By Na Jeong-ju
The Dwight School, one of the world’s outstanding private schools said Thursday its Seoul campus, slated to open in August, will provide International Baccalaureate (IB) programs to all students, including preschoolers.
The Dwight International School Seoul, located in the Digital Media Center in Sangam-dong, is the first foreign school here to offer the IB program, the only universal curriculum accepted by prestigious schools worldwide, to all grades.
It plans to limit the number of Korean nationals to 20 percent of the total students to serve the needs of parents and their children seeking international education. This is lower than the government’s recommendation of 30 percent.
Dwight Seoul invited a group of parents from diverse nations to hear a presentation on its vision and commitments. Afterwards, they toured the campus facilities.
“The IB programs for all children show our dedication to providing a world-class education for students from around the world,” said Kevin Skeoch, head of Dwight Seoul. “Our curriculum will provide all students with the opportunities to learn in depth and develop as well balanced individuals.”
The campus includes two indoor gymnasiums, two outdoor soccer fields, a two-story library and a performing arts center with more than 400 seats.
Among the participants was Dianne Drew, principal of the Dwight School in New York.
“Based on our traditions and long history, we have connected students to the international communities. Dwight students are supported by our highly talented faculty, who will help every child succeed,” Drew said.
The faculty in Seoul will be hired from overseas with expertise in the IB curriculum, the school said.
Dwight Seoul will formally open with 210 students of 17 different nationalities on Aug. 20. It will have a total enrollment of 540 students from preschoolers to 12th graders.
The history of the Dwight School dates back to 1872, when the school in New York was established. It also has campuses in England, Canada and China.
The school in New York was the first one in the United States to offer the IB program to all students from preschoolers to 12th graders, and the first independent school in the United States to have an overseas campus. About 850 students from 40 different countries are studying in New York, making it the most ethnically diverse student body in the United States, according to the school.