United Nations International School

A Genuinely Global Student Body

Walking through UNIS, one encounters what may be the most internationally diverse school community in the world. With approximately 1,450 students drawn from 109 nations, and roughly 92% holding non-US passports, UNIS's demographics reflect the international community of the United Nations itself.

The primary feeder community is UN and diplomatic staff families, who by nature are globally mobile, multilingual, and accustomed to navigating cross-cultural environments. This shapes a school culture where international mobility is the norm, not the exception.

Multilingual Identity

Language is central to UNIS's identity. Beyond English as the primary language of instruction, the school teaches:

• Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish
• A dedicated French Section (Section Française) and Spanish Section (Sección Española) serve students whose home language is French or Spanish
• Dutch language classes are available as an enrichment option
• English Language Learner (ELL) classes support students still developing English proficiency

This multilingual environment means that on any given day, students move between languages naturally—in hallways, at lunch, and in community events.

A Family-Centered Community

Because many UNIS families are transient (following diplomatic postings), the school has developed strong structures to welcome new students and support transitions. The school's active parent community and student organizations help newcomers integrate quickly.

With 58 student clubs, committees, and publications, there is space for virtually every interest. Student governance through the Student Council and the Equity and Inclusion Board gives students genuine voice in school life.

The UNIS-UN Conference

Perhaps the most striking expression of UNIS's community identity is the annual UNIS-UN Conference—a student-organized Model United Nations event that draws delegates from schools around the world. For UNIS students, this is not a simulation of diplomacy: it is a direct expression of their daily lived experience.

The UN as Educational Foundation

At UNIS, the proximity to the United Nations is not merely geographic—it is philosophical. The school's mission is explicitly framed "under the auspices of the United Nations and guided by its ideals," making the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) a living part of the curriculum rather than an abstract concept.

This means students engage daily with themes of peace, equality, human rights, and environmental sustainability—not as occasional units of study, but as the animating spirit of their education.

Core Educational Values

The school articulates its core values as:

• Equality — Every student's background and identity is affirmed
• Peace — Conflict resolution and diplomacy are woven into learning
• Human Rights — Students learn to advocate and empathize across cultures
• Sustainability — Environmental education programs connect learning to global challenges
• Justice — Critical thinking about fairness and equity is encouraged
• Diversity — 109 nationalities in one building creates authentic multicultural understanding

IB as the Academic Vehicle

UNIS implements all three IB programmes across its divisions:

• PYP (Primary Years Programme) — Junior Division (PreK–Grade 4): inquiry-led, student-centred learning
• MYP (Middle Years Programme) — Middle Division (Grades 5–8): interdisciplinary connections across subjects
• DP (Diploma Programme) — Tutorial Division (Grades 9–12): rigorous pre-university preparation

As one of the founding IB schools (1971), UNIS has had over five decades to refine its approach. Teachers are expected not just to deliver content, but to foster "innovation, creativity and cross-cultural communication."

Mission in Practice

The school's mission statement calls students to become "an active force in shaping a better world: peaceful, compassionate and sustainable." This is operationalized through student-led conferences such as UNIS-UN (an annual student-run United Nations conference), an Equity and Inclusion Board, and robust environmental education programs including outdoor camps and sustainability projects.

An Unprecedented Institutional Relationship

No other school in the world can claim what UNIS has: its Board of Trustees is appointed directly by the United Nations Secretary-General. This is not a marketing claim—it is a constitutional reality of the school's governance. This arrangement means that UNIS operates in genuine partnership with the UN, with access to UN facilities, speakers, events, and the intellectual community of the world's foremost international organization.

IB Founding School

When the International Baccalaureate launched its Diploma Programme in 1971, UNIS was among the founding cohort of schools. This means UNIS has been implementing IB education for over 50 years—longer than the vast majority of the more than 5,000 IB schools now operating worldwide. The school now offers all three IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP).

UNIS-UN: Student Diplomacy at Scale

The annual UNIS-UN Conference is one of the largest and most prestigious student Model United Nations conferences in the world, organized entirely by UNIS students. This event brings together hundreds of student delegates from schools globally, hosted at the actual United Nations facilities. For UNIS students, this is an annual capstone of their education in global citizenship.

Languages as Core Identity

UNIS teaches eight world languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish. Dedicated language sections (French Section and Spanish Section) allow students to pursue substantial portions of their education in their mother tongue while remaining integrated into the broader school community. This is rare even among international schools.

Environmental Education

UNIS's Outdoor Environmental Education program takes students beyond the Manhattan campus for immersive nature experiences, creating what the school describes as "lifelong connections and memories." This commitment to environmental education directly supports the school's alignment with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Campus in the Heart of Manhattan

Located on East 25th Street in Manhattan, UNIS occupies a purpose-built urban campus with remarkable facilities including:

• Two gymnasium spaces
• Science laboratories (recently renovated)
• Music rehearsal studios (soundproofed)
• Art studios
• Language laboratories
• Two libraries
• Rooftop terrace with East River views
• Courtyard with a small waterfall
• Theater/auditorium

The campus is accessible by nearly every New York City subway line, the M34A bus, and NYC Ferry from the East 34th Street/Stuyvesant Cove stop.

Origins at the United Nations

The United Nations International School (UNIS) was born in 1947, just two years after the founding of the United Nations itself. As UN staff and diplomats arrived in New York from around the world, they faced a shared challenge: finding schools that could honor their children's diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds while providing a rigorous academic foundation.

A group of UN staff parents took matters into their own hands, establishing a small tutorial program that would grow into one of the world's most distinctive international schools. From the outset, UNIS was governed under the auspices of the United Nations, with its Board appointed by the UN Secretary-General—a governance structure that endures to this day.

Key Milestones

• 1947 — UNIS founded by UN staff parents in New York City, beginning as small tutorial classes
• 1971 — UNIS becomes one of the founding schools of the International Baccalaureate, participating in the very first cohort of IB Diploma Programme schools worldwide
• 1972 — The Manhattan campus on East 25th Street opens its purpose-built facilities, giving UNIS a permanent home on the banks of the East River
• 2026 — CIS (Council of International Schools) re-accreditation confirmed, reflecting continued excellence

Evolution into a Full IB School

Over seven decades, UNIS grew from a modest tutorial program into a comprehensive PreK–12 institution offering all three IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP). This progression mirrored the global expansion of the IB, with UNIS playing a foundational role in shaping international education.

Today, with approximately 1,450 students representing 109 nationalities, UNIS stands as a living embodiment of the United Nations' founding ideals—a community where diversity is not merely tolerated but celebrated as the very fabric of school life.

Two Tracks: Early Grades vs. Upper Grades

UNIS admissions follows a clearly differentiated process depending on the applicant's age:

PreK through Grade 4 (Junior Division)

• Group assessment held in a classroom setting, observing the child's social, cognitive, and developmental readiness
• Academic records and a school record form (ISAAGNY format) for teacher recommendations
• No standardized test required

Grades 5 through 12 (Middle and Tutorial Divisions)

• Individual student interview
• Submission of standardized test scores: ISEE (Independent School Entrance Exam) or SSAT (Secondary School Admission Test)
• Academic transcripts from current school
• Teacher recommendations (ISAAGNY form)

Application Platform and Timeline

All applicants apply through Ravenna, a widely used independent school admissions platform. Key dates for the 2025–26 cycle:

• Application deadline: November 15, 2025 (for PreK entry)
• Decision notification: Thursday, February 26, 2026
• Application fee: $250 (Admissions Fee)

Financial Commitment Upon Acceptance

Families who receive an offer must navigate several fees:

• Enrollment Fee: $1,000 (one-time, paid upon accepting a place)
• Refundable Deposit: $300 (returned upon graduation)
• Re-enrollment Deposit: $2,000 per year (non-refundable, confirms place for the following year)
• Capital Levy: $1,400 per year (facility fund)

Tuition Range (2025–26)

Annual tuition ranges from $45,500 (PreK through Grade 4) to $50,658 (Grade 12), placing UNIS among the higher-fee international schools in New York City.

Financial Aid

UNIS offers need-based financial assistance, including the Kofi Annan Scholarship, which supports families who demonstrate financial need. Interest-free loan programs are also available.