United Nations International School

The United Nations International School is a private international school in New York City, established in 1947. Many members of the United Nations staff arriving with young families found unexpected difficulties with New York’s school system. Among them was K. T. Behanan and his wife, who arrived from India in May 1947 with their 5-year old son, to work on educational policy at the UN’s Trusteeship Council. The Behanans banded together with other UN families who were in a similar situation to establish in 1947 the United Nations International School at Lake Success, with Dr Behanan as chairman of its board. The school was founded to provide an international education, while preserving its students' diverse cultural heritages. Today, UNIS has over 1600 students in two locations, serving the United Nations, international and New York communities. The campus in Jamaica Estates, Queens is a K–8 school and the Manhattan campus, overlooking the East River, is K–12.