FAQs

When will applications be accepted?
Ecole Bilingue begins accepting applications the last week in September. Applications should be submitted by mid-January to ensure timely processing. Rolling admissions continue to be after admission decisions have been made for classes where there is space available

At what age can I apply for my child?
A student’s grade level is determined by birth date. August 31 is the cut-off date for each grade.

Crèche: 18 months old by August 31
Toute Petite: 2 years old by August 31
Petite: 3 years old by August 31
Moyenne: 4 years old by August 31
Grande: 5 years old by August 31
CP – 4ème (Grades 1 – 8): Students who enter Ecole Bilingue after kindergarten must be proficient in French as determined by an on campus assessment.

How long is the school day?
Moyenne – 4ème (Pre-K 4 – Grade 8) instructional time is from 8:15 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Crèche – Petite Sections ( 18 months – Pre-K 3) on our Maternelle campus have instructional time from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Both campuses dismiss children at 2:45 p.m. on Wednesdays to allow for faculty meetings and Cycle development.

What if we don’t speak French?
The majority of our current students arrive without any prior exposure to French. The Maternelle classrooms, which include Crèche, Toute Petite, Moyenne and Grande classrooms, create a welcoming environment that allows students to become comfortable with the French language.

Our programs are designed to support the academic success of all students regardless of their primary home language. Most parents at EB are not fluent French speakers. Teachers are aware of this and communicate closely with parents to enable them to share in their child’s successes and understand their learning path.

Do you offer a late immersion program for students entering the upper elementary or middle school with no formal French education?
It is our experience that students who arrive after kindergarten with no prior experience in a French school program find it difficult to meet the requirements of a strict French curriculum. Therefore, a comprehension evaluation in French is given to any student entering CP – 4ème (1st grade-8th grade).

When is tuition paid? Does Ecole Bilingue have payment plans? Do you offer sibling discounts?
Tuition for Ecole Bilingue is paid through the Veracross System. An initial tuition installment of $2,000 is due at the time of enrollment for new families and in January for current families. There are three payment options available for the balance of tuition: a single lump-sum payment upon enrollment, two payments made in July and January, or monthly payments made from July through April. School fees are due by April 1st. There is a 10% tuition discount for siblings.

Do you follow the same curriculum as the other French schools in the New Orleans area?

Ecole Bilingue is the only independent French school in New Orleans that follows the curriculum of the French Education Nationale, which is considered one of the most rigorous educational systems in the world.  EB is also one of only two schools in the state of Louisiana that is accredited by the French Ministry of Education.

Ecole Bilingue is accredited by the State of Louisiana and is also an accredited member of ISAS (Independent Schools of the Southwest). Our academic program offers a rich English Language Arts and American Studies component designed to balance and complement the strength of our French curriculum. In the American curriculum, our students follow an intensive English and literacy program, as well American History and Math.

Will immersion in French affect my child’s reading ability in English?
The reading and study skills that students learn in French transfer to English. Once a child understands that letters make sounds, and sounds combine to make words, that skill is applicable to any language with the same alphabet. Bilingualism enhances a child’s understanding of the workings of language.

Additionally, Ecole Bilingue offers an English language arts program that is designed to balance and complement the strength of the French curriculum as well as prepare students to succeed in ELA and make smooth transitions to the best American high schools. 

A third of the words in the English language are of French origin, so knowledge of French also has the added benefit of helping to build English vocabulary and boosting reading comprehension.

Results have shown that Ecole Bilingue students consistently score extremely well on standardized tests.

How does your immersion program work?
Children at the Crèche, Toute Petite, Petite and Moyenne levels spend 100% of their day with a French-speaking teacher and assistant.

Students in CP (Grade 1) and CE1 (Grade 2) spend 80% of their school day with a French-speaking teacher and 20% of the day with an English-speaking teacher. 

Students in CE2 (Grade 3) spend 70% with a French-speaking teacher and 30% with an English-speaking teacher. CM1 and CM2 (Grades 4 and 5), classroom time is divided into 65% French and 30% English, and 5% in Spanish. 

In Middle School, 6 ème and 5 ème (Grades 6 and 7), spend 65% of the day in French, 26% in English and 9% in Spanish. In 4 ème (Grade 8), the ratio is 61% in French, 30% English and 9% Spanish.

Is there before and after-care?
Yes, Ecole Bilingue offers extended care during the school week. Before care begins at 7:30 AM and after care ends at 6:00 PM.

Every afternoon the children are provided with a healthy snack and safe and secure playtime. Beginning in CP (Grade 1), all students staying after school are sent to Etude (EB’s monitored study hall) to do their homework. Once their homework is complete, they join the younger students and play on the playground or participate in other organized activities.

What after school activities does Ecole Bilingue offer?
Students at Ecole Bilingue can choose from a number of after school activities, or Les Ateliers, which are taught by qualified teachers and coaches. Atelier offerings will vary somewhat each year and typically include: African drumming, classical ballet, soccer shots, hip-hop dance, gymnastics, yoga, Lego league, sewing, woodshop, piano, guitar, tennis, running and more.

Is help for French homework available?
Students who need additional help with homework have access to Ecole Bilingue teachers after school hours with one-on-one or small group tutoring and Etude (a monitored study hall) for help completing French assignments.

How are your teachers certified?
Teachers in our French program are native speakers who were trained in France and hold the equivalent of an American Master’s Degree from the French Ministry of Education for preschool and elementary school education. Teachers in our English program are certified through the State of Louisiana. All teachers are personally interviewed and selected by Ecole Bilingue’s Head of School. The teachers selected have been recruited at large through our partnership with CODOFIL/LDOE and the French government. Groups of teachers are sent to workshops for professional development that are sponsored by the French Ministry of Education. These workshops are held in different locations around the US.

What involvement is expected of parents?

A strong working relationship between the school, parents and students is a necessity for students to benefit fully from the challenging and unique programs offered at Ecole Bilingue. It should be understood that a bilingual school can only achieve high-level bilingualism for each student if the parents play a strong supporting role. For English speaking parents, this means encouraging and supporting the use of French and engaging in French activities, but also providing a rich English language environment at home. Strength in one language helps in acquiring additional languages. Parents must monitor and encourage their child’s English language and reading development and assist by providing the necessary resources within the home or with the support of  after-school and extracurricular enrichment programs.

Ecole Bilingue has a wonderful PA (Parent Association) that offers a variety of options to get involved. From volunteering as a room parent, to joining committees, and fundraising, parents at EB are an invaluable resource in the success of the school. 

Two very important (and fun) annual fundraising events are: Soirée in the fall, which is a fun evening for parents that includes live music, auctions and other festive activities, and at Fête Française in the spring, which has become a favorite community event that is open to the public and celebrates the French culture and EB. 

Multiple studies have shown a direct correlation between the amount of time a parent volunteers with their child’s school and that child’s positive educational performance. 

What if we speak a third language at home?
Since bilingualism makes it easier to learn a third language, children whose families speak a language other than English or French tend to thrive at Ecole Bilingue. For those students who do not speak English at home, we offer additional resources such as English as a Second Language (ESL) support and afterschool programs to help ensure a student is not falling behind their American counterparts.