Questions families ask about BISNY
We know how complex choosing a school environment can be, and are here to assist you as you consider your options. The answers below cover what families ask us most; if yours is not here, tell us and we will answer it in person.
- Ages and year groupsWho goes where, in American and British terms.
- Location and getting hereWaterside Plaza, bus, subway and ferry.
- Tuition and financial aidWhat it costs and what is included.
- Admissions and visitingSteps, dates and what to prepare.
- Curriculum and universityBritish system, IB, A Levels.
- The school dayHours, lunch, uniform, clubs, calendar.
- International familiesEnglish support, visas, joining mid-year.
- About the schoolSize, teachers, accreditation, care.
Who goes where, in American terms
What ages does BISNY cover?
Ages 3 to 18, from Nursery (3s) to Grade 12, in one school of around 200 students on a single campus in Manhattan. The stages are Early Years (ages 3 to 5), Lower School (Kindergarten to Grade 5), Middle School (Grades 6 to 8) and Upper School (Grades 9 to 12).
What is a "Year group", and how does it compare to a US grade?
Each British Year is one number ahead of the American grade: Nursery is the 3s, Reception is Pre-K, Year 1 is Kindergarten, Year 2 is Grade 1, and so on up to Year 13, which is Grade 12. The cutoff date is September 1. Find your child's year group by date of birth on the Application Process page.
What age does preschool start at BISNY?
At 3. Children can join Nursery (3s) at any point in the year once they turn 3, and Pre-K at 4. Both are part of Early Years, which follows the Early Years Foundation Stage, the British framework for ages 3 to 5. Nursery can be a half day, until 12:30 with lunch, or a full day.
What age does Kindergarten start?
At 5. Kindergarten (Year 1 in British terms) is for children who turn 5 by August 31. Children already in our Early Years move up into Kindergarten without applying again.
Do children have to reapply between stages?
No. A child who joins at 3 can stay to graduate at 18. Pre-K leads straight into Kindergarten, Grade 5 into Middle School and Grade 8 into Grade 9, with the same friends in the same building. In New York that saves families a new application process at each step.
A quiet corner of Manhattan, on the East River
Where is BISNY?
At 20 Waterside Plaza, New York, NY 10010: on the East River at 23rd Street in Manhattan, minutes from Kips Bay, Gramercy, Murray Hill and Stuyvesant Town. See the campus.
How do families get to school?
By subway, bus, ferry or car. Take the 6, N, R or W to 23rd Street, then the M23 crosstown bus east to the FDR Drive; the M15 stops a short walk away and the M34A stops right at campus. The East River Ferry stops at 34th Street, a five minute walk along the river. Families who drive get 15 minutes of free parking at the Waterside garage for drop-off and pick-up. Directions and transportation.
Is there a school bus?
Yes, for eligible Manhattan families. The free Department of Education school bus picks up within a few blocks of home for Kindergarten to Grade 6. From Grade 7, students receive a free OMNY card for the subway and buses; families may apply for the bus or the OMNY card, but not both. Eligibility and how to apply.
Can my child travel to school on their own?
Many Middle and Upper School students do. The route is simple, and from Grade 7 students travel free with their OMNY card.
Do families come from outside Manhattan?
Yes. Families come to us from across New York City. Students from Brooklyn and Long Island City often take the East River Ferry to 34th Street, a short walk from the school.
What it costs, and what is included
How much is tuition at BISNY?
Full year tuition for 2026-27 is $45,600 for Nursery (3s), $51,000 for Pre-K, $66,700 for Kindergarten to Grade 8 and $67,800 for Grades 9 to 12. See the full breakdown of tuition and fees.
What does tuition include?
Educational materials, lunch and snacks, athletics, extracurricular activities and educational day trips. It does not cover uniforms, after-school clubs, after-school care (billed at $25 per hour), residential trips or Parents' Association dues.
What is due when we enroll?
A one-time New Student Fee of $2,500, an Initial Tuition Deposit ($3,500 for Nursery and Pre-K, $6,000 for Kindergarten to Grade 12) and the $225 Student Activity Fee. The deposit is taken out of the full year tuition, so it is not an additional cost. There is also a $125 application fee when you apply.
Can we pay in installments?
Yes. The tuition balance can be paid in a single installment due upon enrollment, or in ten monthly installments from August to May with automatic ACH payment. Payment options.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. BISNY offers partial tuition assistance to families who demonstrate need, and encourages families who are not sure if they qualify to have an initial conversation. Awards are based solely on need, are decided independently of the admissions decision and, once a family has enrolled, continue for the duration of their child's time at BISNY.
Does BISNY offer sibling discounts?
Not currently. Families with more than one child are encouraged to apply for financial aid, as this is one of the factors taken into consideration. Siblings are given priority in admissions.
Joining BISNY starts with a conversation
How do we apply?
In five steps. Introductions: a short online form, then a call from our admissions team. Tour BISNY: a visit on a typical school day. Application: online, with supporting documents and a $125 fee. School visit: your child spends time in class, with an interview with the Division Head. The offer: a formal offer, and our help settling in. The full application process, documents and key dates.
When should we apply?
Early. The application cycle opens the summer before entry (July 2026 for the 2027-28 school year) and the first round deadline is January 8, 2027. After that, and for families applying in-year, admissions are rolling where space is available. Siblings have priority; otherwise places are offered in order of receipt.
When will we hear back?
BISNY follows the ISAAGNY calendar shared by New York independent schools. For 2027-28 entry, notification and reply dates are: Kindergarten, February 4 and February 11; Grades 1 to 8, February 10 and February 26; Grades 9 to 12, February 19 and March 11; Preschool, February 25 and March 4. Early Decision is available for siblings, international applicants and families ready to commit.
Can we join mid-year?
Yes, whenever a place is available. Mid-year entry and rolling admissions stay open all year, and new students are encouraged to visit before they start.
Is there an interview or an entrance test?
There is no parent interview. During the school visit, your child spends time in class and has a brief, informal conversation with the relevant Division Head, so they can meet a teacher and ask their own questions. Occasionally, students applying for A Levels without IGCSEs are asked for sample papers in maths, English or science to help advise on subject choices.
Can we visit the school?
Yes, and we encourage it. Private tours run year-round on typical school days, with Open Houses and virtual events during the fall admissions season. If you are abroad, we arrange a video call with the admissions team instead. Request a tour and we will call you to arrange it.
Which year group is my child in?
It depends on their date of birth, with a September 1 cutoff. The year group table on the Application Process page shows the British year, the US grade and the birth dates for each school year.
A British education, explained in American terms
What is a British international school?
A school that follows the British school system for an international community: the Early Years Foundation Stage, the National Curriculum for England, and IGCSE and A Level qualifications, the same ones used by British international schools around the world and recognised by universities everywhere. At BISNY, every stage and qualification is explained in American terms, and the school is in Manhattan, so the education is British and the home is New York.
What curriculum does BISNY follow?
The British curriculum, taught through the IB in the younger years. Early Years follows the Early Years Foundation Stage; Lower School, the National Curriculum for England through the IB Primary Years Programme; Middle School, the IB Middle Years Programme; Upper School, IGCSE in Grades 9 and 10 and A Levels in Grades 11 and 12, examined by Cambridge International and Pearson Edexcel. Curriculum and subjects.
Is BISNY an IB school?
Yes. BISNY is an IB World School, authorised since 2009 to teach the Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes. The IB shapes how students learn in Lower and Middle School; the qualifications they graduate with are British, IGCSEs and A Levels. The IB at BISNY.
Do A Levels work for American universities?
Yes. More than 880 US universities accept A Levels for admission, every Ivy League school included, and strong grades can earn up to a year of course credit. Our graduates have gone on to Cornell, Northwestern, UC Berkeley and Vassar, as well as Imperial College London, UCL and McGill. The full list of university destinations.
Will my child be ahead or behind if they switch systems?
Students following the British system are typically about a year ahead of their American peers: reading by phonics begins in Pre-K, at four, and there is a clear, published standard for each year. Those expectations are matched by closer personal support, and teachers adjust to each child.
What languages do students learn?
French and Spanish, both, from age 3, through songs and stories in Early Years and every week in Lower School. In Middle School one of them continues and Latin begins; students who choose to can take French or Spanish all the way to A Level.
Is BISNY accredited?
Yes. BISNY is an IB World School for the PYP and MYP, re-evaluated by the IB every five years, holds COBIS accreditation and has been inspected by ISI, the Independent Schools Inspectorate. It is also one of the few schools outside the UK selected by the Good Schools Guide. Inspections and accreditations.
Hours, lunch, uniform, and what happens after 3:30
What are the school hours?
Doors open at 8:15 and lessons begin at 8:45. The day ends at 3:20 for Early Years and Lower School and at 3:30 for Middle and Upper School. After-school clubs end at 4:30 or 5:00 depending on year group, and Late Club looks after children until 5:30. The school day in detail.
Is lunch included?
Yes. Lunch and a morning snack are included in tuition and cooked on site every day by our caterers, Elior Independent School Dining: a main entrée, a vegetarian entrée and soups and vegetables each day, from a nut-free kitchen. Dietary needs and allergies are planned for with each family, and registered dietitians are on hand.
Is there a uniform?
Yes. Students from Nursery to Grade 8 wear a formal uniform, and Upper School students follow a smart dress code. The official supplier is Lands' End. Uniform details and how to buy it.
What clubs and sports are there after school?
Clubs run until 4:30 or 5:00: robotics (FIRST LEGO League and VEX), Model United Nations, choir, orchestra, two full-scale musical productions a year, art, photography, creative writing and more. The BISNY Bulldogs compete in soccer, basketball and other sports, and every student plays for their House on Sports Day. Clubs are not covered by tuition. School life, stage by stage.
When does the school year start and end?
The 2026-27 school year runs from September 8, 2026 to June 23, 2027, in three British terms with the American holidays: Autumn Term to December 18, Winter Term from January 5 to March 25, and Spring Term from April to June 23, plus Winter Break (December 21 to January 1) and Spring Break (March 26 to April 9). Term dates and the full calendar.
Arriving from across the world, or from across the island
Do we need to be British to apply?
No. Our students come from many countries and from across New York City, and every stage, year group and qualification is explained in American terms. A short conversation with our admissions team is the easiest way to see how it fits your child.
Is there support for children whose first language is not English?
Yes. Students who need it receive English as an Additional Language (EAL) lessons in small groups, in place of French or Spanish, as well as support in class, planned with the class teacher around each unit of work. In Middle School, some EAL students may take an additional EAL lesson instead of Latin.
Can BISNY sponsor a student visa?
Yes. BISNY issues F-1 student visas for students in Kindergarten (Year 1) and above. Tell us in your inquiry and the admissions team will explain the additional documents required.
Does BISNY offer boarding?
No. BISNY is a day school, so every student lives with a parent or legal guardian while enrolled.
We are relocating mid-year. How does that work?
The same five-step process, with video calls in place of visits until you arrive, and rolling admissions whenever a place is available. Families arrive from across the world, often part-way through the year or through high school, and IGCSE and A Levels are understood by universities everywhere.
How does BISNY help new families settle in?
With people. Our Parents' Association connects new parents with families already in the school, so children have familiar names and faces on their first day, and new students are encouraged to visit before they start. Whether a family is joining from the other side of the island or the other side of the world, everyone settles in very quickly.
About the school, and the people in it
How big is BISNY?
Around 200 students from Nursery to Year 13, on one campus. We stay small on purpose, so every student is personally known, and Houses run the whole length of the school, so a five-year-old is known by the seventeen-year-olds in their House.
What are the class sizes?
Around 14 to 18 students. Most Lower School year groups have one class, while Middle and Upper School generally have two. The student-teacher ratio across the school is around 1:7, and closer to 1:5 in Early Years.
Who are the teachers?
Highly qualified teachers, many of them British or British-trained, alongside faculty from all over the world, including the United States. Every student also belongs to a BISNY Mentor Group led by a teacher who follows their progress and wellbeing and is often the family's first point of contact. Meet the faculty and staff.
How does BISNY look after wellbeing and safety?
Through a Culture of Care built on three commitments: trust, so anyone can speak up knowing they will be heard; responsibility, so every adult takes an active part in keeping the environment safe; and equality and diversity, so every student is valued. Each division is led by an Assistant Headteacher responsible for the wellbeing of its students. How our Culture of Care works.
What is Affinitas Education?
The international group of schools BISNY belongs to, with more than 20 schools in Spain, Italy, the United States and Mexico. Its Culture of Care promise, safe to be, safe to speak, safe to thrive, is shared by every school in the group. An Affinitas school.
How involved are parents?
As much as they wish. Every parent is a member of the Parents' Association, which exists to build community rather than to fundraise, with social events and help at Sports Day, International Week and World Book Day. Parents are welcome in class to share something of their culture or profession.
I have a question that is not here. Who do I ask?
Our admissions team. Send a short inquiry and we will call you to answer it, with no commitment on your part.
The best answer is a visit
Tell us about your family and we will take it from there: a call, a visit on a typical school day, and a school where your child is known.