Apparently About Half of Nishinomiya Elementary Students Take Junior High Entrance Exams [Nishitsu Friends PR]

Is it true that about half of elementary school students in Nishinomiya take private junior high entrance exams?

That’s right. In Hyogo Prefecture, the percentage of students attending private schools is 8.7%, and Hyogo ranks 4th nationwide for the number of students attending private schools. In particular, there are even elementary schools in Nishinomiya where about half of each grade takes entrance exams.

Oh, I’ve heard that! Even if it’s not every school, it’s pretty amazing that there are elementary schools where about half the students take junior high entrance exams…

Once again, we asked Nishitsu Friends’ Juku Sherpa Mr. Tani, a 25-year veteran of the education industry and an expert in choosing cram schools, to tell us more.

Is Nishinomiya a “Cram School Ginza”!? The Reality of About Half Taking Private Junior High Entrance Exams

There are 38 private junior high schools in Hyogo Prefecture and 59 in Osaka.

To support junior high entrance exams, Nishinomiya City alone has more than 400 cram school classrooms! Even more surprising, there are about 130 classrooms just around Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station.

No wonder parents panic and think, “How am I supposed to choose one?”…

Public vs. Private: A Rough Comparison of Costs and Future Paths

One thing we were curious about was the tuition difference between public and private schools. How much does it cost?

*Typical cram school monthly fees
Group lessons: 10,000–30,000 yen / once a week ｜ Private tutoring: 20,000–40,000 yen / once a week (in reality, fees range from under 10,000 yen to over 40,000 yen)

It’s important to think about tuition over six years, weigh it against future pathway options, and align it with your family’s priorities.

3 Common Pitfalls When Choosing a Cram School

Even with so many students taking exams, there are some common traps families fall into when choosing a cram school.

1. A mountain of homework leads to mental burnout… Parents and children both get exhausted by endless worksheets
2. Choosing based on friends leads to stagnation… It’s fun, but grades don’t improve
3. Sales-call overload makes families shut out information… They get too scared to even answer the phone

Ouch, that hits close to home! I remember we had the exact same situation with a mountain of homework…

Mr. Tani’s 3 Steps to Avoid Mistakes When Choosing a Cram School

STEP 1 Define Your Goal in One Sentence

First, make sure you can state your goal in one sentence, such as “Get into 〇〇 Junior High” or “Rank in the top 20 of the grade on regular tests.” If this part is vague, the more courses a cram school offers, the more likely you are to lose your way.

STEP 2 Limit Trial Lessons to Three Schools at Most

Don’t decide based only on brochures or reviews. It’s important for the child to feel the atmosphere of the classroom. That said, if you visit five or more schools in a short period, children often get tired and their judgment becomes shaky.

• Narrow your candidates down to three schools using brochures and reviews
• Compare using the same subject (example: math trial lesson × 3 schools)
• After each trial, take notes the same day: teacher atmosphere / homework volume / commute time

STEP 3 Get an Objective Check from a Third Party

There are about 400 classrooms in Nishinomiya alone. To avoid wasting three months at a cram school that doesn’t fit, it’s reassuring to involve a neutral professional.

We Asked About Success Stories from Cram Schools

Started in Summer of 6th Grade → Raised Deviation Score by 10 and Got Into a Popular Mid-Level School in the Hanshin Area

Decided to take entrance exams starting in summer of 6th grade → raised deviation score by 10 after four months with an individually optimized program! After getting into a popular mid-level school in the Hanshin area, the student kept studying and is now ranked 3rd in the school.

Struggling to Improve → Added One-on-One Support and Won Admission to All Schools, Including a Popular Top School in the Osaka Area

Used both group lessons and one-on-one tutoring. The student improved rapidly from autumn onward and passed all three entrance exams. They even had enough energy to skip the fourth school to conserve strength!

How a Family That Refused Sales Calls Found a Cram School They Had Never Heard Of

Aggressive sales from major schools → became afraid and stopped answering calls → got introduced to the perfect-fit cram school through Juku Sherpa. After just one trial lesson, they immediately decided, “This is the only place!” Both parent and child were very satisfied.

The One-on-One Meeting Strategy That Motivated a Rebellious Boy

A 1st-year junior high boy refused to attend cram school. His mother consulted first → the student had a meeting later → the school director coordinated in advance to ease his worries, and he enrolled saying, “I feel safe here.” According to his mother, “It was like magic.”

Six Types of Cram Schools by Style

Once you figure out which place feels right through a trial lesson, it becomes easier to compare schools of the same type side by side.

If You’re Unsure, Try the Free and Neutral Juku Sherpa

“I don’t know which cram school is best…” “I want to know what study method suits my child.”

For parents with these concerns, Juku Sherpa is currently offering free consultations!

📌 Consultation topics
✅ I want to know about cram schools in Nishinomiya
✅ I want advice on which cram school suits my child
✅ I want advice on junior high, high school, or university entrance exams

📅 Apply for a free consultation here↓
🔗 Application form
🌐 Juku Sherpa official website

If you’re unsure about choosing a cram school, being able to consult a 25-year education industry professional for free is seriously helpful!

Free Online Seminar Schedule & Remaining Seats

They’re also holding free online seminars for anyone who wants a broad overview of cram schools and entrance exams.

*Registration closes at noon the day before each session. If the schedule doesn’t work for you, individual consultations are also available!

▶︎ Book a free online consultation

Final Thoughts

Because Nishinomiya has so many options, let’s arm ourselves with information and choose a path with zero regrets! Nishitsu is fully cheering on all exam takers and their parents!