French Immersion Schools in California

This page lists every French immersion and French curriculum school in California, public, charter and private — each with its program type, tuition, enrollment and accreditation. It is one state of an independent directory covering 239 schools across 34 US states.

Dual language programs follow the American curriculum with the school day split between French and English; French curriculum schools follow the French national program and are accredited by the French Ministry of Education — more French curriculum schools than any other state. The private schools charge from $14,000 to $64,000 a year, averaging about $33,000.

California's French-language schools sit in three metro clusters: Greater Los Angeles (8 schools), San Francisco Bay Area (8 schools), and San Diego (3 schools).

In the LA basin, the flagship is Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles (K–12, full AEFE curriculum), while Benjamin Franklin Magnet (Glendale) and Altadena Arts Magnet (Pasadena, 90:10 immersion) provide free public options via magnet lottery. In the Bay Area, École Bilingue de Berkeley and Silicon Valley International School in Palo Alto (IB Diploma) anchor the private landscape; Francophone Charter School of Oakland and Santa Rosa French American Charter School are its free options. San Diego has Le Lycée Français de San Diego, San Diego French American School (La Jolla), and The Language Academy (free, SDUSD magnet).

What AEFE homologation, LabelFrancÉducation, the American accreditors and the International Baccalaureate each certify is explained in the guide to accreditations and credentials. For younger children, a separate daycare directory covers French daycares and preschools. You can also see the Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area and San Diego metro pages, or browse the full national 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.