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United Nations International School

United States, New York

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees $48,456 - 53,767
Ages 4 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 1450
Type Co-educational
Opened 1947
Bus Service No
Availability Not shared by this school
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum
Taught languages Arabic, Mandarin, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish
Typical class size 19
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

United Nations International School (UNIS) is a Pre‑K–12 day program affiliated with the United Nations and delivering the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for ages 4 to 18. The campus network comprises a four‑story Manhattan site along the East River and a Queens campus serving K–8, with a combined footprint of 226,000 feet, 200 classrooms, 15 science laboratories, and three libraries. UNIS aligns its curriculum with Common Core Math Standards, Next Generation Science Standards, NY ELA standards, and British Columbia Social Studies Standards, while maintaining the IB learner profile across teaching and assessment. Distinctive features include a roof gym in a bubble and an outdoor running track, a language program (nine languages and a mother‑tongue offering), and travel, arts, and service opportunities. Students participate in UNIS‑UN and MUN conferences, perform at venues such as Carnegie Hall, and complete 30 hours of community service each year, alongside 38 interscholastic sports teams.

www.unis.org

Parking, lot 24-50 FDR Dr, New York, NY 10010, United States

Vibes and Culture
The school has not added this information
The Essentials

United Nations International School has 1,450 pupils, typical class sizes of 19, instruction in English.

Location
New York, United States. Campus: 24-50 FDR Drive, New York, NY 10010-4046.

Stages
Pre-K through 12th grade (PreK-12).

Type
Day school.

Pupil Nationality Mix
97 countries are represented by UNIS students.

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.

Country affiliation
Affiliation with the United Nations.

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.

Bus service
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.
Diving Deeper
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Fees

Annual tuition at United Nations International School ranges from USD 48,456 to USD 53,767 for 2026/27.

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.)
Academics

United Nations International School teaches IB (DP), Bespoke Curriculum for students aged 4 to 18.

Curriculum
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.

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.
Wellbeing
The school has not added this information
Parent Experience
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Facilities
The school has not added this information
Extra-Curricular Activities
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Languages
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Reputation
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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.

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.
School Events
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