International School of Brooklyn vs The British International School of New York

	I International School of Brooklyn New York, United States	T The British International School of New York New York, United States
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $40,206 - 52,537	Fees / year $44,250 - 66,900
Age range	Age range 3 - 14 years	Age range 3 - 18 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), French Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), British Curriculum, Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge A Levels
Pupils	Pupils 386	Pupils 300
Typical class size	Typical class size —	Typical class size 14
Instruction language	Instruction language English, French, Spanish	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 2005	Opened 2006
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location ISB's main campus is at 477 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231, with reception and mailing at 192 Luquer Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231. ISB is located in Carroll Gardens, a historic Brooklyn neighborhood with a small‑town feel; Court Street features cafés, parks, shops, and restaurants, including French- and Spanish-speaking businesses.	Location Located at 20 Waterside Plaza, Manhattan, NY 10010, BIS-NY sits in the Kips Bay neighborhood on Manhattan's East Side, alongside the East River. Access is via 23rd Street, and the campus is near Gramercy Park, Murray Hill and Stuyvesant Town. The riverfront setting provides a calm, light filled environment with open views and space to breathe, and many families reach BIS-NY from Long Island City and Greenpoint.
Stages	Stages Pre-K 3–8th Grade	Stages Early Years (2.9 – 5 years); Lower School (5–11 years); Middle School (11–14 years); Upper School (14–18 years).
School type	School type Independent, non-profit day school	School type The school is a private international day school in New York for students aged 3 to 18.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 44 nationalities represented; 23 languages spoken at home.	Pupil nationality mix Over 40 nationalities represented across BIS-NY.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support Learning Support; targeted language support for English, French, and Spanish; social‑emotional and behavioral support; counseling; School Nurse.	Additional learning support The school has a dedicated Special Educational Needs (SEN) team and EAL specialists; a full-time Nurse and a School Counselor support student wellbeing.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation France (affiliated with AEFE and Mission laïque française)	Country affiliation British/UK curriculum (English National Curriculum).
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation Secular	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure ISB is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm daily. Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4: 9:00am–3:00pm. Kindergarten to 5th Grade: 8:30am–3:30pm. Middle School (6th–8th Grade): 8:45am–3:45pm (zero period 8:15am–8:45am). Early drop-off starts at 8:00am for Kindergarten–5th Grade and 8:20am for Pre-K 3–4; Campus opens to Middle School at 8:15am. After School programming until 6:00pm.	School day structure Drop-off begins at 8:15 am; a full-day program ends at 3:30 pm, with late care until 5:30 pm. Nursery offers full-day or half-day schedules, with half-day ending at 12:30 pm including lunch.
Bus service details	Bus service details Bus service within about four miles; stops include Bed‑Stuy, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Hill, Cobble Hill, Crown Heights, Downtown Brooklyn, Gowanus, Kensington, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Prospect Park South, South Slope, Windsor Terrace.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application fees - An application fee is required as part of the online admissions application. Application fee waivers are available for families for whom the fee presents a financial hardship, families who submitted an application last year, and families affiliated with the Early Steps and Prep for Prep programs. Annual tuition by year group (2026–2027 academic year) - Pre‑K 3: USD 40,206 per year. - Pre‑K 4: USD 42,125 per year. - Kindergarten through Grade 5: USD 47,626 per year. - Grades 6 through 8 (Middle School): USD 52,537 per year. Per‑term / payment‑plan breakdowns (same tuition amounts, different billing schedules) - One‑payment plan (full payment): - Full annual tuition payable in one payment by July 1. - Two‑payment plan (50% / 50%): - Two equal installments: 50% due July 1 and 50% due October 1. - One‑time administrative fee for this plan: USD 50. - Example installment amounts (50% of annual tuition): - Pre‑K 3: USD 20,103.00 per installment. - Pre‑K 4: USD 21,062.50 per installment. - K–5: USD 23,813.00 per installment. - Grades 6–8: USD 26,268.50 per installment. - Ten‑month plan (monthly payments): - Ten equal monthly payments, due each month from July 1 through April 1. - One‑time administrative fee for this plan: USD 110. - Example monthly amounts (annual tuition divided by 10): - Pre‑K 3: USD 4,020.60 per month. - Pre‑K 4: USD 4,212.50 per month. - K–5: USD 4,762.60 per month. - Grades 6–8: USD 5,253.70 per month. Deposit and confirmation payment - A USD 5,000 deposit is required with signed enrollment contracts to secure a student's place. The deposit is deducted from the tuition balance; the deposit amount is adjusted for families who receive tuition assistance. Billing schedule and payment terms - Families choose one of the three tuition payment plans; exact due dates are: - One‑payment: full amount due July 1. - Two‑payment: 50% due July 1 and 50% due October 1. - Ten‑month: payments due monthly from July 1 through April 1. - The chosen plan includes the one‑time administrative fee noted above where applicable. Tuition covers books, field trips (including overnight trips), classroom activities, and materials; some programs and fees are charged separately. Boarding fees - ISB is a day school (Pre‑K 3 through Grade 8); there are no boarding fees. Other costs and recurring fees - Parents' Association fee: USD 100 per year (not included in tuition). - Lunch program: available for an additional fee (Little Green Gourmets hot lunch program); lunch is not included in tuition. - After School & Enrichment program: offered on a trimester basis for an additional fee; After School Care fees are charged separately from tuition. - Athletics program: fees for athletics are charged separately from tuition. - Middle School laptop fee: Middle School technology/laptop fee is charged in addition to tuition. - Summer program: non‑refundable registration fee USD 30 per session; the summer program is charged separately. - School store / school‑branded gear and optional uniform items are available for purchase through The ISB Store. These purchases are additional to tuition and program fees. - Transportation: ISB partners with the NYC Department of Education to offer bus service free of charge to students in Kindergarten through Grade 5; morning bus service is available to 6th graders. Bus service and eligibility are subject to route availability. Refund information - The USD 5,000 deposit is applied to the tuition balance at enrollment. Deposit adjustment for families receiving tuition assistance is applied at the time of contract. Specific refund terms for deposits or prepaid tuition beyond this deposit application are governed by the enrollment contract and school billing policies. Fee payment options and administrative handling - Tuition and fees are administered through ISB's enrollment and billing systems and by the school's Business/Finance Office; families select a payment plan on the enrollment contract and pay according to the contract schedule. The admissions and enrollment flow uses the Veracross/ISB parent portals for application and account access. For exact available payment methods (for example, check, ACH/wire transfer, or card options) and any card convenience fees or bank transfer instructions, payment details are provided in the enrollment contract and billing communications. Notes on coverage - Tuition figures and the deposit amount above are the published 2026–2027 school‑year rates and the stated deposit requirement. Tuition excludes the items specifically listed above (lunch, after‑school, athletics, Middle School laptop fee, Parents' Association fee). Administrative fees apply to the two‑payment and ten‑month payment plans as noted.	Fee details Academic year covered - The fees and payment terms below correspond to the school's published tuition and fees schedule for the 2025/26 academic year. Application and admissions fees - Application Fee: USD 125, payable at the time of application. - New Student Enrollment Fee (one-time, non-refundable): USD 2,500, payable upon enrollment for all new students. Annual tuition by year group (full-year amounts) - Nursery (3s program, full year, 5 days/week): USD 44,250. - Reception (Pre-K / 4-year-olds, full year, 5 days/week): USD 49,500. - Primary & Middle School (Year 1 – Year 9): USD 64,750. - Upper School (Year 10 – Year 13): USD 65,800. Mandatory trip / excursion fees - Excursion Week (Years 7–9 only, mandatory): Year 7 fee USD 1,900; Years 8 & 9 fee USD 2,150. These amounts are subject to change based on actual trip costs; installment schedule below applies. Payment schedule, deposits and instalment options - Amounts due on enrollment (new students): - New Student Enrollment Fee (one-time, non-refundable): USD 2,500. - Tuition Deposit (non-refundable): Nursery & Reception: USD 3,500; Years 1–9: USD 3,500; Years 10–13: USD 6,000. The tuition deposit is applied against the full-year tuition and is non-refundable. - Remaining tuition balance (examples shown as amounts due under the single-instalment option): - Nursery: Balance due USD 40,750. - Reception: Balance due USD 46,000. - Years 1–9: Balance due USD 58,750. - Years 10–13: Balance due USD 59,800. - Two-installment option (balance divided 70% / 30%): - 70% of the balance due May 1, 2025; 30% of the balance due December 15, 2025. Example amounts (balance portion only): - Nursery: 70% = USD 28,525; 30% = USD 12,225. - Reception: 70% = USD 32,200; 30% = USD 13,800. - Years 1–9: 70% = USD 41,125; 30% = USD 17,625. - Years 10–13: 70% = USD 41,860; 30% = USD 17,940. - Ten-installment option (monthly): ten equal installments covering the balance; the published example monthly amounts are: - Nursery: USD 4,075 per month. - Reception: USD 4,600 per month. - Years 1–9: USD 5,875 per month. - Years 10–13: USD 5,980 per month. - Ten-installment timing and requirement: the ten-installment plan runs across the published dates and requires automatic ACH payment setup through the school's payment processor (TADS) as noted on the schedule. - Excursion Week payment timing (Years 7–9): 50% due October 15, 2025 and 50% due March 15, 2026 (subject to change by itinerary). What tuition covers and what it does not cover - Tuition includes: educational materials, lunch, snacks, athletics, extracurricular programs (including school play, set design, athletics, debate) and educational day trips. - Tuition does not cover: school uniforms, private music lessons, after-school activities and late club, residential (overnight) trips for Years 7–13, transportation to/from school, and computing devices for Upper School (BYOD requirement). After-school care is charged separately at USD 23 per hour. Boarding fees - Boarding is not applicable; the school operates as a day school and no boarding fee schedule is published. Refund and cancellation terms (key points) - New Student Enrollment Fee: one-time and non-refundable. - Tuition Deposit: non-refundable and applied against the year's tuition balance. - Financial aid application processing: the third-party FAST portal charges a USD 60 administrative fee per financial aid application. If the school is unable to meet a family's demonstrated need, the school will refund the application fee. - Pro‑rata for partial-year attendance: published proration is One term = 50% of full-year tuition; Two terms = 75% of full-year tuition. Fees are prorated by term for mid‑year entry or departure only when agreed in advance; this proration does not apply to unplanned withdrawals or non-attendance once a student is enrolled. Late payment, penalties and consequences - A late fee of 1.5% per month is assessed on all past-due invoices by the school's billing agent (TADS). Significantly past-due accounts may result in student withdrawal. Fee payment methods and administrative processing - The school uses TADS for tuition billing and payment management. TADS accepts multiple payment methods including automatic bank withdrawal (ACH), major credit and debit cards, e-checks, and paper checks/money orders depending on the contract and options selected in the TADS tuition agreement. The ten-installment plan specifically requires ACH authorization. Other regular or occasional charges - After-school care: USD 23 per hour (charged separately). - Residential / overnight trip fees (Years 7–13) and private lessons or certain extracurricular items may be charged separately when applicable. Excursion Week charges for Years 7–9 are mandatory and billed as noted above. Contact / billing administration - Billing and financial-aid administration are handled through the school's stated contacts and the TADS/FAST portals as part of the admissions and tuition process. Families may arrange payment plans and employer/third‑party invoicing in coordination with the school's admissions and finance teams.
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
Academics	Academics
Curriculum details	Curriculum details ISB is an IB World School offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for Pre-K 3 through 5th grade and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for 6th through 8th grade, with immersive language programs in French and Spanish. The Preschool–Lower School are accredited by the French Ministry of Education, while the full program is accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Education, and the curriculum incorporates New York State standards within an IB framework. The IB emphasises inquiry-based learning and multilingualism, helping students develop global understanding. Language learning occurs in authentic cultural contexts with instruction by native speakers.	Curriculum details Early Years combines the UK Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. Lower School uses the English National Curriculum taught within the IB framework. Middle School provides IB-based inquiry alongside preparation for IGCSE. Upper School follows the Cambridge IGCSE and A Level programmes. The overall curriculum blends the English National Curriculum with IB approaches in the Lower and Middle Schools and Cambridge qualifications in the Upper School.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio Small class sizes and small student-teacher ratios. Form teachers, division leaders and specialist staff provide personalised attention.
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression —	Higher education progression Graduates have gained places at leading institutions around the world since the first graduating class in 2021. Cambridge qualifications are accepted by more than 880 universities in the United States (including all Ivy League and Ivy Plus institutions) and by every UK university, with strong A Level results often earning up to one year of university credit. Merit scholarships total over $2 million each year.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented Enrichment class offerings are available for PK3–5th grade.	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
Admissions	Admissions
Admissions	Admissions Welcome to International School of Brooklyn. 1. Schedule a tour of the school. Parents and guardians meet ISB's administration, learn about the bilingual program, and have the opportunity to ask questions. Tours are for parents/guardians only; children do not attend. 2. Submit the online application for the 2026-2027 school year. Applications open September 2, 2025, and the deadline to submit is December 8, 2025. Supplemental materials, such as teacher reports and transcripts, are due by January 8, 2026. 3. Language considerations. For Pre-K 3 to Kindergarten, applicants from all language backgrounds are welcome; for 1st to 5th Grade, applicants should speak, read, and write in French or Spanish at grade level, with a language assessment part of the application. Middle School offers options for students starting or continuing French or Spanish, and all students must be fluent in English to enter Middle School. 4. Admissions visits. Parent interviews are typically conducted for Pre-K4 to 5th Grade; student visits occur for 1st to 8th Grade, during which language assessments and/or writing exercises may be completed; a weekend playgroup is offered for Pre-K 3 to 5. 5. Recommendations. The current teacher should submit the teacher recommendation form, ideally after November 1, for the 2026-27 cycle; the form is due by January 8, 2026. 6. Fees, entry points, and waivers. Fee waivers are available for families facing financial hardship, for those who applied last year, or for families affiliated with Early Steps and Prep for Prep programs. Entry points include Preschool (Pre-K3, Pre-K4, Kindergarten) and 6th Grade, with occasional admission to other grades; siblings are given special consideration but not guaranteed. 7. Notification and next steps. ISB follows ISAAGNY notification dates; Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 notifications occur February 26, 2026; Kindergarten on February 5, 2026; 1st–8th Grade on February 11, 2026. After notification, families proceed with enrollment, transportation, and other arrangements.	Admissions STEP ONE Inquire by completing our short inquiry form to share a little about your family. A member of our admissions team will contact you to answer questions and schedule a video call or private campus tour. This is the best way to get to know BIS-NY and determine if it is the right fit for your child. STEP TWO Apply Online After your initial conversation or tour, families who wish to continue the process will be invited to complete the full application form. The form includes family contact information and additional details that help us better understand your child and their educational needs. Please note there is a $125 application fee, payable when the application is submitted. STEP THREE Submit Supporting Documents Once your application has been reviewed, our admissions team will guide you through the final step: submitting the required supporting documents based on your child's age. A checklist of required documents can be found in the dropdowns below. The documents required vary by age.
Scholarships	Scholarships ISB offers a tuition assistance program to support enrollment across income levels. In 2023-2024 ISB granted more than $2.9 million in tuition assistance. In 2024-2025, over $3 million in tuition assistance was awarded, reaching about 30% of ISB's student body. Families applying to all grades may submit a separate application for tuition assistance through Clarity.	Scholarships —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist —
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