Frequently Asked Questions
What is Preview Day?
Preview Day is a special opportunity for new families to visit our school, meet teachers, and learn more about our programs. Please see our How to Enroll page for more information.​
Do I need to attend Preview Day if my child is enrolled?
No — Preview Day is only required for new families. If you already have a child enrolled at OCG, and you wish to re-enroll for next year, or if you wish to enroll a new sibling, you do not need to attend Preview Day.
Is enrollment first-come, first-served?
No. Due to the number of people who want to enroll and the capacity of each class, we have a process for enrolling new families that begins with attending a Preview Day.
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In general, our priority for enrollment is as follows:
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Current students
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Siblings of current students
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Families who attended a Preview Day
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Any other families as space allows.
How are students placed into classes?
Students are grouped by grade level and age, with final placement approved by the Lead Instructor.
What is the difference between JHL and JFL tracks?
OCG’s goal is to create an environment where any child can learn Japanese, regardless of how much exposure they have to the language in their home. At a basic level:
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JHL (Japanese as a Heritage Language) : For children who speak Japanese regularly at home
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JFL (Japanese as a Foreign Language) : For children who do not speak Japanese regularly at home
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Children are placed into a JHL or JFL classroom based on teacher assessments of where each child is likely to be properly challenged but also motivated to learn. Occasionally, with consultation with teachers and/or curriculum advisors, a child may switch from one track to the other if we determine that this would be the best for the child. We make each determination based on the individual child, and it is not unusual for a family to have one child in a JHL class and another child in a JFL class.
Can we transfer into the school mid-year?
Maybe. Mid-year transfers from other Japanese schools are handled in a case by case manner based on assessment by teachers and only if there is space available. This includes students who have recently moved from Japan or who wish to transfer from another Japanese language school.
When will we be notified of acceptance/placement?
New families will be notified of placement decisions around June.
Can I get a tour of the school or stop by to visit?
Tours of the school happen during our designated Preview Days, where you can visit the campus, learn more information from school officers, and also receive a guided tour. Otherwise we are not able to accommodate private tours or drop-in visits.
Is there an attendance requirement?
Generally speaking, we believe students learn best if they are in class consistently, and teachers may be unable to assess the student’s growth and capabilities if a student is absent too often. Therefore, our guidelines are that students must attend 2/3 (two-thirds) of all classes in a school year to be considered for advancement to the next grade level.
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That said, teachers are willing to work with families if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent a child from attending school in a particular year. These attendance guidelines are in place to create an environment where students have the best opportunity to learn Japanese and build community with each other.
What is the tuition?
View our Tuition and Fees page for more information about specific fees and discounts.
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Tuition is collected monthly through our Parent Portal
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Families must keep an auto-pay method (ACH or credit card) on file
What is the School Management Fee?
The School Management Fee is charged one time per year to each family. This fee helps pay for some of the school’s overhead expenses, and the school engages in regular fundraising throughout the year to try to keep this cost low.
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In some years, OCG has “special” fundraising opportunities such as staffing a Huntington Beach Fireworks Booth, where families can choose to “work off” some or all of their management fees by volunteering for these events.
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Historical background: From the 1970s through 2022, OCG fundraised by selling teriyaki beef at the Orange International Food Fair over Labor Day weekend. This fundraiser was mandatory for all families to participate (with a “buy out fee” similar to our committee buy out fee), as it paid for the school’s overhead expenses. However, over time the Food Fair became difficult to sustain from a labor perspective as the number of families electing to buy out increased, and rising costs of beef impacted the profitability of this event as a fundraiser. OCG families voted in 2023 to retire the Food Fair and institute a Management Fee instead.
What is the Committee Requirement?
OCG is a parent-run school, and all families are required to participate in one of our committees. The minimum participation is 4 hours per month (approximately one Saturday per month).
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Families who do not participate will be assessed a Committee Opt-Out Fee.
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Full details are available on our Committee Descriptions page.
When does school start?
Please check our official school calendar for the start date and other important events.
Do you have an attendance line if my child is absent?
Please communicate directly with your child’s teacher about absences.