Welcome to Dwight Lower School!

I look forward to greeting your children each morning and seeing their smiles and excitement as they arrive, ready for another day of engaging learning. It’s always such a pleasure to watch our community or learners come together, enlivened by our IB-driven curriculum. 

As the first school in New York City to offer the IB Primary Years Program, Dwight is on the forefront of inquiry-based education. We use the IB’s transdisciplinary themes, like "Who We Are" and "How the World Works," to help students explore real-world issues from multiple perspectives. This approach moves beyond simply memorizing facts, allowing students to develop a much deeper and more nuanced understanding of concepts. By encouraging them to connect ideas across different subjects and apply their knowledge to real-world situations, we empower them to become critical thinkers and lifelong learners.

Our holistic approach ensures we teach to the "head and heart" of each child, igniting their spark of genius by personalizing their learning journey. Our amazing educators do this by fostering the IB Learner Profile and Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills. These foundational skills, which are integral to the IB's emphasis on "learning how to learn," prepare students to excel in their future school years and in their careers as leaders. When learning is connected to a student's personal interests, their engagement is more meaningful and their achievement more significant.

I am confident that your child will thrive in our warm and supportive community.

Sincerely,
Stephen Presti | Head of 94th Street

Want to dive deeper into each year of Lower School?