About this directory
This is an independent directory and most exhaustive list of French immersion and French curriculum schools in the United States: 239 schools in 132 cities across 34 US states. Public, charter and private, each with its program type, tuition, enrollment and accreditation, and a link to the school profile.
Parents can browse and compare French schools in their own metro area or across the whole country, and see the two kinds side by side: dual language programs, which follow the American curriculum and where the school day is split between French and English, and French curriculum schools, almost all private, that follow the French national curriculum and are accredited by the French Ministry of Education. Private tuition comes from each school's public data, and is refreshed every year: it averages about $29,000 a year, and can go up to $72,000. Private schools are not the only options, as there are 176 public schools in the US, and those are free.
Parents can learn about French accreditations and labels: AEFE homologation, LabelFrancÉducation, as well as American accreditors and the International Baccalaureate, in the guide to accreditations and credentials. For younger children, French-speaking daycares and preschools are in a separate daycare directory.
We hope you will find this directory useful, and please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments or additional information on the schools listed here — or a school we are missing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a French dual language immersion school?
What are the two types of French schools — dual language and French curriculum?
Dual language schools (190 schools) teach academic subjects in both French and English. Most are public or charter programs, tuition-free and open to all families through district enrollment or a lottery; a smaller number are private international schools that charge tuition.
French curriculum schools (49 schools) follow the French Ministry of Education's official national curriculum, are accredited by the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad). Almost all are private.
Where are French schools in the US?
French schools are found in 34 US states. Utah (36 schools) and Louisiana (35 schools) have the largest public dual language networks. New York City has the largest cluster of urban programs, including 14 public and charter schools with French dual language tracks. New York (22 schools) and California (19 schools) also have strong networks. Private French curriculum schools are concentrated in major metropolitan areas.
How many French immersion schools are there in the United States?
Are French immersion schools free?
What is an AEFE school?
Can non-French families apply?
For French families: how do I make sure my child can go back to a school in France?
Choose an AEFE school. In its homologated grades, a child moving back to France joins their grade level with no entrance test. Homologation is granted grade by grade, so ask the school which grades have it; the accreditations guide explains the labels.
Or a dual language program plus CNED courses. The CNED is the French Ministry of Education's distance-learning service. Taken after school or on weekends, its courses cover what the American curriculum leaves out (French, math taught in French), so the child stays at grade level for France. See CNED in the learn French online guide.
At what age does French immersion start?
Public dual language programs usually start in kindergarten or pre-K, and the entry year is the one that counts: because classes are taught in French from the start, most programs take few new children after the first grades unless they already speak French.
French curriculum schools usually start younger, with a maternelle (preschool) section from age 3, and some from age 2. Before that, the French daycare directory lists daycares and preschools where at least half of the day is in French.
How do I choose a French immersion program?
Ask where the French stops. Many public programs are elementary only, so find out which middle school the program feeds and how many fifth graders actually continue in French.
Ask how much of the day is in French. "Immersion" covers anything from a daily French class to a mostly French day, so ask for the share by grade.
Ask how seats are given. Public dual language seats are often allocated by lottery or by a separate application, even at your zoned school.
Check what the labels mean. AEFE homologation, LabelFrancÉducation and US accreditation each certify different things; the accreditations guide explains them.