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Kennedy International School - Lower School

United States, New York

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, French, Japanese
Fees $24,000 - 45,000
Ages 3 - 12 years
Pupil numbers 201
Type Co-educational
Opened 1964
Bus Service Yes
Part of
Kennedy International School
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, French Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum
Taught languages English, French, Spanish, German
Strengths STEM, Languages, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary
Introduction

Kennedy International School offers bilingual education for students aged 3 to 18 across two Manhattan campuses, with a French-English and a Japanese-English program. The curriculum combines the French Ministry of Education guidelines, the Japanese Ministry guidelines, and the New York State Next Generation Learning Standards, and is registered by the New York State Board of Regents. A Pre-IB Track for grades 9–10 leads into the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for grades 11–12, including the DP core—Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity & Service, and the Extended Essay—and six subject groups. The school's AEFE affiliation reflects its French roots within an international network. Founded in 1964, Kennedy International School has grown to serve a diverse, global student body. Facilities include two campuses in Manhattan, and an 11,000-square-foot Upper School expansion on 815 Second Avenue with a new science lab, an art and design lab, and a welcoming student center. Extracurriculars span sports, languages, music, art, dance, and acting, with Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, and Cultural and Language clubs.

This campus is part of Kennedy International School

225 E 43rd St, New York, NY 10017, United States

The Essentials

Kennedy International School - Lower School has 201 pupils, instruction in English, French, Japanese.

Location
Two campuses in New York City. Lower School Campus is at 225 East 43rd Street, New York, NY 10017. Upper School Campus is at 815 Second Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10017. Phone: 212-681-1877 (Lower School) and 212-682-3967 (Upper School).

Stages
Lower School (elementary) and Upper School (secondary)

Type
International school offering bilingual French-English and bilingual Japanese-English programs

Additional learning support
English as a New Language (ENL) and French as a Foreign Language (FLE) support

Country affiliation
France; accredited by the French Ministry of Education and part of the AEFE network

Bus service
School Bus Service is being implemented with the NYC Department of Transportation for the 2025–2026 school year; Kindergarten through 6th grade students may qualify for free transportation; for interest, contact office@kennedyinternational.org
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The Uniform Policy requires a division-specific uniform that must be worn. Old uniforms with previous branding may be worn alongside new uniform items during the transition period until December 31, 2025.

Food Options
All students eating in school are supervised at all times. No peanut or tree nut products are allowed. Lunch options include a packed lunch with microwaves available, a catering program with Little Green Gourmets whose menus reflect seasonal availability and global cuisines, and an off-campus lunch option for grades 8–12 with parental consent.

Governance and Ownership
Kennedy International School is accredited by the French Ministry of Education and is part of the AEFE network. It is recognized by the New York State Education Department for Kindergarten through 12th grade. The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for 11th and 12th grade.
Fees

Annual tuition at Kennedy International School - Lower School ranges from USD 24,000 to USD 45,000 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- There is no application fee for Kennedy International School (NO APPLICATION FEE).

One-time enrollment / new-student fees

- Pre-K 3 & Pre-K: One-time new student fee USD 1,000.
- Kindergarten through Grade 8: One-time new student fee USD 3,000.
- High School (Grades 9–12): One-time new student fee USD 3,000.

Annual tuition by year group (2026–2027 academic year: September 2026 through June 2027)

- Pre-K 3 & Pre-K (Full‑time, full day 8:00am–3:30pm): USD 40,000 per year. Includes extended aftercare between 3:15pm and 6:00pm for the full‑time Pre‑K option.
- Pre-K 3 (Part‑time options): USD 24,000 per year (available as 5 mornings or 3 full days for Pre‑K 3 only).
- Kindergarten through Grade 8 (K–8): USD 42,500 per year.
- High School (Grades 9–12): USD 45,000 per year.

Overnight trip and exam/registration fees

- Overnight school trips (charged as 60% of total trip cost, school lists estimated contributions):
- 4th & 5th grade contribution listed as USD 350 (60% of total trip cost).
- 8th grade contribution listed as USD 700 (60% of total trip cost).
- 9th & 10th grade contribution listed as USD 700 (60% of total trip cost).
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma registration fee for Grade 12: USD 900.

Downpayment and installment (service) fees — billing structure and common payment plans

- Non‑refundable downpayment required for all tuition plans: USD 4,000.
- Installment plan service fees (applied when choosing those plans; do not apply to governmental organizations):
- 2‑installment plan service fee: USD 400.
- 5‑installment plan service fee: USD 700.

- Example payment-flow calculation (numbers shown are arithmetic examples using the published tuition, the published non‑refundable downpayment, and the published service fees):
- Example for K–8 (tuition USD 42,500):
- Pay non‑refundable downpayment USD 4,000 at enrollment; remaining tuition balance USD 38,500.
- If choosing the 2‑installment plan: two equal installments of USD 19,250 each; add the USD 400 2‑installment service fee as charged by the school.
- If choosing the 5‑installment plan: five equal installments of USD 7,700 each; add the USD 700 5‑installment service fee as charged by the school.
- These example calculations assume the USD 4,000 downpayment is applied toward the annual tuition balance; the school's enrollment/contract documents define exact due dates and how payments are posted. The published figures above (tuition, downpayment, and service fees) are the basis for these examples.

Billing schedule and payment terms (what is published)

- The school states tuition covers the full academic year (September 2026 through June 2027). A non‑refundable downpayment of USD 4,000 is required for all tuition plans. The school publishes service fees for 2‑installment and 5‑installment options, indicating those installment options are available. Exact invoice dates, installment due dates, and the full enrollment contract terms are processed through the admissions/enrollment portal and enrollment contract documents.

Boarding

- Boarding is not offered; Kennedy International School operates as a day school with Lower and Upper School campus addresses in New York City (day‑school locations listed for Lower School and Upper School). Boarding fees are not applicable.

Other costs and typical additional fees

- Uniforms: A uniform policy is in place and required items are purchased through the school's designated uniform supplier (Untold Horizons). Families should expect a separate cost to purchase required uniform items; the school provides division‑specific uniform guides and an online uniform ordering site. Specific uniform pricing is handled by the supplier's ordering portal.
- Overnight trip contributions (listed above) are additional when trips occur; those contributions are published as the family portion (60% examples).
- IB registration fee for Grade 12: USD 900 (listed above).
- Financial aid processing fee for the aid application (Clarity platform): USD 65 submission fee for families applying for financial assistance.

Refund information (what is published / how refund details are handled)

- The school's publicly posted pages list tuition, the non‑refundable downpayment amount, and installment service fees, but do not publish a general, detailed tuition refund schedule or full withdrawal/refund policy on the publicly viewable pages. Refund specifics and any pro‑rata or withdrawal refund calculations are handled through the school's enrollment contract and admissions/enrollment portal documentation. Parents should expect the USD 4,000 downpayment to be non‑refundable as published.

Fee payment options (what is published)

- The school publishes available installment options (2‑installment and 5‑installment plans) and associated service fees; the publicly visible pages do not list an explicit set of accepted payment methods (for example, credit card, ACH/wire transfer, check). Enrollment and billing arrangements (including accepted payment methods and any online payment portal details) are managed through the admissions/enrollment portal and the family's enrollment contract.

Discounts and special cases

- United Nations staff discount: a 30% tuition discount is published for United Nations staff enrolling children in Pre‑K 3 and Pre‑K.
- French Government financial aid (bourses scolaires) may be available to eligible French citizens enrolled in Pre‑K 3 through Grade 9; that program is administered separately by the French Consulate/AEFE.

Concise note about publicly unavailable details

- The school's public pages provide annual tuition amounts, the required non‑refundable downpayment, one‑time new student fees, published trip contributions, IB registration fee, installment service fees, and the absence of an application fee. The public pages do not publish a complete line‑by‑line, per‑term invoice schedule with exact due dates, a full tuition refund timetable, or a published list of accepted payment methods; those operational details are contained in the school's enrollment/contract documents and the admissions/enrollment portal.
Academics

Kennedy International School - Lower School teaches American Curriculum, French Curriculum, Japanese Curriculum for students aged 3 to 12.

Curriculum
The curriculum integrates the French Ministry of Education guidelines, the Japanese Ministry of Education guidelines, and New York State Next Generation Learning Standards. It offers a balanced bilingual program for students from preschool through 12th grade. The program is registered by the New York State Board of Regents. In the Upper School, a Pre-IB Track for 9th–10th grade prepares students for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) for 11th–12th grade. The IB Diploma Programme comprises six subject groups and DP core including Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity & Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay (EE).

Higher Education Progression
The IB Diploma Programme is widely recognized by more than 2,000 universities in 100+ countries worldwide; many universities offer advanced placement, scholarships or other incentives for IB students.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Social Emotional Learning guides the Preschool and Elementary curriculums. In Pre-K 3, the SEL focus builds foundational social and emotional skills to help students become productive and respectful members of the classroom and school community. Students have ample opportunities to practice SEL, observe positive role models, and establish positive relationships with peers and teachers. In Elementary, the school prioritizes students' social and emotional well-being, weaving in opportunities to become supportive and productive members of the school community and beyond. Students are taught core values of respect for all people and cultures, responsibility for their own actions, and leading with kindness and compassion.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school provides English as a New Language (ENL) to support English Language Learners for success by developing reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. ENL is delivered in small classes and collaborates closely with the student's English teacher to harmonize the themes across content areas. For students with basic knowledge of French, French as a Foreign Language (FLE) strengthens French language skills through targeted instruction. ENL and FLE are designed to help students participate fully in both English and French programs.

Mental Wellbeing
The curriculum is designed to address students' social and emotional needs, recognizing individual differences to support each student's success. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is designed to address the intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being of students.
Parent Experience

History
Kennedy International School (previously Lyceum Kennedy French American School) was founded in 1964 by Éliane Dumas, a distinguished French schoolteacher and long-time Lycée Français de New York faculty member, who named the school after John F. Kennedy. She developed the school with the French Ministry of Education to serve French and francophone families in Manhattan, and she served as headmistress for more than twenty years. In 1986, Dr. Koji Sonoda, a linguist from Japan, acquired Kennedy International School, expanding offerings to include a Japanese program and Japanese Saturday school and broadening the community to families from many countries into the 1990s. Today Kennedy International School is known for its diverse international student body.

Community
Camp Kennedy provides week-long camps and seasonal programs that blend play-based learning with cultural exploration, arts, sports, and field trips, with instruction in French and Japanese. Camps welcome Kennedy students and neighborhood children and run across spring, summer, fall, and winter sessions. Parent Representatives are elected by Kennedy parents to strengthen family voice within the School Council and they host Coffee Mornings for questions and connection. A Weekly Newsletter keeps families informed about school life.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parents Association (PA) is a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) charity formed to operate independently while collaborating with the school administration and staff. It is a volunteer-led body that strengthens the bridge between families and school life. The PA leads and supports a wide range of activities, including book fairs, career day, coffee hours for parents, end-of-year picnic, International Day, second-hand uniform sales, French book subscriptions, holiday and Halloween decorations, and Teacher Appreciation Week. The PA is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Federal Tax ID: 74-3213495), and donations go directly toward student events, classroom enrichment, and school-wide family activities. Donations can be made via Venmo or Zelle, and corporate matching is encouraged. Stay connected via email or WhatsApp groups.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school operates two Manhattan campuses: Lower School at 225 East 43rd Street and Upper School at 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017. From preschool through 12th grade, the school offers bilingual education. An 11,000-square-foot expansion on the 3rd floor of the 815 Second Avenue building will double the size of the Upper School and provide a dedicated high school floor. The expansion will include new classrooms, a state-of-the-art science lab, a creative art and design lab, and a welcoming student center.

Academic Facilities
The Upper School expansion adds 11,000 square feet on the 3rd floor of the 815 Second Avenue building, providing new classrooms. The expansion includes a state-of-the-art science lab. It also includes a creative art and design lab. A welcoming student center is part of the new facilities.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Extracurricular Activities offer a broad range of enrichment classes. Activities vary by semester and may include sports, foreign languages, music, art, dance and acting. The program supports physical, artistic and intellectual development. Afterschool information and registration for 2025–2026 is available.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
Extracurricular activities provide enrichment across physical, artistic and intellectual areas. Activities vary by semester and may include sports, foreign languages, music, art, dance, acting and more. The program supports development beyond the classroom.

Arts & Creative
Enrichment classes include music, art, dance and acting. The offerings vary by semester. These activities develop artistic skills and creative expression.

Cultural & Language
Foreign languages are offered as part of extracurricular activities. Language offerings vary by semester. Participation supports linguistic development through enrichment opportunities.

Social & Hobbies
Sports are included in extracurricular activities. The program provides opportunities for physical activity and teamwork. Activities vary by semester.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Engagement in physical activities supports wellbeing. Sports and movement are part of afterschool offerings. Activities vary by semester.
Languages

Language Provision
French, Japanese, and English are taught. The curriculum follows the French Ministry of Education, the Japanese Ministry of Education, and New York State Next Generation Learning Standards. The school is registered by the New York State Board of Regents.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers a balanced bilingual program for students from preschool through 12th grade, integrating French, Japanese, and American educational systems.

Immersion Programs
Preschool programs are bilingual. Elementary programs are 50/50 bilingual.
Reputation

Accreditations
French Ministry of Education accreditation; AEFE network membership; MOE inspectors regularly review the school to ensure adherence to the French curriculum and educational practices, enabling transfer to French schools globally.
New York State Education Department recognition for Kindergarten through 12; Pre-K3 through Kindergarten are regulated by the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) offered for 11th and 12th grades; the school is part of the global IB network, with the DP recognized by 2,000+ universities in 100+ countries.
Admissions

Admissions
Application (Rolling Admissions): Submit online application via the admissions portal. After submission, complete the checklist of supporting documents needed to move forward in the admissions process. Rolling admissions allow applications at any time. The admissions team will review the submission and guide you to the next step.

Interview: After the application and supporting documents have been uploaded and completed, the admissions office will connect with you to schedule an interview and any further assessments needed. The interview assesses readiness and fit with the bilingual program and may include language assessments. Additional information or materials may be requested.

Enrollment: After the interview and assessments take place, the admissions office will contact you with a final decision via email. If admitted, you will receive instructions to enroll and any remaining forms or deposits. You may contact the admissions office with questions as needed.

Scholarships
United Nations Preschool Grant: This grant offers a 30% reduction in tuition costs for United Nations staff members enrolling their child in Pre-K 3 or Pre-K programs (ages 2–4). Eligibility is confirmed upon verification of United Nations staff status at the time of inquiry.

French Government Financial Aid (Bourses scolaires): If your child is a French citizen and is registered with the Consulate General of France in New York, your family may be eligible for financial aid from the French Government. Applications and award decisions are handled exclusively by the Consulate General of France. Students enrolled in Pre-K 3 through 9th grade may be eligible for financial aid. Students enrolled in 10th through 12th grade are not eligible.

Apply for Financial Assistance: A Clarity Application is used to assess each family's financial profile, taking into account assets, income, expenses, and debts. New families must complete the enrollment process prior to the evaluation of their financial aid application. Current families who have not previously applied for financial aid are not eligible unless a significant change in financial circumstances can be demonstrated. Families currently receiving financial aid are required to reapply each year. A $65 submission fee applies. Assistance is available directly within the Clarity application.
School Events
The school has not added events
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