We offer a unique approach to education at NAISNY: following the well-respected English National Curriculum, our teaching is highly structured into concept areas, themes, and topics that allow each child to advance in ways that best cater to their strengths. As a result, NAISNY students consolidate their knowledge and skills across a variety of subjects, connecting their learning to the surrounding world, giving them greater motivation and fulfillment, and ultimately, encouraging them to accelerate through customized benchmarks that will place them into their best-fit high school.

Thanks to our close-knit student-teacher ratio of 6:1 and average class size of only ten students, our talented teachers know everything about your child at NAISNY. Your child will get the most out of differentiated instruction, both on an independent level and small-group basis with peers. By working closely also with parents, we build goals around the child’s future and ambitions, offering exclusive NAISNY Student and Parent Forums, for example, where your child can talk to admissions counsellors from the best high schools in NYC and beyond. During a NAISNY Forum, your child can comfortably ask questions about a potential high school, among a small group of their classmates — unlike a standard information session, among a sea of applicants. NAISNY prepares your child to excel, now and in the future.

As a Nord Anglia international school, we’re proud to recruit and retain the best teachers in the world whose fantastic quality shows every day through the academic success and general happiness of our students. 

In fact, 100% of NAISNY parents strongly confirm that their children are taught by high-quality teachers, with 99% affirming the strong relationship their children have with their teachers. Because of this strong relationship, 96% will confirm their child's individualized attention and support, in addition to their overall happiness at school.

NAISNY teachers are particularly equipped for success because of the world-class resources and professional development they receive from Nord Anglia University (NAU), an exclusive online training platform from Nord Anglia that gives our teachers the best tools, strategies, and techniques from global education experts. NAU also has subject-specific resources in STEAM, the arts, and social impact from our collaborations with the world-leading institutions of MIT, Juilliard, and UNICEF — giving our students unparalleled opportunities to learn from these outstanding leaders.

To give our students the tools and skills they need to thrive, we cultivate their creativity and resilience through transformational experiences. This includes many incredible activities through our world-class collaborations with Juilliard, MIT, and UNICEF, as we frequently work with their leading experts to enhance our curriculum. For example, while MIT’s inventors teach our students the techniques of “design thinking” for solving all kinds of problems, Juilliard alumni artists show our students original ways to express their creativity. Meanwhile, guest speakers from UNICEF inspire our students with real-world, tangible ways they can improve the lives of others and contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

We also expand our students’ horizons through an ideal mix of online ventures and in-person trips, both local to famous NYC destinations and beyond in the US or internationally. Global Campus, Nord Anglia’s online learning platform, is important for allowing our students to connect and collaborate with peers around the world through unique global projects, challenges, and activities. Whether it’s virtually climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania or writing a poem that speaks to the UN’s SDGs, NAISNY students build their international awareness as they make Nord Anglia friends from different countries, who share their thoughts and experiences firsthand.

All NAISNY students participate in our house system — a lively, traditional part of school life in the British educational system, where students across all year groups come together as one community to boost their sense of identity and belonging. The houses also nurture social skills and confidence. Younger students have older students as role models, encouraging a sense of care and well-being among all. Regular house competitions also increase our students’ healthy competitive spirit and collective NAISNY pride.

Beginning in Lower School, the Student Leadership Team is another important part of giving voice to our student community, as elected student representatives meet regularly to initiate ways to connect older and younger students, contribute to charities, or run social campaigns, on topics like inclusiveness or positive psychology.

Throughout NAISNY and the Nord Anglia family, our parents additionally contribute to our social life. They welcome new families and create opportunities to build relationships within informal settings. Parent activities include mixers, guest speakers, picnics, teatime concerts, coffee chats with the principal, and neighborhood walks or runs. 

Beginning on Global Campus, Nord Anglia's online learning platform, NAISNY students learn about the United Nations’ Social Development Goals (SDGs) in our Social Impact Program that challenges them to devise their own solutions to some of the world's biggest problems. 

They analyze and respond to the SDGs by participating in UNICEF's Global Challenge, contributing their skills and talents in a variety of ways: they might participate in community projects for people with specific needs, assist charities that provide aid or relief to the vulnerable, or get involved in environmental projects, like recycling or turning plants into biofuel. Student Enterprise week at NAISNY is especially a thrilling time when each year group designs, creates, and markets their own original, sustainable product to fundraise for a charity of their choice.

We additionally invite renowned guest speakers into NAISNY from our world-class collaborations, and leaders from UNICEF especially inspire our students with different ways they can create social impact. Our students learn about topics like early childhood nutrition and vaccines, every child’s right to a quality education, and diversity and respect. NAISNY students get very engaged with our guest speakers and discover new ways to bring their classroom learning to life in the world.

Space in Manhattan might be tight, but NAISNY’s learning environment is anything but! In addition to our light, roomy classrooms that are arranged with inspirational learning materials, our school building offers several carefully designed facilities that maximize space and encourage our students to move between spaces as active learners. 

Our rooftop playground, for example, offers a comfortable green space for playing games and hosting our family picnics in the fresh air, welcoming all to gather for physical or social activities. Meanwhile, our basement gym offers a full-sized basketball court and other athletics space for numerous physical activities and sports.

Our fifth floor — the Creative Arts floor — is the standout home of all our performing and fine arts studios, fully stocked with top-grade equipment and many creative materials. Our large music room is filled with instruments from across the world and includes a second keyboard suite. Our designated dance studio and drama studio also stimulate our students to develop their music, dance, and theoretical skills. Our fine art studio and makerspace are designed to inspire ingenious creations. Finally, our spacious community room on this floor hosts lively, close-knit student plays as well as talks or readings from guest speakers.