Our youngest students begin building social skills and a love of learning in programs ranging from Wee Wonder for infants and Small Wonder for toddlers, to Preschool and Pre-K for children.
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Welcome to
Dwight New York
Dwight, a New York City landmark private school, is a leader in global education recognized worldwide for igniting the spark of genius in every child. We are proud of our rich history, which dates back to 1872, and numerous advances that have distinguished Dwight as a pioneering International Baccalaureate World School. While innovation drives us ever forward, our commitment to personalizing the educational journey for every student remains at the heart of everything we do.
Early Childhood
Lower School
Students in Kindergarten through grade 5 hit the ground running with inquiry-based learning. We ensure a holistic, personalized approach to teaching the "head and heart" of every child.
Middle School
Students in grades 6-8 grow in leaps and bounds, as they assume greater independence and responsibility on their academic journey.
Upper School
Students in grades 9-12 advance exponentially both academically and personally, as they prepare to thrive beyond Dwight in college — and anywhere in the world.
Dwight Facts & Figures
Dwight stands apart from other independent schools as a leader with a long list of firsts in New York City and around the world. Discover more about our milestones and global community.
News & Events
![Pursuing Passion Projects in Spark Tank]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1693495983/dwightnewyork/jkeiypmjtlnabucooz7v/CopyofMissionEssentials_SparkTank.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1693495983/dwightnewyork/jkeiypmjtlnabucooz7v/CopyofMissionEssentials_SparkTank.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1693495983/dwightnewyork/jkeiypmjtlnabucooz7v/CopyofMissionEssentials_SparkTank.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1693495983/dwightnewyork/jkeiypmjtlnabucooz7v/CopyofMissionEssentials_SparkTank.jpg","width":960}])
In Spark Tank — which is deeply aligned with our School mission to ignite the spark of genius in every child — we fuel innovation for young student-entrepreneurs, who pursue their passion projects.
In Spark Tank — which is deeply aligned with our School mission to ignite the spark of genius in every child — we fuel innovation for young student-entrepreneurs, who pursue their passion projects. These range from designing new products and starting their own businesses, to making a difference in the lives of others through socially responsible initiatives and non-profit organizations. Along the Spark Tank pathway, participants develop their ideas with guidance, mentorship, and innovation grants from The HeadStart School Foundation. They also learn a range of practical and business-related skills, providing invaluable experience and preparation for the working world.
A Signature Program
Founded in 2015, Spark Tank itself was fueled by the belief that young people shouldn’t have to wait until they’re in college or older to realize the dream of starting their own enterprise — and it quickly became a Dwight signature program. Our School was distinguished as one of the first to empower K-12 students to embark on exciting journeys to develop something of their own imagining and bring it to market.
Over the last eight years, more than 100 students have participated. Oftentimes, students develop projects inspired by their own passions or real-world problems they want to solve — sometimes born from personal experiences — and all learn how they can make an impact now and build a better world through entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership. Mirroring the IB design thinking cycle that students learn in the classroom, the Spark Tank development cycle consists of five stages: idea, research, prototype, operations, and launch.
In addition to gaining entrepreneurial skills, students receive validation for their initiative, develop their own voice, build confidence, and forge relationships with mentors. Some of these mentors are members of The HeadStart School Foundation’s Spark Tank Committee — industry experts and entrepreneurs in our parent and alumni community, who provide feedback and guidance to students as they develop and pitch their ideas through Spark Tank events every trimester. This year, Fernando Castellanos (Regina ’19, Fernando ’21, and Mateo ’28), who has served on the Committee since 2015, assumed the role of Chair.
A Look at What Was Sparked in 2022-23
This past year, over 100 students worked on entrepreneurial projects as part of their Design class curriculum and the inaugural HeadStart Schools global Sparkathon design competition; and many also participated in Spark Tank after school, under the leadership of Matt Moran, Spark Tank Program Director, who has spearheaded the program since its inception. The students who presented their work at Spark Tank events in 2022-23 are:
- Polina Nikitina ’23, who wrote a song entitled “Gotham” and created a compelling music video dedicated to her home country of Ukraine under siege. Her goal was to raise awareness of the war and pay tribute to the courage of Ukrainians. Polina received a $1,000 innovation grant for launching her project.
- Mariam Diallo ’25, whose Connecting West to West project aims to raise funds to purchase supplies and educational resources for schools in Guinea. Her goal is to raise awareness about the need to improve education in West Africa.
- Maria Arutyunyan ’25, Danielle Reische ’25, and Grace Capiraso ’25, who took over SustainABLE Start, the organization founded in 2019 by former Dwight students, and rebranded it as Mission Essentials NY, reflecting its expanded mission to distribute hygiene products, clothing, school supplies, food, and more daily necessities to New Yorkers in need.
- Pierce Rovine ’24, who wants to make education about the real estate market more accessible through a website and game called Property Tycoon, where players can invest, and buy and sell properties. He passed the idea stage.
- Ethan Cohen ’29, whose idea, NFTs for School Fundraising, aims to raise money for Dwight, and ultimately enable other schools to do the same, by turning student artwork into NFTs for sale.
- Brent Rosche ’25, Jamie Knox ’25, Adrian Fang ’25, and Antoine Vandewiele ’25, who are collaborating on Access for All, Brent’s grade 10 Personal Project. The aim is to help build computer skills through a curriculum of lessons and interactive projects for younger students and schools in low-income areas. They passed the idea, plan, and prototype stages.
- Alexi Khezri ’25, who wants to develop his tenth grade Personal Project, Algorithmic Trading, by writing and editing code to simulate algorithmic stock trading.
- Zoe Lowenthal ’25 and Francesca Eisenstadt ’25, inspired by their Sparkathon project, SeatheChange, are creating a Dwight club to advocate for a plastic-free community, raise money for the Ocean Conservancy, host clean-up events, and raise awareness to help tackle the plastic pollution crisis. They passed the idea stage, and hope this club will also take root across our global network and at other New York schools.
We look forward to more students bringing their Sparkathon projects to Spark Tank — and to even more young entrepreneurs diving in with their novel ideas and creativity — when school begins again!
![HeadStart ONLINE School Named the Official Education Partner of the International Tennis Federation Juniors]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1692647631/dwightnewyork/xhcoimlaywiua4ghauck/ITFresize-final.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1692647631/dwightnewyork/xhcoimlaywiua4ghauck/ITFresize-final.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1692647631/dwightnewyork/xhcoimlaywiua4ghauck/ITFresize-final.png","width":800}])
We’re delighted to announce that a game-changing HeadStart ONLINE School partnership has been forged with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tennis Tour Juniors.
The ITF, which is the world governing body of tennis founded in 1913 to ensure the long-term growth and sustainability of the sport, selected HeadStart ONLINE from a field of applicants as the Official Education Partner of its World Tennis Tour Juniors division.
This exciting partnership will provide the world’s best young tennis players with the opportunity to benefit from HeadStart Online’s wide range of outstanding online education programs. ITFJ recognized that our School, which is ranked one of the top two online high schools in the U.S. by Newsweek magazine, sets the platinum standard in online private school education for students in grades 6-12 and is the ideal choice for aspiring young tournament players who want to balance their pursuit of excellence on the court and in the classroom.
“The demands placed on junior players are enormous, and having the time needed to dedicate to training, practice, and travel on the ITF tour makes all the difference in maintaining a competitive edge. We’re pleased to provide players with a world-class private school education combined with the flexibility they need to perform and compete at the highest levels,” says Blake Spahn, Vice Chancellor of The HeadStart Schools and Captain of the 1994 Columbia University Ivy League Championship Tennis Team.
Quite a few HeadStart ONLINE students have been pursuing their tennis sparks of genius since we founded the School in 2014. A Dwight education prepares them to be leaders in sport and in the classroom at D1, D2, and D3 universities.
“We are dedicated to cultivating the interests and passions of scholar-athletes and educating the sports leaders of tomorrow,” says Louisa Childs, Head of HeadStart ONLINE School. “We are thrilled to partner with the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors to offer top-notch academics tailored to meet the needs of aspiring tennis stars and to inspire the next generation on the world tour.”
As ITFJ’s Official Education Partner, HeadStart ONLINE will provide all ITFJ players with a 50% tuition discount; webinars about college planning, mental health, and leadership; and dedicated college counselors skilled in athletic recruitment, who will work with each player to gain acceptance into their top-choice universities.
Additionally, as HeadStart ONLINE students, ITFJ players will have unique opportunities to study at any brick-and-mortar school in our global network, enjoy Dwight residential experiences, participate in performing arts collaborations, and go on trips and exchanges with Dwight students worldwide.
With this news, we are also excited to launch HeadStart ONLINE School traveling teams, where students can train, study, and compete together. Several prominent players on the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors are current students or graduates, including Michael Zheng ’22, 2022 Wimbledon boys’ singles finalist, who now plays college tennis while studying at Columbia University; and Cooper Williams ’23, 2023 Australian Open boys’ doubles champion and 2023 Wimbledon boys’ singles semi-finalist, who is starting at Harvard this fall. Some of our current students include junior Claire An, 2023 USTA Easter Bowl girls’ singles 16s champion; and sophomore Shannon Lam, 2021 USTA Easter Bowl girls’ singles champion.
Matt Byford, Head of the ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors, says, “We are pleased to partner with HeadStart Online, giving players competing at ITF World Tennis Tour Juniors events opportunities for online learning. While much focus will be on a junior player’s prowess on-court, it is vital that players also prioritize their academic education. HeadStart Online enables players competing on the tour to find a good balance between their athletic and academic careers.”
News of our ITJF partnership follows an announcement we made last April, when HeadStart ONLINE School became the official program sponsor for United States Tennis Association Eastern Section L3 Elite Junior Tennis Tournaments.
Tennis and HeadStart Online make for a great match. Game on!
![One Cup of Leadership + Two Cups of Collaboration = A Grade 6 Recipe for Success]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1692061107/dwightnewyork/b9qhp1qqc1awukldw4yc/Q_023_6th_Grade_Leadership_Dinner_2023_Pic_34_2.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1692061107/dwightnewyork/b9qhp1qqc1awukldw4yc/Q_023_6th_Grade_Leadership_Dinner_2023_Pic_34_2.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1692061107/dwightnewyork/b9qhp1qqc1awukldw4yc/Q_023_6th_Grade_Leadership_Dinner_2023_Pic_34_2.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1692061107/dwightnewyork/b9qhp1qqc1awukldw4yc/Q_023_6th_Grade_Leadership_Dinner_2023_Pic_34_2.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1692061107/dwightnewyork/b9qhp1qqc1awukldw4yc/Q_023_6th_Grade_Leadership_Dinner_2023_Pic_34_2.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1692061107/dwightnewyork/b9qhp1qqc1awukldw4yc/Q_023_6th_Grade_Leadership_Dinner_2023_Pic_34_2.jpg","width":2200}])
We saw the return last spring of our grade 6 leadership dinners, under the mentorship of restaurateur and Dwight alumnus Jacob Hadjigeorgis ’02, who began mentoring our students through this program in 2016.
It begins in the classroom with discussions about different leadership styles and skills and then moves into the kitchen, where students learn about, and take on, different roles in the restaurant industry by running their own pop-up restaurant. Three different restaurants, in fact!
This Dwight recipe for learning invaluable leadership and teamwork skills was cooked up by Head of Middle School Ron Posner, Associate Head Shelby Berry, and Jacob, who owns several popular restaurants: Jacob’s Pickles, which has expanded to several locations beyond its original Upper West Side home; Maison Pickle; and Tiki Chick. He also founded Jacob’s Pickles Digs NY, a non-profit that supports urban farming in New York City.
The dinners themselves are the culmination of the program, which tasks students with collaborating on a large-scale project designed to sharpen their skills and empowers them to implement their own ideas. In the end, they enjoy seeing the successful fruits of their labor.
Following Thanksgiving, Jacob's team, including Executive Chef and Culinary Director David Perez, began meeting with sixth graders to discuss how certain skills translate into different roles in the running of a restaurant, spanning the front and back of house. The experts also shared insights about best food practices, customer service, and creating an enjoyable dining experience. Students, who were divided into three groups, were guided into how to set up their own pop-up restaurants in the Quad. Each group selected a different theme for their dinner, created the menus accordingly, and designed the décor to showcase the theme: international night, a trip to outer space, and savoring the four seasons. Our sixth graders then assumed their different roles, welcoming diners, and preparing and serving wonderful meals for their parents, teachers, and administration — a pride of hungry customers!
“Each and every year that we have this project, the kids manage to raise the bar for the following year. Their creativity and collaboration consistently leave the adults facilitating the project and parents who attend the dinners in awe,” reports Mr. Posner.
Putting students in an unprecedented challenging situation like this certainly turns up the heat, but their determination and energy made for three successful evenings again this year filled with good cheer and great eats!
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Why the IB?
Dwight’s inspiring faculty encourage students to believe in their own talents, pursue their passions, and take intellectual risks through the IB. No other curriculum fits better with our mission of igniting the spark of genius in every child — and vision of educating critical thinkers and innovative global leaders. The academic breadth and depth of the IB are simply unparalleled, which is why it is recognized worldwide as the “gold standard” in college preparation.
