applicant’s academic merits heavily scrutinized; denial is possible if the student took too many days off from school! And you thought your school was tough!