Academics

Middle School | Grade 6-8

At the Middle School level, the Lycée takes the rigorous French educational platform as its starting off point and embeds the best practices of project-based learning, digital learning and social entrepreneurship — all in a bilingual setting.

Our ambitious exploration of traditional subject matters, intellectual traditions, and a multitude of cultures develops the crucial critical and independent thinking aptitude in our middle school students.

Lycée students grow accomplished in their studies — and as increasingly aware learners, thinkers and doers. Parcours, our newest semester-long programs, was developed for them. These pluridisciplinary classes encourage students to develop their curiosity, creativity and independence while working in teams on a final project with a co-teaching, and often bilingual, team. It’s never too early to learn the value of smart collaboration.

Guided by faculty and staff, our students prepare for their end-of-middle school exams, le diplôme national du Brevet. We view this is an early proving ground for the intense, multi-year preparation required for passing the French bac.

From the Blog

Neuroscience and the Future of Middle School at the Lycée
Middle-school students are undergoing a tremendous transformation. They are, without exaggeration, rebuilding their brains.

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Our bilingual approach

As is the case across the Lycée, French and English are languages of learning in Middle School. Starting in sixth grade, our students choose to spend anywhere from 30 to 50 percent of their day in English, depending on their interests and plans.
Literature

Every student takes French and English literature, continuing their studies of grammar, writing and reading comprehension, as any student in a French or American school would do. At the same time, they are introduced to major authors of both cultures across centuries from Ionesco to Molière, Shakespeare to Morrison. Students may elect to take latin or ancient Greek to broaden their understanding of essential texts of world literature and philosophy.
History and Geography

Students choose to take history and geography in English or in French, with a focus on global studies. Knowledge of civilizations and world geography; an understanding of the complexity of economic, social, political, and cultural structures; and mastery of skills and know-how are vital tools to help our students grasp the major issues facing our interconnected, pluricultural world.
Science

In science, which includes a study of the scientific method as it relates to biology, chemistry, and even physics, students do extensive classroom and laboratory work in our state-of-art science laboratories and benefit from area field trips and partnerships with renowned institutions such as the Cold Spring DNA laboratory and the Columbia University Lamonte Earth Observatory to enhance their learning.
Math

Our teaching team draws on the rigorous French curriculum, renowned around the world for its level of study in preparation for the French baccalaureate exams. The curriculum combines key concepts in the American system that support student entry into higher education in the U.S. and also give them tools for college-prep exams like the SAT and ACT.
World Languages

Where bilingualism is the norm, the introduction of a third language (and its culture) is part of what makes the Lycée the Lycée: Mandarin, Spanish, Italian and German are offered starting in the sixth grade. (Students continue studying their chosen language through 12th grade.) Students may also opt to take a fourth language, starting in the 10th grade, which is not uncommon among our pluricultural student body.
Music and Fine Art

Music and visual arts play an integral part in the program through ninth grade. In addition to classes, students may join the Harmonie Band (sixth through ninth grade), the jazz-rock ensemble, the orchestra (sixth through 12th grade) and the musical theater workshop (ninth through 12th grade).

The Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, Jazz at Lincoln Center, MOMA, The Met, and the Whitney provide great out-of-school opportunities for our students to experience some of the world’s best live performances and art museums.