A French-American education to shape engaged citizens

At the Lycée, all Pre-K and Kindergarten students engage in the tradition of monthly self-portraits, an essential exercise in the French preschool curriculum that serves as a vital tool for tracking early child development.

Over the course of the year, students observe themselves closely to translate their growing body awareness onto paper, capturing how their mental representation of the human body evolves between ages 4 and 6. Along the way, children refine their fine motor skills, hand control, and spatial awareness—building the foundational graphic readiness required for cursive writing. These monthly drawings also provide children with a tangible way to grasp the abstract concept of time. By witnessing their own progress, students take pride in their growth and build self-confidence.

At the end of the school year, the resulting artwork on display in our hallways and classrooms, invites families to celebrate just how far our youngest learners have come.

Every year, all Kindergarten students embark on an immersive outdoor learning field trip to Central Park, designed to spark early curiosity about science, biodiversity, and the natural world around them.

Guided through The Ramble—a peaceful nature refuge in the heart of the park—students put on their detective hats to observe hawks, doves, blue jays, and squirrels alongside Central Park rangers. Through movement and interactive discovery, they explore the changing seasons and learn how birds migrate south for the winter. To bring their learning full circle, students collect leaves, sticks, and nuts to use in a fall art project.

Students connect classroom concepts with hands-on exploration in nature, developing an early appreciation for the environment and a lifelong spirit of discovery.

All Grade 9 students take the Lycée’s “Be The Change” social entrepreneurship course, which aims to inspire students to become active, compassionate leaders in a global community.

Over a semester, students explore the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals, dig into the issues they care about most, and work together in teams to create enterprises that address real-world challenges. Along the way, they learn to think through all aspects of a venture—from planning and budgeting to communication and impact—and to pitch their ideas with confidence.

Guided by their teachers and mentored by parents and alumni entrepreneurs and business leaders, students turn ideas into meaningful action, learning not just to solve problems, but to lead with purpose and heart. Many continue their projects beyond the classroom, a testament to the lasting impact of this transformative experience.

In spring 2025, our fifth graders celebrated Women’s History Month through an interdisciplinary project titled Women Leading the Way.

Students researched pioneers of women’s rights, wrote biographies, and drew portraits using the historic three-crayon technique. They also researched the first woman in their family to vote, creating dioramas from photographs and meaningful objects.

With students from so many backgrounds, the project became a narrative of the history of women’s suffrage around the world. In January 2026, student work was featured in a special exhibition on the project at the Carter Burden Gallery in New York City.

Each year, the Lycée’s Day of Understanding brings together students, families, and faculty to celebrate the diversity that defines our school community.

This initiative is much larger than a single day of celebration. By the time the Day of Understanding comes around, students across Elementary and Preschool have already spent weeks exploring themes such as identity, family, belonging, languages, and cultural traditions through discussions, creative projects, and performances in their classrooms.

On the day itself, families are invited to campus to experience and participate in this work. Students typically share songs, presentations, and classroom projects that reflect their personal stories and the many cultures represented at the Lycée. Families are then invited to take part—whether through classroom activities, exhibitions of student work, or moments of shared celebration such as breakfast or performances.

These exchanges encourage dialogue and invite students to see both the differences and the common values within their community. Through the Day of Understanding, students develop a new way to listen, share, and reflect on the experiences of others. This project helps them gain deeper appreciation for the many backgrounds and perspectives that enrich life at the Lycée.

Each year, the Lycée dedicates a full day to the life and legacy of James Baldwin, offering students in Grades 10 to 12 the opportunity to step away from their regular classes and engage in reflection, conversation, and creative work.

Unique among schools in the United States, this student-led initiative, organized in collaboration with the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging department, transforms the campus into a space for exchange and exploration of how our community can practice and honor Baldwin’s philosophies.

Guided by Baldwin’s words—“Know from whence you came”—students examine questions of identity, justice, and belonging through panels, performances, and workshops. The day often brings together guest speakers, artists, and scholars, creating opportunities for students to connect historical perspectives with contemporary conversations.

Students spend the day participating in discussions and hands-on activities that encourage them to reflect on their own experiences while engaging with those of others. From exploring creative expression to leading peer workshops, they are invited to think critically, listen actively, and contribute to a shared dialogue.

James Baldwin Day highlights the power of both the written and spoken word, encouraging students to approach complex issues with thoughtfulness and confidence. It reflects the Lycée’s commitment to fostering engaged, informed individuals who are prepared to contribute meaningfully to their communities.

In 2025, Lycée students participated in Nuit du code, a coding marathon organized by the Lycée Français de Tokyo for schools across the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE)  network.

In teams of two or three, thousands of secondary students worldwide had six hours to design a video game based on a given theme, using Scratch or Python with the Pyxel engine.

This immersive experience reflects the Lycée’s hands-on approach to learning—encouraging students to experiment, collaborate, and persevere. It strengthens algorithmic thinking, independence, and peer support, while offering a concrete introduction to STEM fields for our future coders.

As a part of the Lycée’s service-learning curriculum, every year students in Grade 10 travel to Da Nang, Vietnam, for an experience that blends community engagement with cultural discovery and historical reflection.

Students spend several days with children at the Maison des Affections, an orphanage the Lycée has partnered with since 2014. They organize games, art workshops, and lead English lessons for the children. Students also discover Vietnam’s history, including through a visit to the Vinh Moc Tunnels, near the former demilitarized zone along the 17th parallel.

There, students meet witnesses who shared firsthand accounts of life in the underground village during the war, bringing history to life in a profound way.