New Families
The French School of Raleigh was created to offer a bilingual educational program for the children in North Carolina. We are the only French preschool and French - English bilingual kindergarten and elementary school in the State, and our school is rapidly growing.
We opened our elementary school in 2021, and are now in the process of applying for Accreditation through the French Ministry of Education and AEFE (French Agency for the Teaching of French Abroad) to join an elite list of schools around the world proud to teach your children about French language, French Culture and provide them with an exceptional education in North
Carolina.
We have also begun planning the expansion of our "école" to transition to a Lycée! We have ambitious plans that will greatly benefit our children and our community, by creating a school of excellence and a future generation of bilingual French=English speakers. In our global world, this will be a certain advantage for the students' future professional lives and the promotion of peace and understanding between peoples and cultures.
We believe that meeting families one-on-one is the best way to establish a personal connection and make the most of your visit to the school, so all of our tours will be one family at a time.
We invite you to register for an in-person tour and we look forward to meeting you and your family!
During our tour and discussion, you will learn about….
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The value and life-long advantages of a bilingual education
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Our diverse and international community.
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The qualifications of our teachers
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The structure of our curriculum from our Toute Petite Section de Maternelle 1 (TPS-1= our 2 year old class) through 5th grade
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Student wellbeing and social and emotional learning
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And much more!
Tuition
Annual tuition for a half-day is as follows:
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3 days a week: $6,315
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4 days a week: $7,802
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5 days a week: $9,290
Tuition for a full-day is as follows:
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3 days a week: $8,945
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4 days a week: $11,050
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5 days a week: $13,155
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Does my child need to know French to attend L’Ecole?For students entering preschool and kindergarten, NO French is required. Beginning in 1st grade, some command of French is required. Non-native speakers will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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We don’t speak French at home? Will my children still learn the language?Absolutely. Going to L’école gives your child the opportunity to learn another language, even if it is not spoken at home. What a gift!
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My child doesn’t speak a word of French. How will they adapt?Many of our preschool and kindergarten students do not speak or understand any French when they start school. Beginning on the first day, our teachers introduce students to the French language through everyday activities, including games, stories, songs and play. Children’s natural capacity to learn and adapt means they will quickly begin to understand French, though some will take longer than others to feel comfortable speaking. Although children are encouraged to speak French in the classroom to teachers and each other, they are always able to express themselves and be understood in English. In addition, our native French-speaking students are encouraged to help and support their non-French-speaking friends.
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How does language immersion work? When will my child understand and speak French?Language is acquired most effectively when it is learned in a meaningful social context, such as school. Through immersion, our students learn French as they learned their mother tongue: in a nurturing environment, with lots of encouragement, plenty of gentle repetition, and physical cues as needed. Most children will understand some French after just a few months. Some will begin experimenting with speaking right away, and others, though they may understand, will wait longer to speak until they feel more comfortable with the language.
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When do students study English?Beginning Kindergarten and finishing through 5th grade, classes are taught 60% in French and 40% in English. Students study some subjects in both languages. By the end of 1st grade, the vast majority of our students are conversant French speakers, with age-appropriate literacy skills in both French and English.
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Will my children acclimate into an English system after the 5th grade?Kids graduating from French programs transition fine into English programs are historically known for being accepted into top tier private schools, should your child continue in private school education.
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Do you offer before and after school care?We offer before from 7:30 am – 8:30 am and after school care from 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
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What are the school hours?Elementary school (K through 5th): 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Preschool: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or full day 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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Do you have art, music, gym, etc.?Yes! All elementary students have class time each week for music, visual arts, and STEM. They also have dedicated time for physical education and to visit the school library with their class.
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Do you have a policy for siblings of current students?Yes. Siblings of current students receive a 5% tuition discount and have admissions priority. Siblings are not automatically accepted; all applicants must complete the full admissions process.
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When should my family start the admissions process?It’s a good idea to start looking at schools in the fall for the following school year. Our priority application deadline is in March. To ensure your child has a spot for the upcoming school year, we highly recommend applying before the March deadline. We continue to accept applications on a rolling basis.
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Who should apply for tuition assistance?Elementary school families who have thoroughly reviewed their financial situation, including all sources of income, and feel they need help paying tuition are encouraged to apply. (We do not currently offer financial aid for preschool.) Aid is issued as a grant; there is no repayment obligation.