A Legacy of Innovation
Dwight School Hanoi is bringing a bold new chapter of global education to Vietnam. Since the opening of the first Dwight campus in New York in 1872, the Dwight family of schools has been known for its three guiding pillars: Personalized Learning, Community, and Global Vision. The Hanoi campus carries this legacy forward while reshaping it for the future, offering the full International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum alongside a rich blend of Vietnamese language and culture, the arts, competitive athletics, and cutting-edge innovation programs. Together, these elements create an environment designed to ignite the spark of genius in every child.
Facilities that Inspire
To bring this mission to life, the school was purpose-built from the ground up. It comprises two main buildings with specialized spaces tailored to each stage of learning. The Early Childhood Division features light-filled classrooms with flexible learning zones, its own library, music and art rooms, and dedicated play areas, all thoughtfully created to support inquiry-based learning, exploration, and hands-on discovery.
The main campus, serving Grades 1-12, builds innovation and creativity into its architecture. Designed by renowned architect Carlos Zapata, it offers specialized facilities that become extensions of the classroom: students stage performances in the black box theater, compose and record in the music conservatory and sound lab, throw clay in the ceramics studio or capture images in the photography studio. Ideas take shape in the Wonder Lab, Invention Studio, and Spark Lab, while the Machine Learning Robotics Lab provides space to test and refine prototypes. Outdoors, three learning gardens and a rooftop greenhouse give students the chance to plant, harvest, and experience sustainability in action.
A Global Network, A World of Opportunities
What sets Dwight School Hanoi apart is its ability to connect the local with the global. Through the Dwight Destinations program and the wider Dwight network, students in Hanoi have direct pathways to peers across New York, London, Seoul, Dubai, Shanghai, and Jersey City, and Dwight Global Online. They also travel to other Dwight campuses for performances, exchanges, and joint learning experiences. Sports also take on a global dimension through the Manchester City Football School, where students train with resident and visiting professional coaches in Hanoi and then travel to the City Football Academy in Manchester for advanced sessions. This unparalleled network ensures Dwight students in Hanoi enjoy opportunities for international connection and growth that few schools can offer.
Beyond travel, the network powers global, cross-campus projects that link classrooms across campuses, enabling collaboration in academics, arts, and design and bringing diverse perspectives to the same table.
Just as importantly, these international connections prepare students for the future. The Dwight School’s network provides powerful support in college and career preparation, drawing on a global team of university counselors across campuses, insights from alumni, and coordinated university visit days. This shared expertise provides nuanced guidance on admissions systems worldwide and opens doors to a broader range of universities.
For globally mobile families, the network also ensures continuity. With a shared mission, vision, IB pathways, and high academic standards, Dwight’s eight schools share one philosophy, making it easy for students to transfer between campuses with minimal disruption. “Even though our campuses span the world, our community feels like one family,” says Head of School Brantley Turner.
A Seamless IB Journey
Dwight School Hanoi delivers the full IB continuum – PYP, MYP, and DP – so learning unfolds as one coherent journey from the early years to graduation. Specialist teachers guide creative and performing arts and PE across all grades, while Manchester City Football School training is tailored to each age group so every player is challenged at the right level. Each division has its own makerspace with age-appropriate tools: from basic rapid-prototyping materials and beginner electronics in the early years, to 3D printers and laser cutters in the middle years, and on to CNC routers, milling machines, and articulated robotic arms as students advance in Upper School. Students also have access to specialist studios for sound recording, film, and photography.
In the PYP (Preschool-Grade 5), inquiry anchors everything. Learning weaves through transdisciplinary themes rather than stand-alone subjects, with Vietnamese and other languages taught alongside mother-tongue support. Regular sessions in the Wonder Lab give young learners hands-on time to design, tinker, and build – turning questions into prototypes.
In the MYP (Middle School, Grades 6-8), learning goes beyond subject knowledge. Across eight subject groups, students strengthen essential “Approaches to Learning” skills, such as communication, collaboration, self-management, research, and critical thinking. Interdisciplinary units and real-world projects make connections explicit, while collaborative design-and-build work takes shape in the Invention Studio.
In the MYP (Upper School, Grades 9-10), students deepen disciplinary knowledge while connecting it to purpose. The four-year University Guidance program begins in Grade 9, aligning courses and co-curriculars with future pathways. The journey culminates in the Grade 10 Personal Project. Advanced prototyping and exhibition-quality work take shape in the Spark Lab, supported by specialist studios.
In the DP (Grades 11-12), students select six subjects – typically three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level – alongside the three core components: Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). University Guidance and Career Planning continues throughout, supporting subject choices, applications, and best-fit planning. Dedicated studios and the Spark Lab provide seniors with the space and tools to produce sophisticated design and arts coursework and to present it with polish.
Vietnamese National students also remain eligible to progress within the local curriculum system, in accordance with Ministry of Education and Training requirements.
Support for Learners
At Dwight School Hanoi, the mission to ignite the spark of genius in every child unfolds in small, daily moments. Teachers get to know each learner’s story and shape the right mix of support and challenge so every student can thrive. A student’s story begins with being seen. “Teachers see children as more than students; they see each child’s unique potential,” says a Grade 2 parent. In the first weeks, teachers sit with each learner, listening, reviewing past work, and using baseline checks to understand strengths, needs, languages, and interests. That portrait becomes a living map. Supported by teachers, students set goals they care about and revisit them often – updating, celebrating, and recalibrating. In class, the map guides the journey: groups flex, tasks are scaffolded or extended, and students choose how to demonstrate their learning – through an essay, a lab, a performance, or a prototype – while spaces shift from quiet nooks to buzzing collaboration zones.
Whether a student needs extra support or added stretch, Quest opens the right door at the right time. During the school day, Quest removes barriers through English Language Learners (ELL), Special Education Needs (SEN), and Learning Support (LS) and amplifies strengths through Gifted & Talented pathways. Dedicated ELL support across the school helps students access the curriculum and prepares them for success in Upper School.
Programs that Spark Ideas
Personalized learning is everywhere at Dwight, and it shows up most vividly in the school’s signature programs, where curiosity turns into action. In Spark Tank, the school’s incubator program, a student starts with a question that matters, then works with mentors to research, prototype, and pitch, eventually transforming an idea into a tangible product that can go to market. It’s entrepreneurship in action, with teacher coaching on problem framing, user research, budgeting and taking a product from idea to launch. Meanwhile, Sparkathon widens the horizon, bringing Hanoi students to team up with peers from across the Dwight network to apply design thinking to authentic briefs, and present real-world solutions to an external panel of judges. Sparkathon also brings in external industry experts throughout the process to help coach teams to refine concepts, assess feasibility, and map the steps to implementation.
Extending that real-world connection, Dwight hosts Spark Talks—another signature program where leaders from across industries, companies, and communities, along with Dwight alumni and educators, speak with students, sharing lessons learned, career paths, and practical advice. Sessions are hosted on one campus and recorded or livestreamed across the network, so students in Hanoi learn directly from experts around the world.
Dwight School Hanoi is also the first and only school in Vietnam partnered with the Manchester City Football School. Students train with resident professional Manchester City coaches in age-tailored sessions that build technical skills, resilience, teamwork, leadership, and knowledge around nutrition and recovery, developing the whole child on and off the field. “It’s not just drills; it’s a plan for me. I’m stronger on the field, more confident in school, and I know how to set goals and hit them.” — Grade 10 student. This is personalized learning in practice: goals matched to each learner, coaching that meets them where they are, and growth that translates beyond sport into life.
Enriching Life Beyond the Classroom
At Dwight School Hanoi, personalized learning doesn’t end with the last class – it opens into a choose-your-own-adventure. As after-school activities begin, the energy shifts across campus: a Tingsha bell ushers in yoga, a K-pop track cues dancers in mirrored studios, basketballs echo in the sports hall, and a lacrosse stick snaps to a clean catch. In the pool, swimmers cut through quiet blue as volleys drum on the court and tennis rallies arc across the baseline.
In the performance corridors, the chorus tunes and tests harmonies for London ChoirFest; down the hall, the Lower School rock band rehearses “Hound Dog” for the U.S-Vietnam Friendship Festival; in the Music Conservatory the orchestra rehearses the program for the next whole-school assembly. In the arts studios, shutters snap as the Yearbook Club photographs the Student Council, while across the hall, charcoal drifts, clay spins, and paint sharpens to a line. Meanwhile, in the Invention Studio, tools hum as students craft birdhouses for the learning gardens.
Some students dive into new languages; others file a story for the school paper or record a podcast on issues that matter to them. In the dojo, a meditation circle softens the day; in the garden, seedlings are planted; in the kitchen, the baking club laughs over a perfect rise. Many clubs, from yoga to coding, gardening to fitness, are student-led with teacher advisors, and new ones are always emerging. As Ms. Nunnally, Director of Student Life puts it, “Come with a spark for a new club or activity, and we’ll help you make it real. Dwight students lead the way, and their ideas move our community.”
Leadership extends beyond clubs. On the Student Council, students shape school-wide events that enhance daily life, while our Student Ambassadors represent Dwight with pride: hosting events, leading visitor tours and welcoming VIP guests.
Global Learning in Action
The Dwight Destinations program takes learning beyond campus, well past traditional service trips in Vietnam or neighboring countries, by connecting students with Dwight’s global network schools. Through these experiences, students engage in real-world learning, global citizenship, and leadership, bringing their spark to new places and communities. An exciting year lies ahead:
- October 2025: ChoirFest, Dwight School London
- December 2025: Model United Nations, Dwight School Dubai
- December 2025: Manchester City Football School Tournament, Thailand
- January 2026: Global Music Concert, Qibao Dwight Shanghai
- March 2026: Historical Vietnam Exchange, hosted by Dwight School Hanoi
- April 2026: Special training trip, Manchester City Football Club, England
- June 2026: Villars Symposium, Switzerland – a signature leadership opportunity
Students often say the Dwight network turns travel into reunion. Whether they are performing, debating, or competing, each campus feels familiar, with shared values, shared rhythms, and instant community. As one Grade 9 student put it: “I’ve sung at ChoirFest, debated at MUN, and played at Man City. The best part? Wherever we go, it still feels like our school. Same culture, same bond.”
University Guidance
Dwight School Hanoi offers a specialized four-year University Guidance & Career Planning program, built on trusted expertise, a global network, and connected opportunities. Starting early, each grade follows a tailored task list that builds clarity step by step, linking interests to university pathways, shaping IB-informed course selections, and introducing standardized tests at the right time without letting them define the experience.
Counselors help students develop a professional identity, guiding them as they craft narratives, build portfolios and resumes, and practice interview skills through mock sessions and feedback. Families are partners in the journey, with regular parent workshops that demystify the university application process and clarify timelines, regional differences, and what admissions officers are looking for.
Students also receive targeted summer planning support, choosing meaningful opportunities such as research, internships, institutes, service leadership, competitions, and arts or athletics intensives. These experiences ensure that applications reflect the student’s genuine growth. The result is a confident, well-matched application strategy, rooted in who each student is and where they’re ready to go next.
In addition, the school hosts frequent on-campus visits from universities across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, Europe, and Asia. Representatives lead small-group information sessions, portfolio and résumé reviews, and mini-workshops on essays and interviews—often followed by Q&A’s. The school also organizes evening talks for families from across the Hanoi community and multi-school fairs on campus.
Building Character & Responsibility
At Dwight School Hanoi, character isn’t an add-on – it’s woven into the fabric of the school. Values such as empathy, self-awareness, and ethical responsibility are integrated into academics, not taught separately. Guided by the three pillars, Personalized Learning, Community, and Global Vision, alongside the IB Learner Profile, students practice being caring, principled, and reflective in real moments that matter.
On any given morning, Advisory feels less like roll call and more like a reset. Mornings begin with interactive, energetic moments – sometimes teacher-led, often student-run with teacher support – like a 15-minute talent spotlight or a cross-grade team-building challenge. Teachers use this time intentionally: collaboration and relationship-building are rehearsed until they become a habit. In addition, a dedicated 50-minute Advisory and wellbeing class develops skills for success in school and beyond, with age-appropriate content tailored to each grade.Students and teachers establish Essential Agreements together to shape their classroom culture. When needed, restorative conversations repair relationships and rebuild trust. Honoring all cultures on campus nurtures respect for diverse perspectives.
A certified School Counselor is available for individual support and crisis response, and a dedicated Safeguarding Team remains visible and accessible across campus as an additional point of contact for any concerns about student safety or wellbeing.
As students move through the IB, learning becomes action. In the MYP, Service as Action nudges them from understanding to doing, with projects designed to help others. The Personal Project pushes them to set human-centered goals and test ideas in global contexts. In the DP, CAS turns that momentum into sustained leadership, with students planning and running long-term initiatives.
Responsibility shows up as mentorship. Students mentor students as a matter of course. A Grade 11 might help a Grade 10 refine a Personal Project question. An Upper School student club leader might coach a Middle School student through launching a new club – how to propose it and how to lead. A Dwight alum might join a video call from Shanghai to explain what to expect in the DP and how to prepare – study habits and academic management, so students step in with confidence. Here, experience moves forward, leadership grows on both sides, and each student is equipped to guide the next.
In a digital world, Dwight prepares students to be wise global citizens. The school emphasizes online behavior, media literacy, and privacy, and is pursuing Responsible Use of AI License (RAIL) certification so staff can guide students in ethical AI use. As a Common Sense Media School, students learn to honor copyright and use openly licensed resources responsibly. Families are part of the circle too, with workshops on wellbeing, online learning, and digital safety, ensuring home and school stay aligned on what it means to learn well and live well.
Our Educators
Recruiting teachers is less about filling roles and more about cultivating a community. The process begins with a clear lens: educators who are unmistakably student-centered and aligned with the mission to ignite the spark of genius in every child. The school seeks teachers who choose a newly opened campus on purpose, professionals with the appetite to build, the humility to learn, and the grit to make things better every day.
Candidates bring strong pedagogy and extensive IB experience; many have served across the Dwight School’s network and have come to Hanoi ready for a new challenge. Inclusive practice is non-negotiable: differentiating instruction, supporting English Language Learners, honoring the local context, and partnering with the learning support team so every student can succeed at every level.
Equally essential are the human skills that knit a school together – clear communication, trust-building with families, and genuine cultural competence. As Mr Hayter, Deputy Head of School notes, “We want teachers who not only teach well, but who also engage fully in the life of the school. They need to be collaborative, adaptable, and ready to lead beyond the classroom.”
As an added layer of support or extension for all Dwight School staff worldwide, the Dwight Leadership Academy is a signature, employees-only program—a network-wide hub for professional growth that honors our mission, pillars, values, practices, and inquiry ethos. Staff can participate as mentors or mentees, lead workshops, and contribute to a rich cross-campus resource library and collaborative community.
Looking Ahead with Purpose
Dwight School Hanoi is shaping its future with clear intent. The school seeks to serve both Hanoi and the wider Dwight School’s network – sharing expertise, opening the campus for learning and community events, and building service partnerships that make a difference.
That work is already underway. Faculty have begun hosting workshops for other Hanoi schools, with plans for reciprocal classroom visits and resource exchanges. The campus has welcomed families and neighbors for “Making at Dwight”, “Summer at Dwight”, and Manchester City football camps, turning the facilities into a true community hub.
Service anchors this local commitment. As programs grow, more student-led initiatives will address real needs in Hanoi, while the school partners with embassies, NGOs, and companies to support relocating families and collaborate on community-focused projects.
Dwight School Hanoi is also positioning itself as a regional stage for global education. In December 2025, the school will host the ISS EDU EXPO, an international fair and professional development platform for educators and school leaders. In April 2026, the campus will welcome the Regional Institute International ACAC conference, an event that brings together global university counselors and admissions professionals to share best practices and strengthen pathways for students. The school will also host major robotics competitions, including the VEX IQ Northern Regional Qualifiers (November 2025) and the VEX Vietnam National Finals Championship (January 2026), where elementary and middle school students showcase STEM skills through hands-on robotics challenges. The school is an approved SAT test center, so students from across Hanoi can sit the exam on campus. SAT scores can strengthen university applications, inform course placement, and unlock scholarship opportunities.
Already authorized to offer the IB Diploma Programme (DP), the school is also a member of ECIS, CIS, and a WASC candidate school, with full accreditation underway. Authorization for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) is now in progress, and we are on track to become a full IB continuum school– just over a year after opening, an exceptionally fast timeline. Looking further ahead, the school also plans to introduce Advanced Placement (AP) courses to give students even more pathways to success.
“The focus over the next few years is simple: deliver outstanding IB learning, build a caring community, and grow responsibly,” says Ms. Turner. Enrollment will expand steadily, with student wellbeing, safety, and family partnership at the center.
“In 2027, we will graduate our first DP cohort,” she adds, an important milestone in the school’s journey.
As Dwight School Hanoi grows, its measure of success remains constant: every student known, every voice valued, and every spark of genius ignited – on campus, in Hanoi, and across the Dwight School’s global network.
For More Info: https://dwighthanoi.org/