The Birch Wathen Lenox School is an institution devoted to enabling each student to achieve his or her greatest potential. It is our primary objective to select students and families who will take full advantage of our fine educational program.
The Birch Wathen Lenox School blends over 150 years of strong traditions with the excitement and energy of a new institution. When The Lenox School, founded in 1916, and The Birch Wathen School, founded in 1921, were consolidated in 1991, they joined to offer the children of New York City a thoroughly enriching experience, rooted in the legacies of two highly esteemed independent schools.
The Birch Wathen Lenox School adheres to the admissions guidelines developed by ISAAGNY (Independent School Admissions Association of Greater New York). The School maintains membership in the ERB (Education Records Bureau), NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools), and is accredited by NYSAIS (New York State Association of Independent Schools.)
Applications may be obtained by continuing to the
Application Materials and Instructions section of this website. You may also reach us by telephone at
212-861-0404 x-135 or by email at admissions@bwl.org. We recommend that parents contact our School during the early months of the fall semester in order to apply for enrollment in the following academic year. Upon receipt of the application, the admissions office will contact you to schedule a parent tour and a student interview. There is no parent interview. We also will review academic records (minimum two years), standardized test scores, teacher evaluations, and the parent essay as part of the admissions process.
Families who demonstrate need may apply for financial aid. Go to School and
Student Services by NAIS for the appropriate parent financial statement forms. In addition, the School provides alternative methods of financing for families who qualify.
The Birch Wathen Lenox School does not discriminate in its admission and employment policies and practices on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, or national origin.