Middle School at the Lycée is a dynamic, globally minded program where students grow as both learners and individuals. This stage serves as an academic and developmental bridge. Students deepen their knowledge, build essential skills, and begin to define who they are.
Grounded in the rigor of the French national curriculum and enriched by the best American independent school practices, the program is delivered in a bilingual, supportive environment. Students develop the autonomy, resilience, and emotional intelligence that prepare them for the years ahead.
Middle School is a distinct and formative stage—when students move from guided learning toward greater independence, confidence, and responsibility. At the Lycée, these three years (Grades 6–8) are designed as a purposeful journey, supporting the cognitive, social, and emotional development of early adolescence while building a strong foundation for High School.
Students follow the French national curriculum in a bilingual environment, where co-teaching by French- and English-speaking educators strengthens both language proficiency and conceptual understanding. At this stage, the focus expands beyond content mastery to include the development of essential learning habits.
Well-being is central to the Middle School experience, during a time of significant growth and change. Each student is known and supported within a close-knit environment that balances structure with increasing independence.
Students are encouraged to engage actively with the world around them and to develop a sense of responsibility toward others, respect for diverse perspectives, and a growing awareness of global issues. Learning extends beyond the classroom through experiences that connect academic work to real-world contexts.
In Middle School, we create an environment where students build strong learning habits, develop core academic and interpersonal skills, and engage deeply in the process of becoming independent, reflective learners. It’s a time for discovering how to collaborate, think critically, and explore one’s identity and values. Our goal is to help students grow with curiosity, purpose, and confidence, preparing them not just for high school, but for a meaningful future.
Our Middle School curriculum is rooted in the French national program and enriched by a strong English-language component. Students build deep subject knowledge while learning to think, communicate, and work across two languages, with approximately 65–70% of instruction in French and 30–35% in English.
Teaching and learning are grounded in a skills-based approach that fosters independence and confidence. Alongside academic content, students develop essential competencies such as organization, critical thinking, collaboration, and self-advocacy.
Interdisciplinary learning, including QUEST courses in Grades 7 and 8, allows students to connect ideas across subjects and engage in deeper, more creative thinking. Accredited by both the French Ministry of Education and the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), the program reflects a commitment to excellence across French and American frameworks.
At the Lycée, assessment is about growth, not just grades. We use a skills-based approach to track both academic mastery and “transversal skills” like collaboration and organization.
This network of support is designed not only to help students succeed academically, but also to foster the autonomy, confidence, and self-advocacy skills they will need in high school and beyond. Our “network of care” includes:
Middle School learning extends beyond the classroom and into the wider community. Beginning in Grade 7, students take part in service learning and citizenship experiences that help them develop a concrete sense of responsibility, empathy, and engagement. With a minimum of 10 service hours per year, students contribute through school initiatives, partnerships, and community-based projects. Programs such as the Eco-Delegates further strengthen student leadership in sustainability and social impact.
Our New York City location adds a unique dimension to this work. Throughout the school year, students participate in immersive local experiences—including visits to cultural institutions, neighborhoods, and community spaces across the city—that connect academic learning to the diversity and complexity of the world around them.
Learning also continues long after the final bell. Co-curricular offerings give students opportunities to discover new interests, deepen existing passions, and build connections across grade levels. Student-led clubs invite exploration of areas such as culture, language, and culinary arts while developing initiative and leadership. Affinity-alliance groups create spaces for dialogue, belonging, and community-building around questions of identity.
Competitive athletics foster teamwork, commitment, and school spirit through interschool play across New York City.
Our extended-day program, offered until 5:45 p.m., provides additional opportunities for enrichment through expert-led activities such as robotics, music, and fine arts.
Classes.
Class or dialogue hour, one-to-one academic support with teachers 3 times a week.
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.
#Academic excellence
Spirit Day is a long-standing Lycée tradition where students come together for a day of teamwork and school spirit through a series of puzzles and games.
#Community
Stepping into the world of journalism, our students behind Lingua Franca explore themes such as New York City’s diverse heritages through the lens of the languages they study and the cultures connected to them.
#Academic excellence
#GlobalCitizen
#Innovation
