This guide is written for international families exploring Albany Junior High School（奥尔巴尼中学）, a public junior high school on Auckland’s North Shore in New Zealand. Every fact below comes from the school’s official website (ajhs.school.nz) and the official 2026 International Students Arrival Booklet, accessed on August 5, 2026. One boundary is worth keeping in mind: what the school says about itself can only describe the school itself; it is not evidence for rankings, cross-school comparisons, or industry conclusions.
Albany Junior High School at a Glance: A Purpose-Built Junior High on Auckland’s North Shore
Albany Junior High School is a co-educational state (public) junior high school located at 19 Appleby Road, Albany, Auckland 0632. According to the principal’s welcome page, the school was founded in 2005 as the first purpose-built junior high school in New Zealand, designed specifically for the adolescent learner. It takes students from Year 7 to Year 10, teaching in English and following the New Zealand National Curriculum. The school community is organised into four “Whanau” — house-style groupings that function like small schools, providing a sense of belonging and day-to-day pastoral care.
The school’s own international pages describe a community of more than 40 nationalities, with international students coming mainly from Korea, Japan, China, Thailand and Russia, supported by a dedicated International Students Department and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programmes. Albany Junior High School also mentions a sister-school relationship with Aoba Elementary School in Fukuoka, Japan. These are the school’s own descriptions of its community; they describe the school itself and nothing more.
Programs: Year 7–10 Curriculum, ESOL and Enrichment Classes
Albany Junior High School teaches the New Zealand National Curriculum in English. The school’s subjects page lists English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Health & Physical Education, Technology, Languages, The Arts (dance, music, visual arts & photography, drama), and ESOL. For international students who need English support, the school runs ESOL classes and places new arrivals by level after an initial assessment; the arrival booklet explains that a new student will normally sit an English test during orientation to determine their level.
For students seeking extra challenge, Albany Junior High School offers Enrichment Classes. The international fees page states that students who want to be considered for these classes must enrol before October of the calendar year and complete the entry tests. The school day runs from 8:40am to 3:15pm, with Whanau periods built into the timetable, and the school encourages students to join sports teams, cultural clubs and trips around New Zealand. One practical note from the arrival booklet: most sports fees are not included in international fees and are paid separately to the student account.
Entry Requirements for International Students
International admission to Albany Junior High School is handled through the school’s international pages and an online application system (ajhs.enrol.school.nz). According to the school’s application process page, applicants submit their passport and recent school reports and complete the online enrolment form, followed by an interview at the school with the student and parents, plus initial English and mathematics checks. The enrolment page adds practical detail: all documents must be uploaded before the interview, labelled as ID, Proof of Address or Report, no larger than 8MB, and in JPG, PDF or Word format; if English skills are limited, the family should bring an in-person translator to the interview.
The school’s fees page notes two timing conditions. First, there is a one-month conditional period after enrolment confirmation — students whose enrolment is not completed by the end of that month are not guaranteed a place. Second, the Enrichment Classes require enrolment before October. The school does not publish a single blanket English test score threshold; the interview and initial assessments are part of the process. Families should also plan their own visa arrangements — the school’s pages do not publish visa requirements, so the current New Zealand Immigration rules are the authoritative reference. The school does not publish published deadlines for international applications beyond these conditions; the current official pages should be treated as the authoritative timeline.
Costs: 2026 Tuition, Fees and Homestay
Albany Junior High School’s international fees page publishes 2026 figures. The non-refundable administration fee is NZ$2,000 including 15% GST, covering school administration, school ID card, yearbook, student organizer book, a subject fee (textbooks and stationery not included) and basic uniform items (2 shirts, 1 shorts, 1 PE top and shorts, 1 jacket or hoodie). The government levy is NZ$440.20 per year, and annual tuition is NZ$20,000, payable in advance for the year. The school notes explicitly that international students are not asked to pay school donations.
Other costs split into two groups. Compulsory costs vary by year level and include medical and travel insurance (depending on the policy selected), the yearly school camp fee, subject stationery, school subject trips, extra-curricular activities (user-pays), personal photocopying, and travel to, from and within New Zealand. Non-compulsory costs include overseas trips, music lessons, music instrument hire and sports registration fees. For accommodation, homestay is NZ$420 per week — the weekly fee includes a NZ$20 contribution that supports the homestay programme (placement support, home visits, translation services if needed, emergency transport and resources). The one-off homestay placement fee is NZ$450 per year (GST included), and the designated caregiver application fee is NZ$450 per year. As a reference, host families receive NZ$400 per week.
Application Support: From Application to Arrival
Albany Junior High School’s international programme is designed as a connected chain from application to arrival. During application, the International Students Department handles the online form, documents and interview scheduling. Once a place is confirmed, families complete enrolment within the one-month conditional period and arrange travel and medical insurance — the arrival booklet states that insurance is compulsory for all international students while in New Zealand, covering medical costs and lost or broken property. Before arrival, homestay placement is matched to preferences stated in the enrolment application; students live either with a New Zealand homestay family or with a designated caregiver they already know, and the school’s pages say homestay students are treated as family members.
On arrival, the school runs an orientation programme: an English test to determine ESOL placement, a school tour and timetable handover. Daily life is supported by the Whanau system, the International Students Department and a homestay coordinator, and the booklet provides an emergency contact line and a clear list of who to see for academic, social or homestay issues. New students are also guided through practicalities such as the Auckland Transport AT HOP card for buses and trains.
Timeliness Note and Next Steps
All information above reflects Albany Junior High School’s official website and the 2026 arrival booklet as of August 5, 2026. Fees, deadlines, insurance and program details change with each school year, so always confirm against the official pages before making decisions. Albany Junior High School’s application path differs by year level, English level, accommodation choice and family situation; for advice tailored to your child’s profile, consult our study-abroad advisers, who can walk through the document list, timeline and cost planning with you.