FAQ

1. Is this school only for French nationals?
Not at all. Anyone who wishes to pursue a French-inspired education can attend the Lycée as long as they meet the criteria outlined in “Applying to the Lycée.”

2. Do you give priority to French nationals?
No, however as a French-language school under the French education system, we need to make sure that the families who are not French are committed to supporting this type of education for their children and participating in the Lycée community.

3. What is the percentage of the French population of the Lycée?
Roughly one-third of the school’s population is French, one-third is French-American or French-American plus other nationality/nationalities, and one-third is U.S. and/or other nationalities. In total, the Lycée community boasts over 50 nationalities.

4. Are you a bilingual school?
We are not a bilingual school since the teaching is all in French as of 1st grade. The bilingual education is only at the preschool level (the early childhood program of Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten), where the goal is to ease students into the French language over a two-year program. As of 1st grade, even though the teaching is mostly in French, a very extensive English Program is maintained through 12th grade, which enables our students to attend top North American universities, if they choose to do so.

5. My son is seven months old; how early can I apply to your school?
The application process for preschool starts in the fall preceding the school year being applied for, not before.

6. Do I have to call right after Labor Day for an application?
No. Parents have until December 15th to make an application. All applications are reviewed provided they arrive within this time frame. But the earlier we receive an application, the sooner we can start the interview and evaluation process.

7. I picked up an application the day after Labor Day! Why is my son being put on a waiting list?
The admission decision does not depend on how early one sends his/her application. Rather, it is based on a whole package that is reviewed by the Admissions Committee, taking into consideration the evaluation of the child, the parents’ interview, the family’s motivations, the contents of the application, and other larger criteria designed to foster an ideal community of learning for all.

8. What is your cut-off date?
Our cut-off date is December 31st; in other words, children have to be 4 years-old by December 31st in order to start school the year they are applying for. We do not offer programs for younger children. Those who want to pursue a similar education for their child for Nursery School (3 years old), are invited to call the Admissions Office for a listing of other French language schools in the New York area.

9. My husband and I don’t speak French; is this a problem?
It is not as long as parents realize it is a big commitment to choose the French education system in an English-speaking family environment. All parents must be committed and willing to expose their children to the French language and the French culture outside of school.

10. What language do children speak among themselves?
In the lower levels, the children speak the language they are most comfortable with, whether it is French or English. In the upper levels, the English language seems to be dominant with more and more English speakers evolving as the children get older and spend more time in the U.S.

11. How many classes do you have in each grade level?
We have five classes per grade from Kindergarten through 5th grades, four classes per grade from 6th to 10th grades, and five classes in each of 11th and 12th grades.

12. How many students are there in each class?
The maximum number of children we can accommodate in each classroom from Pre-Kindergarten through 12th Grade is 22.

13. Are all the teachers from France?
Most of the teachers who teach in French are recruited in France and hold the appropriate diplomas to teach in their specialty. The English-language teachers are hired locally, and they too have the license to teach in their specialty.

14. Is there a uniform?
While there is no uniform there is a dress code. Girls can wear gray pants or skirt, a white button-down shirt, a navy blue cardigan and dark color shoes and coats. Boys can wear gray pants, a white button-down shirt, and a navy blue tie and cardigan. Both boys and girls can wear the LFNY sweat-shirt, which can be purchased at the school store.

15. Where do most students go to college when they graduate from the Lycée?
Historically, nearly 100% of the Lycée’s graduating classes have gone on to college. Most will pursue higher education in the U.S. In 2011, approximately 52% did so, with 19% going to Canada, 11% going to France and 18% to other countries. In recent years, more and more of our graduates have chosen to go to Canada as it offers a low-cost option, especially for French nationals, coupled with an excellent choice of well-known colleges and a culture similar to our school’s environment.

16. What is the difference between OIB, BFA, and BAC Standard?
The French baccalauréat (BAC) is similar to a U.S. high school diploma, however it is internationally recognized for the stringent requirements that must be met to achieve it.

• Bilingual speakers may choose to pursue Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB) as an option inside of the French BAC in the same way students can choose “option musique” or “option art.” This option impacts the students’ English and history-geography courses providing the opportunity to take the highest level of English and to experience a more intensive bilingual/bicultural history-geography class.
• The BFA stands for Baccalauréat Franco-Americain. This option includes American Advanced Placement exams in the framework of the French baccalauréat. Like the OIB, BFA is an option and affects a portion of the students’ overall coursework.
• The BAC Standard is a term that refers to the French baccalauréat without either of the two above options.

16. What is the difference between OIB and IB?
The IB stands for International Baccalauréat. As it is not a French exam, we do not offer the IB at the Lycée.

17. I have four children; do I get a discount?
We do not offer discounts to large families. However, we encourage parents to apply for financial aid. For more information on financial aid, please visit Tuition and Financial Aid.

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