International School Admissions in New York: 2026 Step-by-Step Guide

Quick answer: How do international school admissions work in New York? Apply about a year ahead: tours open in late summer, applications are due between November and January, and most decisions arrive on a shared date in February for September entry. Expect parent interviews, a child visit and, for older grades, the ISEE. Fees run roughly USD 55,000 to 70,000 at schools such as UNIS and Avenues.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Few cities have an admissions process as structured, or as front-loaded, as New York. Families arriving from Europe, Asia or Latin America are often surprised that a September place is decided almost nine months earlier, and that the first tour slots can be booked before the previous school year has even ended. This guide explains international school admissions in New York step by step, so you can plan the year rather than chase it.

The good news for relocating families is that international and bilingual schools in the city are used to people moving at short notice. Alongside the main independent school cycle, most of them keep a separate route for families who arrive mid-year or after the deadlines. Knowing which route you are on is the first decision to make.

New York's school geography: where schools sit and how families commute

Families move to New York for finance, law, media, tech, diplomacy and the United Nations, and the international schools reflect that mix. Most are in Manhattan. Midtown East, around the UN, has a long-standing cluster; the Upper East Side is home to several historic independent schools; Chelsea on the West Side has newer, purpose-built campuses near the High Line; and the Financial District has grown into a residential neighbourhood with its own school options. Across the East River, Brooklyn neighbourhoods such as Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill and Park Slope draw families wanting more space, and Queens offers good access to the airports.

Commuting is mostly by subway, school bus or on foot, rarely by car. A child living on the Upper West Side and attending school in the Financial District faces 35 to 50 minutes each way, which adds up over a school year. Many families choose the school first and then rent within a short subway ride. Ask each school which neighbourhoods its bus routes cover, because coverage varies widely and private buses can add several thousand dollars to the annual bill.

Curricula available in New York's international schools

International Baccalaureate: offered at UNIS, Léman Manhattan Preparatory School and the International School of Brooklyn, among others.
French-American bilingual programmes: the Lycée Français de New York teaches in French and English from the early years to graduation.
Language immersion in the early and middle years: the International School of Brooklyn runs French and Spanish immersion up to 8th Grade.
Project-based, interdisciplinary learning: Avenues New York builds its programme around projects, with English and Mandarin listed as languages.
US college preparatory pathway: every school here prepares students for American university applications, alongside any international diploma.

Five New York schools and what to know about applying

United Nations International School (UNIS)

UNIS is a coeducational, college preparatory IB school from Pre-K to Grade 12, with its main campus at 24-50 FDR Drive in Manhattan and a second campus in Queens. It has around 1,600 students from 109 countries.

Tip: when applying, ask which campus your child would attend, since UNIS has sites in both Manhattan and Queens and the cross-river commute is a real factor for younger children.

Lycée Français de New York

The Lycée Français sits at 505 East 75th Street on the Upper East Side and is a French-American bilingual school running from the early years to graduation.

Tip: for entry beyond the early years, expect the school to assess French language level as well as general readiness. If your child is not yet fluent in French, ask early whether there is a supported entry route for their grade.

Avenues New York

Avenues opened in 2012 at 259 10th Avenue in Chelsea and takes children from 1 year old through graduation. Its teaching is project-based and interdisciplinary, and English and Mandarin are listed as languages of the school.

Tip: because Avenues starts so young, many places in the early grades are filled by children already enrolled. Ask how many new places are expected in your child's grade before investing time in a full application.

Léman Manhattan Preparatory School

Léman is at 41 Broad Street in the Financial District and runs from 12 months to Grade 12 with the IB. According to the school, it offers New York City's only boarding programme.

Tip: the boarding option can suit families whose parents travel heavily or who arrive in New York ahead of the rest of the household. Ask about boarding admissions separately, as the timeline and interview may differ from day places.

International School of Brooklyn

The International School of Brooklyn is an independent non-profit school at 477 Court Street, teaching from Pre-K 3 to 8th Grade with French and Spanish immersion and the IB.

Tip: because the school ends at 8th Grade, families should think about high school applications from 7th Grade onwards, which means going through the New York admissions cycle twice.

Fees and costs to budget for

Annual tuition at New York international and independent schools runs roughly USD 55,000 to 70,000, which is about EUR 50,000 to 64,000 depending on the exchange rate. Early childhood half-day programmes can sit below that range, while upper school tuition is usually at the top. Fees rise every year, often by a few percent, so budget for increases across the full time your child will be enrolled.

On top of tuition, plan for:

Application fee: typically a few hundred dollars per school, so applying to five or six schools adds up.
Enrolment deposit: commonly a significant share of the first year's tuition, due when you sign the contract and usually non-refundable.
Tuition refund insurance: often optional or required, protecting you if you leave mid-year.
ISEE or testing fees: for applicants to older grades.
Lunch, transport and after-school programmes: each can be billed separately.
Devices, trips and exam entries: including IB exam fees in the final years.
Annual giving: schools invite donations, which are voluntary but expected by many families.

Most schools offer financial aid, with deadlines that often fall in December or January, close to the application deadline. Aid applications usually require tax returns, so families new to the US should ask what documents are accepted instead.

Step-by-step admissions timeline for September entry

Late summer to early autumn, a year ahead: Applications open in August or September. Register on each school's portal, book tours and open house events, and note each deadline.

November to January: Submit applications, which are typically due in this window. Parents complete written statements and attend a parent interview. Younger children are invited to a child visit or small group playdate; older students have an interview and may shadow a class.

Testing and recommendations: Applicants to older grades usually sit the ISEE or a school-specific test, and schools request teacher recommendations and transcripts directly from the current school. Give teachers plenty of notice, especially if they are abroad and unfamiliar with American forms.

February, decisions: Most New York City independent schools follow ISAAGNY's shared admission dates, with Kindergarten to Grade 12 decisions released on a common notification date in February for September entry. Families then have a short window to accept, sign the contract and pay the deposit.

Waiting lists: If you are wait-listed, tell the school promptly that it remains your first choice. Movement is common in spring and summer as families relocate.

Practical advice for relocating families

Check the Kindergarten age cut-off. Many schools expect a child to have turned 5 by 1 September to enter Kindergarten, but cut-offs vary and some schools prefer children who are older, so confirm per school. Children from the UK or Europe may land in a different grade than expected.

Ask about rolling admission if you are moving at short notice. International schools in particular often consider relocating families mid-year or after the February dates, subject to space. Say clearly in your first email when you will arrive and why, as schools prioritise families with a confirmed move.

Prepare translated records early. Transcripts, reports and recommendations in languages other than English or French may need certified translations. Collect two to three years of reports before you leave your current school, since requesting them from overseas later is slower.

Compare schools across the United States

When you are ready to narrow your list, see our guide to the Best international schools in the United States, which compares curricula, locations and fees so you can decide where to apply this cycle.

More guides to schools in New York

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply to international schools in New York for September?

Start in late summer or early autumn of the year before entry. Tours and open houses run from September, and most applications are due between November and January. Decisions usually arrive on a shared date in February, so a family wanting a September place should have shortlisted schools by October and booked interviews well before the winter holidays.

Do New York international schools require the ISEE?

Many independent schools ask applicants to older grades, typically from around Grade 5 upwards, to sit the ISEE or a school-specific test, while younger children are observed in a playdate or class visit instead. Requirements differ by school, so check each one. Book the ISEE early in the autumn, as test dates fill and results must arrive before the application deadline.

Can we get an international school place in New York mid-year?

Often, yes. International schools in New York are used to diplomatic, corporate and academic families arriving during the year and many offer rolling admission when a grade has space. Contact the admissions office as soon as your move is confirmed, explain your arrival date, and have reports, passports and recommendations ready to send immediately.