History

"I cannot doubt that those who enjoy the advantages of your institution will be well prepared for their subsequent studies
and their college life."Timothy Dwight, the Younger, President of Yale University, 1888

 


Dwight’s legacy of innovation and personalized learning dates back to 1872. We’re proud of our long and rich history as a premier independent school, landmark New York City educational institution, and pioneering global network of schools.

From the very beginning, our school was designed to prepare graduates for admission to prestigious universities; our school’s namesake is Yale’s twelfth President, Timothy Dwight V (also known as Timothy Dwight, the Younger).

For 150 years, our visionary leaders have transformed the educational landscape, while our illustrious alumni have left their mark on our world. Click here to read more about our history.
 

 

Seven Dwight Firsts

Long recognized around the world as a pioneer in global education, Dwight was:

  1. The first school in the Americas to offer the comprehensive IB curriculum from preschool to graduation
  2. The first school in New York City to offer the IB Primary Years Program
  3. The first school in the U.S. to establish an international campus in 1972 in London
  4. The first school to create a joint diploma program in China with the Beijing’s Capital Normal High School in 2009
  5. The only school selected by the Seoul Municipal Government to open a model IB World School in Seoul
  6. One of six schools selected from over 3,700 worldwide to pilot online education for the IB in 2013
  7. One-of-a-kind in China: in 2014, Dwight opened the Shanghai Qibao Dwight High School, the first non-profit, independent, Chinese-foreign collaborative high school