Mission & Vision, History

East-West is a 6-12 public school rooted in its four pillars of Honor, Excellence, Curiosity, and Celebration, where students are exposed to East Asian languages and cultures as part of inclusive, rigorous, culturally responsive, and socially supportive learning experiences that prepare all students to thrive in college and career.

 

At East-West, we offer a well-rounded education to prepare all students to graduate college and career ready. Our teachers incorporate real-world and relatable connections into lesson activities and create collaborative learning opportunities across the curriculum to engage students in a problem-solving mindset. Our students engage in rigorous academic coursework, including college-accredited and Advanced Placement courses, and electives that develop critical skills, positioning students to meet post-secondary preparation goals, and fostering a continuous improvement mindset.

 

East-West values the diversity and perspective of all community members, and we strongly believe in providing differentiated and social-emotionally supportive learning experiences for students to build a strong sense of self and foundation for success. Our Student Voice Committee, where students serve alongside teachers as contributing
members of various school teams, offers students a chance to shape the direction of our school programs through sharing their perspectives on curriculum, instruction, and school culture.

 

East-West fosters family collaboration to support all students in their academic and social-emotional growth across the 6-12 continuum. Through our wide range of programs, including our ASD Nest program, after-school activities, and community partnerships, we provide inclusive opportunities for all students to flourish.

 

About East-West

The East-West School of International Studies trains students to become experts in an Asian culture and language while preparing for a career in an international world. Our core competencies are English, math, science, technology, and language. East-West students will graduate with a Regents diploma, proficiency in an Asian language, and the ability to use technology as a tool for lifelong learning and communication in preparation for college success.

We believe that the Asian language and arts, history, business opportunities, and technology hold significant interest for New York City students. For these students, Asian culture provides a unifying theme to their high school careers to motivate them to deeper studies and to keep them focused on graduating high school with a world view.

The East-West School will prepare New York City students of all racial and socioeconomic backgrounds for a four-year college and for a productive professional life working with cultures beyond their own. We also believe that a focus on Asia can help students develop guiding values such as community, discipline, high standards, and perseverance.

East-West is a small comprehensive 6-12 school inspiring students to explore the world at large, yet having a special focus on Asian language and culture. The school will have an emphasis on the guiding values of self discipline, community, high standards, and perseverance.

Together, we create opportunities for our students' success.

 

Summer Trip to Japan

 

Our Story

The East-West School of International Studies, a small school in a borough known mostly for large schools, offers academic rigor in a nurturing environment. Opened in September 2006 with support from New Visions for Public Schools, an education reform group, and the Asia Society —the latter a recipient of a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to set up a nationwide network of small schools focusing on international studies— the school launched with two grades, 7th and 9th. It added new grades yearly until it became a full 6th through 12th grade program.

Current Principal David Bantz joined the East-West faculty in 2007, one year after the school's founding. East-West continues to provide students with a robust academic and extracurricular program that includes a wide variety of students activities. Through continued partnerships with Inside Broadway, Save the Music Foundation, the Holly Civic Association, the Flushing Chinese Business Association, the Korean American Family Service Center, Student Leadership Network, and other strategic partners, the school continues to prioritize meaningful student experiences that support the development of communication, life, and career skills.

In 2025, East-West was nominated as a National Blue Ribbon School. Although the National Blue Ribbon program was unexpectedly dissolved in September 2025, the New York State Department of Education formally recognized East-West's distinction as a National Blue Ribbon nominee for 2025.

East-West shares space with I.S. 237Q, the Rachel L. Carson Magnet School for the Arts, which is located across the street from Kissena Park. It occupies the 4th floor of the building. Beyond sharing facilities like the gymnasium and cafeteria, East-West functions independently of I.S. 237, with its own separate entrance, arrival and dismissal times, and class schedules. Students wear uniform shirts emblazoned with the school logo.

Admissions: The school is open to students from all five boroughs. Get information about our admissions process.