HudsonWay Immersion School - NYC Campus

HudsonWay Immersion School operates two campuses in the New York City area: Midtown West campus at 525 W 52nd Street, New York, NY 10019, and the New Jersey campus at 249 Bebout Ave, Stirling, NJ 07980. The NYC campus is on the Upper West Side and is served by local public transit; the NJ campus sits in a suburban setting with access to parks and community facilities. The school offers immersion programs in Spanish and Mandarin for preschool through middle school.

Preschool; Elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5); Middle School (Grades 6–8).

Private day school offering Mandarin or Spanish immersion.

English language support: Students are placed into a cohort of international students at a similar level of English language arts support; they are guided and assessed to maximize English proficiency.

Preschool: Half-day 8:30am–12:00pm; Full-day 8:30am–3:30pm. Elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5) and Middle School (Grades 6–8) run 8:30am–3:30pm. On Mondays the day ends at 3:00pm.

Free Upper West Side bus pickup and drop-off daily for Kindergarten and up.

HudsonWay Immersion School offers full immersion programs in Spanish or Mandarin for students from ages 2 through grade 8, with almost all instruction in the second language starting in preschool and transitioning to 50/50 by the 4th grade. The curriculum is designed to develop biliteracy by teaching academic subjects in a second language and to build global competence and emotional intelligence. Preschool immersion runs at 100% for 2-year-olds and 90% by age four, establishing an advanced language foundation by kindergarten. In elementary, immersion begins at 80% in kindergarten, with English instruction increasing across grades so students become biliterate and proficient in both languages. Language arts and mathematics are taught in both languages using targeted curricula (Fundations; Better Immersion/Level Chinese; Senderos/Level Learning; Math in Focus), and science uses FOSS Next Generation with a bilingual science fair. AP Chinese Language and Culture is offered in Grade 7 or 8, enabling students to earn the Global Seal of Biliteracy. The program integrates global experiences and arts and emphasizes social-emotional development through the Step curriculum.

Preschool ratios: 6:1 for 2s, 8:1 for 3s, 9:1 for 4s; Elementary class size is about 12 students.

In assessments, HWIS students significantly outperform independent school norms; 90% are accepted to their first-choice middle or high school.

The school provides a supportive, fully immersive learning environment in Spanish or Mandarin. Students become biliterate and emotionally intelligent as they advance from preschool through middle school. Starting in preschool, almost all instruction is in the second language, with a gradual transition to 50/50 by the 4th grade. Two-year-olds start at 100% immersion, dropping to 90% by age four to support language and social-emotional development. Second Step is used to help teachers and students address social-emotional development, teaching self-regulation and problem-solving. Our community includes attentive teachers, differentiated instruction, and small class sizes that support social-emotional growth.

Immersion programs are offered in Spanish and Mandarin. International students can maintain their native language (Mandarin or Spanish) and use that knowledge to scaffold and accelerate learning of English. Students are placed into a cohort of international students at a similar level of English-language arts support and are guided and assessed to maximize their English proficiency. The admissions process requires demonstration of English proficiency via TOEFL/TOEFL Jr or Duolingo. Language immersion promotes biliteracy, as students learn content in a second language and English.

The school emphasizes social-emotional learning and emotional intelligence in its immersion environment. In Preschool, social-emotional development is supported through Second Step, with teachers and students equipped with tools to self-regulate. The program aims to support overall well-being and mental health as foundational for success. Emotional well-being resources for families and students are provided, including links from external organizations (e.g., NJ Department of Education Emotional Wellness Guide for Families and Students; UNICEF guidance). Global competence and cross-cultural experiences contribute to emotional wellbeing within a diverse, inclusive community.

Health and safety measures for COVID-19 are in place. Parents are asked to pick up within one hour of notification and to have the child PCR tested, returning only after a negative result. If allergy symptoms appear, the child may remain in school with physician documentation. Parents must notify the school if a child tests positive to trigger quarantine and tracing procedures. Emotional well-being resources for families and students are provided. The Privacy Policy describes data practices to protect safety.

Visit HWIS by attending an open house or scheduling an in person tour. This gives you the opportunity to learn about the program, ask questions, and determine fit for your family. The visit helps families understand the immersion approach and the classroom environment. The admissions process begins with this visit. Submit an application through the NY or NJ application portals. The application process is the same for both campuses and requires the requested information. After submitting, families advance to the student visit and parent interview. The admissions portal also outlines any required supplemental materials. There are required supplemental documents such as transcripts, teacher recommendations, and relevant assessments. A checklist of required documents is provided in the admissions portal. These materials help HudsonWay better understand the student's academic background and learning needs. Submitting these materials completes the application. Once all required materials are received and the process is complete, families are notified of admissions decisions by late February to early March. Rolling admissions occur after the deadline, space permitting. If more information is needed, the school will reach out to families.

HWIS Founders Scholarship is a merit based scholarship for incoming Grade 4 and 5 students, available to both immersion students and those new to language immersion. There are two tracks for incoming students, Immersion Cohort and Accelerated Bilingual Cohort. Scholarships, in combination with financial aid, may support up to 60 percent of tuition and scholarship applicants benefit from an application fee waiver. The program also includes the NJ Scholarship Program for Grades 4-5.