Admissions FAQs

Preschool families have until December 1st to submit an application for the next school year.

However, the sooner we receive an application, the sooner we can begin the interview and evaluation process.

Admission decisions do not depend on how early applications are submitted.

Specifically, the admissions process includes a review of child evaluations, parent interviews, any existing school records, and other factors that help us make sure all admitted students will thrive in our rigorous, bilingual learning environment.

Our school follows a strict birth-year admissions policy, and no exceptions can be made.

Each program is designed to accommodate students born between January and December of the same calendar year, and our teachers are trained to differentiate instruction so that children of varying developmental stages can thrive together. For the 2026-2027 school year:

• Children born in 2023 are eligible for Nursery and must be toilet-trained by the first day of school.
• Children born in 2022 are eligible for Pre-K.
• Children born in 2021 are eligible for Kindergarten.
• Children born in 2020 are eligible for First Grade.

This structure ensures balanced classroom communities and supports the developmental needs of all students within each cohort.

We welcome many French families into the school, but we give equal consideration to all families, including non-French-speaking ones.

Given the level of French needed to thrive in elementary school and beyond, we ask all families to make a commitment to expose their children to French language and culture outside the classroom.

The Lycée offers many opportunities to do so through the Cultural Center’s activities and summer programs.

Of course! We welcome non-French-speaking families to the Lycée. Please keep in mind that it is a commitment – and investment of time – for families who do not speak French at home to choose our bilingual program. Part of that is a willingness to expose children to the French language and French-speaking cultures outside of classroom hours.

Through our Cultural Center and after-school programs, we offer many opportunities for children to speak French after regular school hours. Our experience is that this commitment yields profound rewards for students and parents alike!

To help your child thrive in our bilingual environment, we encourage parents to embrace French at home and francophone culture. Our curriculum begins with 100% French in Nursery, with 80% French starting in Kindergarten through Grade 5. This foundation prepares students to become confident communicators in both French and English. You can support this journey by introducing your child to French through songs, books, lullabies, and cultural activities.

These experiences not only make learning fun but also instill an open-mindedness and appreciation for diversity that are central to our core values. By doing so, you’ll help your child develop into a compassionate, curious, and well-rounded global citizen.

One of the great joys at the Lycée Français de New York is experiencing how French and English are spoken and “mixed” among our students across all grade levels.

Generally speaking, at lower levels, children speak the language they or their friends are most comfortable with. In the upper levels, English is more commonly spoken between students outside of class. Vive la différence !

Our students are fortunate to experience learning from an authentically French and American perspective at the Lycée. Our French-speaking teachers are educated in France and carefully recruited to teach here.

And we’re proud that our English-speaking faculty members are among the top teachers of any private school in New York City. Language is no barrier to teaching excellence.

The Lycée offers both a bilingual and bicultural curriculum. French and English are the languages of learning at the Lycée. The Lycée is accredited by both the French Ministry of Education and the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS), and therefore our program is an authentic mix of both the curriculum of the French government taught by French nationals and one you’d find in any private school in New York City.

Our students are prepared for the renowned French Baccalaureate exams, as well as for American college-preparatory classes and tests such as the SAT and AP exams.

In Nursery, students are immersed in French for 100% of the school day. In Pre-K through Grade 5, French is the language of instruction for 80% of the school day. 20% of the day (1 hour) will be spent on instruction in English for Language Arts and Social Studies. Students in Grades 6 to 12 will have English courses about 30% of the time.

All Lycée students are remarkably bilingual and bicultural, with an extraordinary ability to move seamlessly between the two core languages and cultures of the school — a special preparation for college life and beyond, to be sure!

The chart below provides a side-by-side comparison of American and French grade levels to help you understand how the two education systems align at the Lycée.

All families are encouraged to consider an education at the Lycée Français de New York, regardless of their financial situation. Wherever possible, we are committed to providing scholarships to families who need it.

For the 2025–2026 school year, the Lycée has dedicated $7.1 million to financial aid. French nationals may also be eligible for French government financial assistance.

We do not offer discounts to large families. However, we encourage parents to apply for financial aid.

With about 1,225 students coming from more than 68 countries, we absolutely revel in our diversity. We welcome French, French-American, and American families, as well as many New York-based international families, into the school, who share a passion and openness to the world.

The Lycée combines the curricula of both the French Ministry of Education and classic New York City private schools, making it a great option for families seeking the rigor and depth of a French education with the personal support and care often associated with New York private schools.

Students, faculty, staff, and families at the Lycée come from many different origins. About one-third of our students are French nationals, and another third are American, but we welcome students from more than 70 countries worldwide, including China, Japan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Switzerland, Canada, and Colombia, among many others.