Lycée Rochambeau

[Anonymous]

Lycee Rochambeau is an excellent choice if you are looking for a highly academic institution or you need to keep your kids in a French school for a few years prior to going back home. French national can qualify for an income based scholarship through their embassy. The student body is mostly comprised of francophones, typically children of foreign governments’ officials from various countries.

Lycee Rochambeau follows the French educational system, which is highly selective and is about 1-2 years ahead of American public school. Unlike American school, they do not hesitate to retain your child and make him/her repeat an entire school year if need be.

My niece and nephew attended le lycee for a couple of years. The instructors were very strict, and it definitively was not a fit for my nephew. My sister and family have now relocated to a different state, and she felt the school was way over priced.


Hope that helps

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

I've taught at a lycee in a foreign country and I can reiterate what others are saying in terms of expectations for behavior. They also are rather advanced in terms of educational requirements, although perhaps a bit lacking in terms of science (if you want advanced science for DC, a public magnet option would probably be better). Although I know nothing about Rochambeau specifically, I would have no problems sending my DC to such a school.

[Anonymous]

Things may have changed in the dozen years since I graduated, but I wouldn't say the Lycée is lacking in science education - it was more a question of different topics being covered in different orders in the French national curriculum v. American high schools. Math is taught at a high level and with a greater emphasis on theory, although again the topics don't exactly line up - I came out of the Lycée prepared for multivariable calc (where one gets placed post-Calc BC AP, I believe) with the exception of one or two things I had to pick up on my own, and found that class (and subsequent math classes) much easier than my classmates did. I also had no problem in college science courses (majored in a physical science and went on to a PhD).

That being said, the French system is a COMPLETELY different world than the usual sports/extra-curricular-heavy private school. Very academic and very meritocratic - on the one hand, compared to college classmates who told me about being teased or even bullied (by teachers, even!) for being smart, I'm glad I was in a place that valued my hard work and achievement; on the other hand, I felt bad for Lycée classmates who didn't fit the traditional academic mold and didn't get much recognition for their other strengths. By the way, this comment mostly applies to the high school level, not younger classes - much more "warm and fuzzy" atmosphere there, although I can't really compare to any other school, having spent my entire pre-K-to-diploma career at the Lycée.

[Anonymous]

I have children both at the maternelle and at the elementary school at Lycee Rochambeau . We do not speak French at home, but I'm able to help the kids with their homework. We have loved the school. It has great academics both in French and English, and ABSOLUTELY love the fact that they are not a touchy feely school where everyone gets a medal. They make the students perform and accomplish before they are praised and rewarded. As a result, I feel my children are more mature and understand hard work. I have taught students from the Fairfax French Immersion programs and have been disappointed by the fact that they never learn to write in French.

[Anonymous]

Where do Rochambeau kids go to college? Of course I realize this isn't the only goal of a good education, but I am curious.