They are not in the photo, but the school also has a gym and a pool. Almost all elementary schools in Japan have a pool which is used for P.E. swimming classes. The playing field is in back of the school. Most mornings the playground is filled with children playing. The Japanese school year begins in April and ends in March.
Compulsory education covers elementary and middle school.
There are both public and private schools, but at the elementary level, most children attend public schools, which are free. There are also special classes for handicapped children. To enter high school and college, one must take an entrance test. Schools are ranked according to the difficulty of their entrance exams. To get into the highest-ranked schools, children must study very hard.