International IB School in Manhattan, NYC

The Dwight School, Manhattan:
Founded in 1872, The Dwight School is a PreK-12 private international school located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side in New York City. In 1996, Dwight became the first school in North America to provide the full International Baccalaureate (IB) program from kindergarten through grade 12. Dwight is subdivided into five separate academic houses: Timothy House (K-5), Bentley House (6-8), Franklin House (9-10), and Anglo House (11-12), and the Early Years Program at Woodside Preschool (ages 2-4).

Education Programs for Children in Kindergarten through Grade 12: 

Woodside Preschool:
The Woodside Preschool’s Small Wonder program provides a wonderful opportunity for young children to experience a rich classroom environment and establish a positive first school experience with the participation of a parent or caregiver.

During this stage of their development, toddlers are growing and changing in ways that will impact their learning potential for the rest of their lives. As such, the goal of the Small Wonder Program is to provide each child with a nurturing, lively and challenging environment which will encourage active learning, language development, curiosity, problem solving and a positive self-image. Classes are structured to include a variety of activities which will enable each child to to develop socially, emotionally, intellectually, and physically. Daily activities are organized in ways that make learning positive, engaging and exciting.

Primary Years Program:
By offering the Primary Years Program of the International Baccalaureate, Woodside Preschool continues the tradition of 300 schools across the globe that have applied the best educational practices for decades. Our experience with the program in grades K-5 at The Dwight School has demonstrated that children are human sponges that can assimilate knowledge at a rapid pace. We have also learned that repetition of fundamental skills combined with a focus on exploring the human and physical world is a necessary condition for maximum learning.

At the center of the PYP curriculum are five essential elements: knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes, and action. The aim of the program is to help students acquire a holistic understanding of six main themes, shown on the outside of the program model, through the interrelatedness of these essential elements.

Students are encouraged to reflect on their own growth by having concrete opportunities to engage in critical thinking, risk-taking, leadership, and perseverance. By being involved in situations that foster these attributes, students of this age are beginning to form the IB Learner Profile, which characterizes the desirable personal qualities for which students can aim.

Middle Years Program:
The IB Middle Years Program (MYP) in grades 6-10 links the IB Primary Years Program (PreK-5) and the Diploma Program (11-12). The program requires mastery of eight domains of learning - English, History, Science, Math, Foreign Language, Physical Education, Technology, and the Arts.

The engine driving the MYP through every class moves on the belief that all students can be taught to be independent problem-solvers with strong study skills. Three themes focus this program on clear communication, global awareness, and intercultural sensitivity. All subject areas include these five key areas: community service, self-reflection, human inventiveness, the environment, and health and social education.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program:
The full Diploma Program requires that students take six academic courses per day for two years. These subjects are carefully chosen from six major areas:

1. Language A1 (Native language)
2. Language B (Second language)
3. Social science (History, Business & management)
4. Laboratory science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Systems or Design Technology)
5. Mathematics
6. The Arts (Theatre, Visual Arts, or Music)

In addition, all students perform significant community service, participate in a two-year theory of knowledge philosophy course, and prepare an original research essay of 4000 words. Most of the IB courses are of two-year duration: breadth is not sacrificed for depth.

Foreign Exchange:
Travel Opportunities at Dwight include:

* Fifth Grade class trip to North London International School
* Eighth through Twelfth Grades travel to Peru, Kenya, India, and China to meet and work with local students on community service projects
* Students study at other International Baccalaureate (IB) schools in Germany, Ghana, the United Kingdom, Chile, New Zealand, Italy, and Israel (by special arrangement)

English as a Second Language:
We also offer English as a Second Language. The English as an Additional Language Program (EAL) at The Dwight School is designed to help our international students adjust while learning English and learning in English.

College Guidance:
Students can take college preparation courses with us including SAT and TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).