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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]This is a school founded and primarily maintained for the children of French ex-pats who are in the DC area temporarily (working at the Embassy or IMF/World Bank) so that their children can stay on the French education regime and then when they move back to France those kids can start back into school there as easily as possible.[/b] [b]This is not a school that is geared towards people wanting their kids to be bilingual.

The curriculum and style fall under the standard French education system.  It can be VERY different from the average American education experience.  This isn't necessarily negative, but a PP is correct the system can be strict and rigid, especially in the older grades.  You should not expect hand holding, individualization, accommodations, etc.  There are some real cultural differences between France and the US that probably play out in the bad reviews.  It basically is a French school just located in the US.

I am American and my DH is French.  We looked at sending our DD there for many reasons but ultimately decided not to based on the commute.  I found the school to be extremely similar to the one my much younger SIL attended in France and my DH said it reminded him of his school as well.  [/quote]

Current parent here.  I just have one correction to the bolded.  It started as a school for French ex-pats, but I read recently that it's currently only 40% French.  The remainder of the school is very international, and come from all over Europe, South America, and North/West Africa.  The network of 500 French schools around the world allows ease of transition between the schools when families have to relocate for new assignments.  My child's classmates are from all over--often parents in the same family are from different non-francophone countries, or mixed French/American, not just French families.  Most families speak French at home or are fluent, though.

So the school population is evolving, even if the current faculty and administration remain mostly French citizens.[/quote]

Oh, and one other comment--the school is definitely starting to market itself as an option for families interested in bilingualism.  This is part of the reason they've expanded their "immersion" program geared to kids in 1st-3rd w/o much prior French experience--it's an intensive program that tries to get kids up to speed while gradual transitioning to grade-level classes.  [b]Our child went through this program[/b], so we're very familiar with the school's recent efforts to market to non-francophone families.[/quote]

PP, did you/your child have a good experience with the immersion program? We're an incoming family.
[/quote]

Welcome!  Yes, our child had a good experience.  This was for CP (1st) though, and we can support French at home.  What grade will your child be entering?[/quote]

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