United Nations International School vs Whitby School

	U United Nations International School New York, United States	W Whitby School New York, United States
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $48,456 - 53,767	Fees / year $39,975 - 55,280
Age range	Age range 4 - 18 years	Age range 1 - 14 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum	Curriculum IB (MYP), Montessori Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils 1,450	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 19	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language English	Instruction language English
Opened	Opened 1947	Opened 1958
Bus service	Bus service No	Bus service Yes
Essentials	Essentials
Location	Location New York, United States. Campus: 24-50 FDR Drive, New York, NY 10010-4046.	Location Whitby School is located at 969 Lake Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06831, United States. Greenwich is in Fairfield County, about 45 minutes from New York City. The campus sits in a residential area of Greenwich and serves students from the local community and surrounding towns.
Stages	Stages Pre-K through 12th grade (PreK-12).	Stages Stepping Stones through Grade 8.
School type	School type Day school.	School type Independent, co-educational private day school.
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix 97 countries are represented by UNIS students.	Pupil nationality mix Diverse student body represents 27 countries and more than 22 languages.
Additional learning support	Additional learning support The UNIS Student Support Team provides assistance to UNIS students and families from Pre-K through 12, including social, emotional, health and wellness support, learning support, and college preparation.	Additional learning support English as an Additional Language (EAL) program; Lower School Language Acquisition focuses on oral language development.
Country affiliation	Country affiliation Affiliation with the United Nations.	Country affiliation United States
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure Junior School begins around 8:30 a.m. with homeroom at 8:45 a.m.; JA pick-up is at 2:55 p.m.; Tutorial House ends around 2:50 p.m., with some courses meeting until 4:10 p.m.; lunch lasts about 30–60 minutes and there are scheduled recess periods.	School day structure —
Bus service details	Bus service details There are free NYC school buses for students in kindergarten through sixth grade who live within five miles of the school; private buses may be arranged by parents; UNIS students may also receive MetroCards.	Bus service details —
Fees	Fees
Fee details	Fee details Application and acceptance fees - Admissions fee (payable upon acceptance): USD 250. - Tuition pre-payment (payable upon acceptance): USD 1,000. - Security deposit (refundable upon graduation or withdrawal, subject to the school's conditions): USD 300. - One-time New Parent Levy (per new family, payable upon acceptance): USD 3,500. Total payable on acceptance (Admissions fee + Tuition pre-payment + Security deposit + New Parent Levy): USD 5,050. Tuition fees (2026–27) — annual amounts by year group - Junior School (Pre-K through Junior 4 / Grade 4): USD 46,856 per year for each grade in this range. - Middle School - Middle 1 (Grade 5): USD 48,592 per year. - Middle 2 (Grade 6): USD 48,592 per year. - Middle 3 (Grade 7): USD 48,592 per year. - Middle 4 (Grade 8): USD 49,259 per year. - Tutorial House (Grades 9–12) - Tutorial 1 (Grade 9): USD 50,911 per year. - Tutorial 2 (Grade 10): USD 50,911 per year. - Tutorial 3 (Grade 11): USD 51,390 per year. - Tutorial 4 (Grade 12): USD 52,167 per year. Billing schedule and payment terms (2026–27) - Re-enrolling students: a nonrefundable re-enrollment deposit of USD 4,000 is due on March 12, 2026; the balance of tuition is paid in two installments: 70% of the annual tuition due on August 1, 2026, and 30% due on January 1, 2027. - Payable upon acceptance (new enrolments): Admissions Fee (USD 250), Tuition Pre-Payment (USD 1,000), Security Deposit (USD 300), and One-time New Parent Levy (USD 3,500) for a total of USD 5,050 due when the place is accepted. Example installment amounts (70% / 30% split) for 2026–27 (rounded to nearest USD) - Junior School (annual USD 46,856): 70% = USD 32,799; 30% = USD 14,057. - Middle 1–3 (annual USD 48,592): 70% = USD 34,014; 30% = USD 14,578. - Middle 4 (annual USD 49,259): 70% = USD 34,481; 30% = USD 14,778. - Tutorial 1–2 (annual USD 50,911): 70% = USD 35,638; 30% = USD 15,273. - Tutorial 3 (annual USD 51,390): 70% = USD 35,973; 30% = USD 15,417. - Tutorial 4 (annual USD 52,167): 70% = USD 36,517; 30% = USD 15,650. Additional and incidental fees - Capital surcharge: USD 1,400 per child, charged in addition to tuition. - UNIS Parents' Association membership dues: USD 200 per family. - Textbooks and field trips: variable (as required by Middle School and Tutorial House). - 1:1 device assignment insurance deductible deposit (Grades M1 to T4): USD 250 per family; refundable upon return of devices in good condition subject to the school's device-return conditions. - Optional fees (examples): after-school programs, lunches (contracted on an annual basis), private music lessons and instrument rental; these are charged in addition to tuition and other mandatory fees. Boarding - Boarding is not applicable. UNIS is a PreK–12 day school; there are no boarding facilities or boarding fees. Refund information - All payments are generally non‑refundable, with stated exceptions for return of computer devices in good condition and the security deposit upon graduation (or withdrawal where the school's policy allows refund of the security deposit). Specific refund timing and conditions for the New Parent Levy and the Security Deposit are stated in the school's fee policy (examples for prior-year enrollment deadlines are included in the school's terms). Fee payment options - The school provides a Parent Portal (portal access is available for families) for account management. For other electronic payment channels used by the school for financial transactions (including donations), accepted methods include online credit-card payments, electronic funds transfer, Venmo, checks, phone payments, and securities transfer where applicable. (These electronic and check/EFT channels are used by the school for institutional payments and giving transactions.)	Fee details Application fees - A student application fee is charged for each applicant; commonly listed as USD 75. - The student application fee is waived for families applying for financial aid. Tuition fees (annual) — by year group - Stepping Stones (18 months to 3 years): - Half Day Program (Mon–Fri mornings): USD 34,400 per year. - Full Day Program (Mon–Thu full days; Fri half-day): USD 42,300 per year. - Primary 1 (3 years by Aug 1): - Half Day Program (Mon–Fri mornings): USD 43,900 per year. - Full Day Program (Mon–Thu full days; Fri half-day): USD 51,100 per year. - Primary 2 (4 years by Aug 1): - Full Day Program: USD 51,100 per year. - Primary 3 / Kindergarten (5 years by Aug 1): - Full Day Program: USD 51,100 per year. - Lower School (Grades 1–4): - Grades 1–4 Full Day Program: USD 52,900 per year (Grades 1–2 and Grades 3–4 listed at this amount). - Middle School (Grades 5–8): - Grades 5–8 Full Day Program: USD 55,280 per year (Grades 5–6 and Grades 7–8 listed at this amount). Per-term / billing note - Tuition is published as annual amounts above; deposits, billing schedules and installment options are handled through the school's enrollment and billing process (Enrollment Contract / Finance Office and the Veracross Parent Portal). Families receive billing details and the formal payment schedule through the school's enrollment/billing process. One-time and recurring additional fees (examples by grade) - Parents' Association fee: USD 210 per student (annual). - Field trip / activity fees (one-time annual or trip-specific, by grade): - Grades 1–2: USD 300 per student (annual field trip fee). - Grade 3: USD 500 (one-time annual field trip fee). - Grade 4: USD 600 (one-time annual field trip fee). - Grades 5–6: USD 850 (one-time annual field trip fee). - Grades 7–8: USD 3,900 (one-time annual field trip fee; includes the international trip week). - Before-school and after-school program charges: Daily or seasonal rates apply for before-school and after-school care; published tuition above covers standard program hours only. - Spiritwear / optional uniform items: SpiritWear and uniform items are offered through the school's online store; spiritwear purchases are optional and sold through the school store. Boarding fees - Whitby is an independent co-educational day school for students ages 18 months through Grade 8; no boarding program or boarding fees apply. Refund information - Whitby makes available a Tuition Refund Plan (TRP) to reduce family financial loss in the event of withdrawal for covered reasons. The TRP terms include: - Medical withdrawal or medical absence due to injury or sickness: the Plan will pay 100% of unused yearly insured fees (less a four-day deductible) if withdrawal/absence exceeds four consecutive days. - Mental health withdrawal or absence: the Plan will pay 60% of unused yearly insured fees (less a four-day deductible) if withdrawal/absence exceeds four consecutive days. - Withdrawal for non-medical reasons (examples: move, change of objective, voluntary withdrawal): the Plan will pay 60% of unused yearly insured fees provided the student has attended more than 14 consecutive calendar days from their first day of attendance in the academic year. - Enrollment deposit refund related to financial aid: when financial aid is awarded, the enrollment deposit is computed as 20% of the tuition amount net of the financial aid award; that deposit is refundable if the family formally withdraws within two weeks of notification of the financial aid decision. Billing schedule and payment terms (contract and deposit) - An enrollment deposit is required as part of the Enrollment Contract; for families receiving financial aid the deposit is computed as 20% of tuition net of the award. Final billing terms, schedules and payment deadlines are set in the Enrollment Contract and administered by the Finance Office and the Parent Portal. Fee payment options (documented options) - Financial-aid application payments (Clarity/Parent Financial Statement) may be paid by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, American Express). - Spiritwear and uniform store purchases are processed through the school's online store (card payments). - The school's Admissions Center and Parent Portal (Veracross) manage enrollments, billing and the family account; deposits and tuition balances are processed and recorded through the school's Finance Office and parent portal. Other notes on fees - Tuition assistance (need-based financial aid) is available beginning in Primary 3 (Kindergarten); the student application fee is waived for families applying for financial aid. Family eligibility and award amounts follow the school's published financial aid process. The financial aid program does not reduce additional costs such as Parents' Association dues, trip fees, the Tuition Refund Plan premium, or after-school activity fees.
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 The UNIS curriculum is a Pre-K-12 International Baccalaureate program. The school is accredited by the International Baccalaureate, the Council of Independent Schools, and the New York State Association of Independent Schools. The UNIS curriculum aligns to Common Core Math Standards, the Next Generation Science Standards, NY Next Generation ELA standards, and British Columbia Social Studies Standards. UNIS is a founding IB school, and the IB learner profile is reflected in UNIS's approach to learning.	Curriculum details Whitby offers Montessori-based early childhood education (Whitby Montessori Children's House) for ages 18 months through early childhood years, with Lower School (Grades 1–4) and Middle School (Grades 5–8). The Middle School follows the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 5–8, and Spanish is taught beginning at 18 months.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio 5:1
Exam results	Exam results —	Exam results —
Higher education progression	Higher education progression Graduates attend colleges and universities across the United States and in many other nations. UNIS students apply to and enroll at universities in ten or more countries. The College Counseling Office provides a structured program with events such as the UNIS College Fair, which hosts over 150 colleges, and a College Counseling Timeline to guide students through the process.	Higher education progression Whitby graduates are accepted at their first choice of high school; they attend competitive secondary schools including Brunswick School, Greenwich Academy, Greenwich Country Day School, Greenwich High School, and other regional day and boarding schools.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	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 1. Create a Ravenna account to begin the UNIS application. Through Ravenna you submit the UNIS application, register for a tour and assessment, email a teacher recommendation form directly to your child's teacher, submit additional admissions materials, and check the status of your application. The $75 application fee is paid by credit card and is waived for financial aid applicants. 2. Submit the UNIS application in Ravenna. 3. Schedule the assessment or interview: Prekindergarten to Fourth Grade participate in an in-person assessment; parents attend a panel discussion led by the Director of Admissions; Fifth to Eighth Grades may have a group activity or an interview; Ninth to Twelfth Grades are interviewed. 4. Send the ISAAGNY Confidential Information Sheet via Ravenna to delegate to your child's current teacher. 5. Take an Admission Test: ISEE or SSAT; testing can be online or at a Prometric testing center; MAP or PSAT may be submitted as substitutes. 6. Receive the Admission Decision: PK decisions on February 26, 2026; Kindergarten on February 5, 2026; 1st–4th on February 11, 2026; 5th–8th on February 11, 2026; 9th–12th on February 20, 2026. For entry in 2026-27, the Manhattan campus window runs September 1, 2025 to November 15, 2025 with interviews by mid-January 2026; midyear entries are possible when spaces exist, with midyear applications due by March 1, 2026 and enrollment by March 17, 2026.	Admissions Step 1: Submit Inquiry Form. Submit the Online Inquiry Form to request information about Whitby School. The Inquiry initiates the admissions process. After submission, you receive a login to the Online Admissions Portal to continue with the application and supporting materials. Step 2: Schedule a Virtual Overview and/or Campus Tour. Schedule a Virtual Overview and/or Campus Tour. The overview introduces Whitby's classrooms, programs, and co-curricular activities and helps families learn about Whitby in a first-hand way. The Admissions Team coordinates these experiences as part of the process. Step 3: Apply. Submit an Application for Admissions after completing the inquiry. You will receive login access to the Online Admissions Portal to submit the online application and any required recommendations and transfer documents. Whitby uses the Standard Application Online (SAO) framework and rolling admissions begin in early March, space permitting. Step 4: Submit Records, Recommendations, and other Relevant Forms/Information. Submit Records, Recommendations, and other Relevant Forms/Information. These materials provide the Admissions Committee with a complete view of the applicant. The online portal is used to submit these documents and additional information as requested. Step 5: Schedule Candidate Visit and Assessment. Schedule Candidate Visit and Assessment. The candidate visit and assessment help evaluate readiness for Whitby's program. The Admissions Committee reviews the results as part of the file and moves toward a decision. Step 6: Candidate File Reviewed by Admissions Committee. Candidate File Reviewed by Admissions Committee. The committee reviews the complete file and determines placement. Whitby offers rolling admissions; decisions depend on space. Applicants with English as an Additional Language are assessed and placed according to Whitby's language-proficiency procedures (including interviews, language assessments, and appropriate placement).
Scholarships	Scholarships A need-based financial aid program provides awards to newly admitted students based on demonstrated financial need. Financial aid is based on need and UNIS uses its own Financial Aid form; an aid application will not prejudice admission decisions. Financial aid decisions are coordinated after admissions decisions, and submission timing helps the process. SSS begins processing financial aid information on November 1, 2025; it is recommended to submit by December 31, 2025 for consideration in the February/March notification cycle. For more information on eligibility and process, contact Margaret Chiu at (212) 584-3034 or mchiu@unis.org.	Scholarships Financial Aid Options. Whitby School offers Financial Aid Options to support a diverse community. Financial aid is available for new and existing Whitby families and covers tuition costs based on need; the process uses Clarity for information collection. Tuition assistance is available beginning in Primary 3 (Kindergarten). The financial aid application must be completed through Clarity, including submission of required financial information; awards are determined by the Whitby Financial Aid Committee and are contingent on available funds and timely submission. The aid includes tuition remission and need-based awards; the enrollment deposit remains 20% of tuition net of aid and is refundable if withdrawal occurs within two weeks of notification.
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