Every student attends elementary school from six to twelve years old and junior high school until age fifteen. Three quarters of these students attend general-education high schools, while the remaining fourth attend specialized vocational high schools. Almost all of the private junior and senior high schools and universities decide which applicants to accept by giving an entrance examination. Each school has its own exam. Any student wishing to enter the school must take the test, unless he or she has already attended lower grades tin the same school.
Students sometimes attend the same school for elementary, junior high, and senior high school.
Students may begin going to juku at as early as pre-elementary ages. High school students preparing decorations for a school festival. The Japanese school year begins in April. There is a summer vacation of several weeks, as well as two weeks off for the New Year. The school year ends in March, and there is a two-week break before the next year begins.