My husband will be reporting at Yokosuka next August (2011) and I will have a 5 y.o. daughter (6 in Dec 2011) ready for US Kindergarten, and a 7 y.o. son going into 2nd grade.  I would love to put them into an off base elementary school but not only am I having a hard time finding information about local elementary schools, can I pull them from the DOD school in April when Japanese schools start?  I do not speak any Japanese so a school that can communicate in English at least somewhat would be preferable.
Can anyone help provide me information about/recommendations for local elementary schools (public or private)? 
Thank you!

You can try Hayama International, they have a website. And get ready to spend a lot of $ on schools off base. I've heard good things about this school, so if you can afford it,go for it!
For the local schools, I believe at least one parent must speak Japanese.

Hayama Internation is English speaking, but really the only off-base option close to Yokosuka. I would think that a regular Japanese public school would be extremely difficult to transition into- language, writing, communication, much more rigid expectations. And Tammy is probably right, they may require one Japanese speaking family.

There are a couple international schools in Yokohama, I've known a few people who chose to live out there so their kids could go to school up there. So you'll need to decide if a longer and more expensive commute are a good trade off for their education.

But expect to pay. A LOT. Like $25,000. Per kid. Per year. Plus all the extras they get you for.

Tammy is right. Usually one parent must speak Japanese in order to send your kids to a Japanese public school. It can be done if both of you are non Japanese speakers, but it is difficult. The school format is different in Japan. Parents are told where to shop for specific clothes and other items, text mail is sent to your mobile phone, teachers send note home daily.
I am guessing that you would like your kids to learn Japanese. Putting them in a Japanese public school is probably not your best option. First, you cannot support their language learning at home. They are expected to go to school on the weekends for activities. Also, when you rotate back to the States, they are going to be far behind their counterparts. You can look into a program called "Kumon". It is after school. Or hire a tutor.
Hayama International is expensive and is not certified by the Japanese government.

Hayama International is expensive but is a wonderful school. My daughter worked there all summer in the summer day camp and got to know the staff very well. If it weren't for the price, my son would be enrolled there now. The curriculum is typical of American schools, but the class size is smaller. They are also ahead of the DODDs schools in what they teach. My son would have been behind if I had switched him over and we would have had to work extra hard to catch him up. My son's class would have had nine children. The teacher said they prefer to keep the enrollment below 12 in a class so they can provide one on one attention.

To send your child to a Japanese school, one of you must speak Japanese. Also, there are hefty start-up costs as well as uniforms and tuition. It's not usually an option for non-japanese speakers.

I went to a Japanese school when I first moved to Japan years ago. I was 5 at the time. I agree w/ others about having at least one parent being able to speak Japanese. I was able to absorb quite a bit of Japanese at the time....kids are like sponges at that age when it comes to foreign languages. I quickly forgot it once I returned to the states though. I was able to catch up rather quickly in reading and writing in the U.S. Plus, I was much further along in math than my classmates. American schools really are failing kids these days when it comes to mathematics.

I think the elementary schools are just fine on base.....with added help from home, your kids will flourish and do just fine out here!

If I end up back here, and had a western spouse and a child at five years old, I would place my child in a Japanese school, presuming my spouse agreed.

But I speak Japanese and teach in the Japanese public school system and know the system quite well. I believe my child would benefit from a Japanese elementary school, at least initially. I know of at least one entirely non-Japanese student at a middle school whose parents let her try it as an experiment. I am fairly certain they were Americans working for a Japanese company, and at least one parent spoke Japanese. Not only did she thrive, learning Japanese quickly, I believe she decided to stay and go on to Japanese high school when her parents' stint in Japan was over.

Everything's possible, just not always likely.

My husband got orders to transfer to vfa 102 in may 2011,we have a 5 yr old girl that will start kindergarden. In his orders it says yokosuka, but everybody we know here in NV said he'll be in atsugi.We're kindda confused. My main concern is where will my daughter go to school? How safe the bus or the train if she rides alone?or can i come or drive her myself? Im super concerned so if anybody can help pls give us some info. One more thing, is the tuition tax deductable? Im not sure how this things work in japan specially with regards to filling tax. Thanks guys ..hope to get a response to this topic.

Lisa,

You can find school information both on and off base by contacting the CFAY School Liaison Officer. Here is a link to the website 

https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Yokosuka/Relocation/SchoolLiaisonServices/index.htm

You can email questions and get information to help you with schools.
ruth.russell@fe.navy.mil

Mikyla,

If you live on Atsugi the elementary school on base  is Shirley Lanham. http://www.lanham-es.pac.dodea.edu/

  You can contact the School Liaison Officer in Atsugi via email at mailto:rheamia.burns@fe.navy.mil

For Yokosuka contact the CFAY School Liaison Officer
ruth.russell@fe.navy.mil

website
https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Yokosuka/Relocation/SchoolLiaisonServices/index.htm

RSLO,

thanks so much for the info.... :-)