New York International School, as part of the British School Foundation, will open on the Upper East Side in the fall. The Manhattan international school will first open its international preschool and older grades in following years.
As part of the British School Foundation, one of the leading international school organizations in the world with locations in Spain, China, Brazil, and Russia, New York International School will open its preschool and kindergarten classes in the fall, the lower primary grades in 2016, and expanding thereafter up to eighth grade. In November, the school appointed Shelley Borror Jackson, who was the recently head of school for The Bement School in Deerfield, MA, as its founding head of school.
Although it’s part of the BSF, New York International School will follow the American international curriculum, according to Carlos Usle, executive director. The school uses a dual language program—two-thirds of the curriculum is taught in English, and one-third is taught in either Spanish or Chinese—with the aim of students becoming fluent in a second language by age 11. Students will also be pen pals with a peer in a sister school in Spain or China to practice language skills and develop a relationship with someone from another culture, Usle says.
The international school is currently accepting applications for preschool and kindergarten students. The school offers rolling admissions, and parents can apply as early as two years before their child starts school.
“We process the application very quickly. Within two weeks the child will be assessed, and within two weeks after the assessment, we will mail a decision.” Usle says. “We try to relieve families of the anxiety of the admissions process in New York City, which tends to be very rigid and stressful.”
