westchester schools CHESS PROGRAMS
Westchester County isn’t just a place the National Scholastic Chess Foundation serves — it’s where our story began.
NSCF Founder Sunil Weeramantry launched one of the country’s first dedicated scholastic chess programs at Hunter College Campus Schools in New York City in 1979. By 1984, he had brought that same vision to the White Plains and New Rochelle Public School Districts, establishing classroom chess instruction that would take root, grow, and eventually reach students across the entire county.
A World-Renowned Grandmaster Got His Start Here
If you need proof that great things can come from a school chess program, look no further than Ridgeway Elementary School in White Plains.
It was there that a seven-year-old Hikaru Nakamura first joined a chess team — his older brother Asuka needed a fourth player. Coached by his stepfather Sunil Weeramantry, Hikaru went on to become a Grandmaster at just 15 years old, the youngest American to hold that title at the time. Today he is ranked among the top players in the world and is one of the most-followed chess personalities on the planet, with millions of followers across YouTube and Twitch.
Ridgeway Elementary’s lunchtime chess program remains one of the strongest in NSCF’s network to this day.
Chess for Every Student — Across Every Corner of Westchester
NSCF’s programs serve students at every level, from beginners picking up a piece for the first time to competitive players pursuing state and national titles. Our instructors work directly within schools and community centers, integrating chess into the school day and after-school programming.
With over 130 programs serving students from Westchester County to Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Florida, NSCF has grown into one of the most far-reaching scholastic chess organizations in the country — and Westchester has always been its home.
Westchester districts and communities we serve include White Plains, New Rochelle, Port Chester, Yonkers, Scarsdale, Edgemont, Harrison, Tarrytown, and more.
Our programs are built on a simple premise: chess teaches children how to think. Focus, patience, pattern recognition, and resilience — the skills developed at the board carry directly into the classroom and beyond.
Bring NSCF to Your School or Community
Whether you’re a principal exploring enrichment programming, a PTA coordinator planning after-school activities, or a parent looking for a structured chess experience for your child, NSCF has a program designed for you.
If you are interested in bringing high-quality chess instruction to your school, please contact us by email: classes@nscfchess.org or telephone: (914) 683-5322.