French School in San Francisco Bay Area

Lycée Français La Pérouse, Bay Area:
The Lycée is a French pre-kindergarten to 12th grade college preparatory school in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California which is based on the French national curriculum augmented by courses in American History, English Literature and Visual Arts. It provides a challenging educational environment, emphasizing academic achievement leading to the French Baccalaureate. Our students earn an American high school diploma, as well as prepare for the French Baccalauréat which qualifies them to attend European universities. There are currently more than 900 students on three campuses in Marin County, Ortega and Ashbury. Lycée Français La Pérouse is fully accredited in the U.S.

PK to 12th grade full French immersion school
Lycée Français La Pérouse is a total immersion French school, which means that all subjects are taught in French, however, English language, U.S. history, Visual Arts and American and English literature are taught by native speakers of English. Non-French-speaking children are normally admitted from the age of 2 1/2 years through kindergarten. Thereafter, French-speaking students or transfers from other French schools are accepted. Because younger children learn languages most easily, it is ideal to enroll early in the preschool years, so that the child can become confident with the language before 1st grade. For non-English-speaking children entering primary or higher grades, the Lycée offers English as a Second Language (ESL).

Preschool (Maternelle): 2 1/2 years through Kindergarten:
France's renowned Ecole Maternelle has been imitated in many countries. The French preschool is an integrated and essential first phase of the educational system. Maternelle teachers, who have the same 4-year college degree as primary teachers, have solid training in child psychology and physical development, as well as education. They begin preparing the youngest children for the work they will be asked to do later in elementary school.

Music, art, stories, theater, puppets and field trips complement the “academic” subjects introduced during the Maternelle years. Although reading does not formally begin until 1st grade, preschoolers learn to write their own names and to recognize the names of their classmates and familiar words such as the days of the week. Both the San Francisco and Marin campuses have extensive bilingual libraries and video collections, with a rich selection of preschool-level books and tapes for classroom and home use. Teachers frequently read to the class, and children can listen independently to their favorite books on audio cassette during free periods in the classroom. During their Maternelle years, they become enthusiastic “readers.”

From the very first day of preschool, the French teacher addresses the children in French. For the first few weeks, the teacher will frequently repeat the sentence in English. Children quickly learn the meanings of common words and phrases, and before long, they begin to use these familiar terms themselves. By the middle of the first year, the teacher rarely needs to use English. Listening comprehension develops more quickly than speaking ability. Midway through the first year most children readily understand the French they hear every day at school. During their second year they begin to speak well and in 1st grade, with the addition of reading skills, most are truly “fluent.” In addition, Maternelle students spend at least 5 class hours per week in English language activities with a native English-speaking teacher.

Elementary School (Primaire): 1st through 5th Grades:
As students advance through the primary grades, they study computers, astronomy, earth and life sciences, U.S. and French history, geography, civics, music, art, and physical education along with reading and mathematics.

Middle School (Collège): 6th through 9th Grades:
Beginning with 6th grade, each subject is taught by a specialist whose university training differs from that of colleagues who teach primary grades. There is the equivalent of a homeroom teacher/advisor for each class.

6th graders have the choice of German, Mandarin or Spanish. In 7th grade Latin is also offered. Those with proficiency in other languages such as Russian, Italian or Japanese can pursue them individually through the Lycée's correspondence program administered in affiliation with the CNED (Centre National d'Enseignement à Distance.) Computer classes, including courses on the Internet, are offered beginning in 6th grade. Science is expanded to include biology, geology, chemistry and physics. Statistics and functions are added to the mathematics program. Students also study English literature, U.S. and world history, and geography.

The 9th grade is the Orientation Cycle, designed to help students select a field of specialization for high school.

At the conclusion of 9th grade, students take the Brevet des Collèges examination in French, mathematics and history-geography.

High School (Lycée): 10th through 12th Grades:
In France, students choose a technical, professional, or pre-university high school. Lycée Français La Pérouse offers only the college preparatory track of the French educational system. In addition to preparing for the French Baccalauréat, our students obtain an American high school diploma. High school students choose one of three general areas of study for the 11th and 12th grades, corresponding to the three most prestigious Baccalauréat diplomas. Students may also choose these tracks with the International option of the Baccalaureat:

S = mathematics/biology/physics/chemistry
ES = economic sciences/math/history/languages
L = literature/languages/philosophy