The United Nations International School in Kips Bay Offers Education with an Eclectic Flair

Name of School: UNIS: United Nations International School

Grades: Pre-K through 12th grade

Size of student body: 1,600

Educational approach or philosophy: The school operates in accordance with its mission, which “is to, in essence, embrace inclusive and diverse learning environments in rigorous international programs that foster academic success, innovation, creativity, and cross-cultural communications. And to inspire students to be an active force in shaping a better world,” explains executive director Dan Brenner, Ph.D. The high school, or Tutorial House, as its known, follows the International Baccalaureate plan of education. There is also an elementary school called the Junior School (pre-K through fourth grade) and a Middle School (fifth-eighth grades).

Nearly half of the students at UNIS have a direct affiliation with the United Nations through their families; the other half are residents of New York City. (A secondary campus, located in Queens, serves approximately 150 of the students in kindergarten-eighth grade). “For the students here, part of the incredible experience is the richness that they get from seeing how diverse our world is, and in the context of that, how to embrace the differences and the similarities,” Dr. Brenner says.