Signature Programs

From our earliest classrooms, Avenues students learn in two languages. Our dual-language immersion program pairs English with either Mandarin Chinese or Spanish, with children spending half their time in each language from nursery through grade 5. Most core content, from literacy and math to art and World Course, is taught in both languages, so students don't study a language as a subject; they live and learn in it.

In grade 6, students transition to intensive, leveled study of their chosen language, continuing toward genuine fluency and, for many, near-native proficiency by graduation. Along the way, immersion builds far more than bilingualism: stronger executive function, earlier empathy and perspective-taking, and a lasting, global way of seeing the world.

The Mastery Learning System is Avenues' personalized pathway for students in grades 9– 12 who are ready to go deep. Students choose a genuine passion, work alongside industry experts, and pursue complex, multi-year projects that reach the level of real professional work. In place of a simple list of letter grades, they build a mastery portfolio: living proof of what they can actually do.

In June Lower and Upper Division students participate in an intensive project-based learning period dedicated to interdisciplinary exploration. During this time, traditional schedules pause and students focus deeply on a single topic through projects, travel, research, or fieldwork.

J-Term invites students to pursue questions that connect academic learning to real-world challenges at developmentally appropriate ways, from diving deeper into problem solving in the local NYC community to spanning larger global scale problems in the Upper Division.

Fun fact! Our Parent's get to experience a day in the life of J-Term on an annual basis and step into the classroom of some of our incredible teachers through our Parent J-Term program. 

Starting in 5th grade, High-Intensity Practice is a structured approach to developing expertise through deliberate practice, coaching, and reflection. Students focus on refining specific skills through repetition, feedback, and incremental improvement.

This approach is used across disciplines—from robotics and mathematics to music and athletics—helping students build resilience, discipline, and a deeper understanding of their craft.

The Ethics Institute invites students to explore the moral and ethical questions that shape contemporary life. Through seminars, debates, and interdisciplinary projects, students examine complex issues—from technological innovation to environmental responsibility—while developing the critical thinking and empathy required for thoughtful leadership.

Students learn to approach difficult questions with intellectual rigor, open-mindedness, and a commitment to constructive dialogue.