Lycee Rochambeau

[Anonymous]

We are considering moving our rising first grader and pre-k student to Lycee Rochambeau. We were hoping to get a place in the MCPS immersion programs, but haven't been successful. We very much want the kids to learn another language. I am concerned, however, by some things that I read about the French school system in general (i.e. very rigid, harsh, teacher centric, little room for creativity and free thought). Does anyone have recent experience there? Is that what you have found?

[Anonymous]

What you are describing is the typical French educational approach... I assume that most parents who pay for their kids to go to school there want their kids to be prepared for the “normal” French school experience in case they return home.

[Anonymous]

We moved our kid to Rochambeau for 1st grade. We've been fairly happy, and our kid is learning a lot and has adjusted very well socially, but you're right about the French system--however, our kid actually does well with more structure. Definitely not for everyone, as I have a friend who chose WIS because she felt Rochambeau would be too rigid for her kids. So you have to decide if it's the right fit.

Also, is there at least one French-speaking parent at home? It can be tough otherwise.

You should call Valerie and ask to speak with a family or two--there are many of us available to offer our feedback.

[Anonymous]

I'm a French person who posted on previous threads about Rochambeau. We and other French families send our kids to Les Classes du Samedi on Saturdays. Some teachers there used to teach at Rochambeau but were pushed out. I feel that these Saturday classes are a good balance of learning part of the National Education curriculum in a francophone environment, while still being able to attend the local public school and put roots down in this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We moved our kid to Rochambeau for 1st grade. We've been fairly happy, and our kid is learning a lot and has adjusted very well socially, but you're right about the French system--however, our kid actually does well with more structure. Definitely not for everyone, as I have a friend who chose WIS because she felt Rochambeau would be too rigid for her kids. So you have to decide if it's the right fit.

Also, is there at least one French-speaking parent at home? It can be tough otherwise.

You should call Valerie and ask to speak with a family or two--there are many of us available to offer our feedback.

Also, this thread had some recent feedback about Rochambeau:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/805374.page#15070043

[Anonymous]

I think that you will love the school at those grades. The maternale and the primary school campus have pretty nurturing teachers. The rigidity is necessary because of its mission and purpose, which is to provide the standard French curriculum worldwide so that French kids can continue globally without missing a beat. Rochambeau has more American families now, particularly in the lower grades and they have made strides to appeal to a broad pool of families.

I love the school and our family will remain until HS and then switch to public. Since we’re an American family, I’m concerned that non-francophone kids could be at a disadvantage in college admissions. I could be wrong, but I assume that the top students in the HS are probably not coming from monolingual (English) households like ours. FYI, there’s an outstanding teacher at the HS who taught at NCS for years. I’ve heard great things about her honors English class.

If the school is not a financial stretch for your family, my guess is that you will probably love it. This was our final year at the primary school so we’ll see how MS goes. If immersion is really important to you, it’s probably the best deal in town. WIS is double the cost. The new primary school campus is slated to open in 2021, FYI.

Typing from my tiny iPhone, so please excuse any typos. Happy to answer any additional questions.

[Anonymous]

We put our daughter there in 3rd grade (we are French) and she was miserable. The teacher was great but there was a lot of bullying and the school does not care about it.
One example: one of the girls was really mean to my daughter and other kids and the school ignored it because she was the daughter of some diplomat. The dad got into trouble a year later and made headlines because of corruption issues, quite a family! Also, my daughter is small for her age and some of the staff were making fun of her saying she should go play with the 1st graders. We took her out and she's been thriving at her new school.
But some families had better experiences than us, do your research.

[Anonymous]

I’m French, grew up there, in the French system, and you couldn’t pay me to put my kid there. Especially if you’re not a Francophone family to begin with, the French educational system is tough enough...this is not a nurturing environment. If you have money to spend on private school, go somewhere else, I assure you, you (and kids) will be happier. Many French families I know here feel the same way. Only the ones that are here temporarily (eg for 2-3 years for a work rotation) keep their kids in the French system because they’re going back anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We put our daughter there in 3rd grade (we are French) and she was miserable. The teacher was great but there was a lot of bullying and the school does not care about it.
One example: one of the girls was really mean to my daughter and other kids and the school ignored it because she was the daughter of some diplomat. The dad got into trouble a year later and made headlines because of corruption issues, quite a family! Also, my daughter is small for her age and some of the staff were making fun of her saying she should go play with the 1st graders. We took her out and she's been thriving at her new school.
But some families had better experiences than us, do your research.

How long ago was this, out of curiosity? The school was pretty responsive to a bullying issue re: my child recently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We put our daughter there in 3rd grade (we are French) and she was miserable. The teacher was great but there was a lot of bullying and the school does not care about it.
One example: one of the girls was really mean to my daughter and other kids and the school ignored it because she was the daughter of some diplomat. The dad got into trouble a year later and made headlines because of corruption issues, quite a family! Also, my daughter is small for her age and some of the staff were making fun of her saying she should go play with the 1st graders. We took her out and she's been thriving at her new school.
But some families had better experiences than us, do your research.

How long ago was this, out of curiosity? The school was pretty responsive to a bullying issue re: my child recently.

That was 3 years ago, and we were not the only ones. I am glad to hear they handle that issue better. At the time my daughter was so miserable she was losing her hair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We put our daughter there in 3rd grade (we are French) and she was miserable. The teacher was great but there was a lot of bullying and the school does not care about it.
One example: one of the girls was really mean to my daughter and other kids and the school ignored it because she was the daughter of some diplomat. The dad got into trouble a year later and made headlines because of corruption issues, quite a family! Also, my daughter is small for her age and some of the staff were making fun of her saying she should go play with the 1st graders. We took her out and she's been thriving at her new school.
But some families had better experiences than us, do your research.

How long ago was this, out of curiosity? The school was pretty responsive to a bullying issue re: my child recently.

That was 3 years ago, and we were not the only ones. I am glad to hear they handle that issue better. At the time my daughter was so miserable she was losing her hair.

PP here—I’m so sorry to hear that! Tbh, it’s possible that they’re variable in how they handle bullying—last year we had a situation that was handled decently but not perfectly, while this year another brief situation was handled immediately and extremely well. Although, I have yet to hear of any school where bullying is consistently handled well. We have prior experience with a public school with a good reputation, but where this was also a complaint of some parents in upper grades.

In any case, glad to hear you’ve found a better fit for your daughter. Our kid has had wonderful teachers thus far, and is pretty happy socially overall, but I realize Rochambeau is not the best fit for everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We put our daughter there in 3rd grade (we are French) and she was miserable. The teacher was great but there was a lot of bullying and the school does not care about it.
One example: one of the girls was really mean to my daughter and other kids and the school ignored it because she was the daughter of some diplomat. The dad got into trouble a year later and made headlines because of corruption issues, quite a family! Also, my daughter is small for her age and some of the staff were making fun of her saying she should go play with the 1st graders. We took her out and she's been thriving at her new school.
But some families had better experiences than us, do your research.

How long ago was this, out of curiosity? The school was pretty responsive to a bullying issue re: my child recently.

That was 3 years ago, and we were not the only ones. I am glad to hear they handle that issue better. At the time my daughter was so miserable she was losing her hair.

PP here—I’m so sorry to hear that! Tbh, it’s possible that they’re variable in how they handle bullying—last year we had a situation that was handled decently but not perfectly, while this year another brief situation was handled immediately and extremely well. Although, I have yet to hear of any school where bullying is consistently handled well. We have prior experience with a public school with a good reputation, but where this was also a complaint of some parents in upper grades.

In any case, glad to hear you’ve found a better fit for your daughter. Our kid has had wonderful teachers thus far, and is pretty happy socially overall, but I realize Rochambeau is not the best fit for everyone.

Bullying can be very tricky to handle but in our case they just ignored it.

[Anonymous]

I also suggest you research the potential move to a property off Rockville Pike. I live in that neighborhood and I don’t see how parents are going to access the new location (currently under contract) without sitting in the crawling traffic on Rockville pike between beltway and West Cedar. Morning drop off will be a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I also suggest you research the potential move to a property off Rockville Pike. I live in that neighborhood and I don’t see how parents are going to access the new location (currently under contract) without sitting in the crawling traffic on Rockville pike between beltway and West Cedar. Morning drop off will be a nightmare.

That doesn't sound great. This may make us more likely to pay for bus service whenever this happens.

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who works there and I hear teachers/staff aren't blissfully happy...but then again, who is? Discipline is tough and education is rigid, however it fits some kids...good luck.