(Updated Feb. 2023) – I suggest helping you find your way among the various schools with approved bilingual programs, preschools, online French lessons, non-profit for teenagers, football, dance, chaplaincy… in the San Francisco Bay area. Here is a directory that is intended to be as exhaustive as possible. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you wish to be included (contact@mercisf.com)
- French program schools in the San Francisco Bay area
Lycée Français de San Francisco
Website: www.lelycee.org
From Kindergarten – Terminale (12th Grade)
San Francisco
The goal of the Lycée Français de San Francisco (LFSF) is to inspire students to contribute actively and positively to the world of tomorrow through a multilingual and multicultural education that will be an asset throughout their lives. It offers an educational program accredited by the Ministry of National Education, it is accredited by the AEFE, and by the CAIS. The school welcomes nearly 1,000 students, from the age of 2 until the Terminale. For high school students, the preparation of two diplomas is possible, the French Baccalaureate and the US High School diploma.
French American International School
Website: https://www.internationalsf.org
Levels offered: Kindergarten – Terminale (12th Grade)
San Francisco
Approved by the French Ministry of National Education, accredited as a partner of the AEFE and partner of the MLF, the Lycée International Franco-Américain (FAIS) offers its students a bilingual study program in a multicultural and international context. They welcome students from the public and private sectors. The registration formalities for the Lycée International Franco-Américain are designed to present FAIS to interested families as fully as possible. A visit to the premises is compulsory for families wishing to register their child.
Ecole Bilingue Berkeley
Website: https://fr.eb.org
Levels: Kindergarten – 4th
Berkeley
Immersion education in kindergarten and cycle 2 and bilingual from cycle 3. This establishment (EB Berkeley) places a strong emphasis on socio-emotional education from an early age. It is now possible to integrate the college level into the international course without having taken French courses beforehand. The Ecole Bilingue Berkeley is a partner of the MLF.
Franco-American School of Silicon Valley
Website: www.fassv.org
Proposed levels: Kindergarten – CM2
Sunnyvale
The Franco-American School of Silicon Valley (FASSV) is approved by the Department of National Education and accredited by the Association of Independent Schools of California (CAIS). From Petite Section to CM2, the bilingual program combines the rigor and demands of French programs with the qualities and innovative approaches of the Californian education system.
Santa Rosa French-American Charter School
Website: https://srfacs.srcschools.org
Santa Rosa
The Franco-American School of Santa Rosa is a charter school dependent on the School District of the City of Santa Rosa. SRFACS is a public French immersion school; the only accredited public school of its kind in California (accreditation by the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE)). This accreditation allows students to access any French education system in the world. SRFACS is certified to administer the Diplôme d’Études en Langue Française (DELF). SRFACS is the first public school to provide this unique education proudly offering equitable access to all students.
Silicon Valley International School (formerly ISTP)
Website: https://www.siliconvalleyinternational.org
Proposed levels: Kindergarten – 4th
Palo Alto
Silicon Valley International School welcomes students from Kindergarten to Fourth Grade. The school offers several immersion programs, including one in French. This school is approved by the Ministry of National Education as well as by the International Baccalaureat organization(IB)
Charter School Oakland
Website: https://francophoneschool.org/
Oakland
The mission of the Francophone Charter School of Oakland is to provide a French and English dual immersion study program from Kindergarten through 8th grade for free. The school opened in the fall of 2015 and grew one grade per year until it reached 8th grade. The school is open to all residents of California.
- Online solutions offering French classes
Les Ateliers d’Emilie
www.ateliersdemilie.com
From 5 to 14 years old (from CP level to 3rd = 9th grade)
Les Ateliers d’Emilie offer French classes in small groups from learning to read (CP level) to high school, respecting the programs of the French school with a special emphasis on reading and culture. literary. The program is thus adapted to suit French-speaking children educated in the local American system.
OFALycée
https://ofalycee.org
From 6th to 12th grade
OFALycée is a new establishment, created by former National Education teachers which offers tailor-made courses (for adolescents who are also educated in the American course); French, mathematics, Latin, science, history, philosophy … from the 6th to the Terminale as well as the preparation of all the options of the Brevet and the Baccalaureate.
Openmind
https://www.openmindvirtualschool.com
From CM1 to terminale
Openmind offers accelerated online education with an academic section that follows the French program, preparation of students for exams such as the Brevet, the Baccalaureate, or the DELF diploma and creative classes: Digital Music, Business, Code, Engineering, Digital arts, Creative writing …)
PAFEA
https://pafea.org
From GS to terminale (with support from CNED)
PAFEA offers French teaching, with the support of the CNED (National Center for Distance Education). This represents approximately 4 hours (2 times 2 hours) per week to finish a full year (approximately 130 hours).
- Alliances Françaises de la Baie offering activities for children and / or adolescents
San Francisco AF https://www.afsf.com
Berkeley AF https://www.afberkeley.org/en/accueil-en/
Silicon Valley AF https://www.afscv.org
AF Santa Rosa https://afsantarosa.org/learn-french-youth-tutoring/
Napa AF http://www.afnapa.com/
- Associations offering educational activities to French-speaking children
French Bridge
Website: https://www.frenchbridge.org
For French-speaking adolescents living in North America who wish to participate in a unifying project around the creation of a participatory online media.
Les petits bleus
(soccer in Sunnyvale)
Website: http://lespetitsbleus.weebly.com
“Les Petits Bleus” is a French-speaking football team based in Sunnyvale, California. All teams are part of the Sunnyvale Alliance Soccer Club League. Unfortunately, between the covid and the lack of French volunteer coaches, the Petits Bleus have not resumed this season. They therefore appeal to all moms and dads: if you are motivated to be the coach (or assistant coach) and/or you are interested in registering your children in a French-speaking team for the spring, let them know by writing to: lespetitsbleus.sv@gmail.com
Petits Pas Studio
Website: https://www.petitspasstudio.com
Dance, theater, summer camp … many activities are offered by Petit Pas whether it is summer or during the school year.
SFBA
Website: https://www.sfbaccueil.org
Each year, SFBA, whose mission is to welcome and inform and help French-speaking newcomers in the Bay to succeed in their integration, offers several times a year shows, games meetings, workshops on parenting, meetings between parents …
French Scouting in San Francisco Bay
Website: https://www.sfbayscoutismefr.com
This French-speaking group created in early 2019 offers a scouting experience for young people aged 8 to 17 living in the Bay of San Francisco.
EFBA
Website: https://efba.us/french-summer-camps-bay-area/
Summer camp, winter programs for English-speaking children, lessons to play Minecraft in French, outing to the African Diaspora Museum … here is a range of activities offered to English and French-speaking children.
Charity
A chaplaincy with two groups (12-14 or 15 years old and over) to ask questions about the world around us –
Contact Florence and François (12-14 years old) maurel_family@yahoo.com
or Charlotte et Thomas (15 years +) cgourand@cathosv.org
For adolescents in San Francisco, contact Clémence: cbaudet@cathosv.org
- Preschool in French or bilingual in the San Francisco Bay Area
In San Francisco
Au Petit Monde of San Francisco (Sunset)
www.auptitmonde.com
2 to 5 years old
The Kidz (Miraloma)
https://www.kidzsf.com
1 to 5 years old
Les Petits Canards (Inner Richmond)
www.lespetitscanards.com
From 2,5 to 5 years old
Exists since 2004 with a very original program since it is French immersion and adventures.
Les Petits Artistes (Midtown Terrace)
www.les-petits-artistes.com
2.5 to 5 years
Color Me French (Inner Richmond)
https://colormefrenchpreschool.com
2 to 5 years old
La Maison des Oiseaux (Castro)
www.lamaisondesoiseauxpreschool.com
2 to 5 years old
La Marelle (Bernal Heights)
www.lamarellesf.com
2 to 5 years old
Arc en Ciel Preschool (Bernal Heights)
https://arcencielpreschool.com/
2 to 5 years old
In the Bay
Ma Petite Ecole (Santa Rosa)
http://www.ma-petite-ecole.com
From 2 to 5 year
A La Vanille (South San Francisco)
www.alavanille.com
2 to 5 years old
Au Petit Monde of the Peninsula (Palo Alto)
www.auptitmonde.com
2 to 5 years old
Les Petits Francophones (Oakland)
www.lespetitsfrancophones.com
2 to 5 years old
French American Kids (Sunnyvale)
http://frenchamericankids.weebly.com/
From 18 months to 4 years old
Petit Village (San Mateo)
www.petitvillagepreschool.com
2 to 5 years old
Le Petit Jardin (San Anselmo and Sonoma)
www.lpjkids.com
2 to 5 years old
Saratoga French Cultural Preschool (Saratoga)
www.sfcpreschool.com
2 to 5 years old
The BouTchou (Emeryville)
www.lesboutchou.com
2 to 5 years old
Les Petites Merveilles (Montessori Berkeley)
www.petitesmerveilles.school
0 to 6 years old
Au Beau Séjour – ABS Preschool (Oakland)
www.absfrenchpreschool.com
2 to 6 years old
Merci Emilie!
