How to avoid checking for null values in method chaining? [duplicate]

No, it is generally not good practice in Java to catch a NPE instead of null-checking your references.

You can use Optional for this kind of thing if you prefer:

if (Optional.ofNullable(country)
            .map(Country::getCity)
            .map(City::getSchool)
            .map(School::getStudent)
            .isPresent()) {
    isValid = true;
}

or simply

boolean isValid = Optional.ofNullable(country)
                          .map(Country::getCity)
                          .map(City::getSchool)
                          .map(School::getStudent)
                          .isPresent();

if that is all that isValid is supposed to be checking.