In the heart of Manhattan, just blocks from the United Nations, stands an institution that brings French educational traditions to New York. The Lycée Français de New York, founded in 1935, is a French-accredited school that serves both French expatriates and American families seeking a bilingual, bicultural education.
The lycée is officially accredited by the French Ministry of Education, making it part of a global network of French schools abroad. While it operates as an independent institution that receives no funding from the French government, the school offers a curriculum that incorporates French educational standards alongside American elements. Students can prepare for various baccalauréat options, including the Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB) and the Baccalauréat Franco-Américain (BFA), as well as the traditional French baccalauréat.
What makes this connection to France particularly significant is how the institution preserves French school culture even in the American context. Teachers are often recruited directly from France, many on temporary assignments from the French public school system, ensuring that pedagogical approaches remain aligned with French educational traditions.
The school’s founding in 1935 came at a moment when the French community in New York was growing, driven by diplomatic, commercial, and cultural ties between Paris and New York. Charles de Ferry de Fontnouvelle, the French Consul General in New York, founded the lycée as a way to maintain French language and culture among expatriate families.
The institution has occupied several locations throughout its history and is currently housed on East 75th Street. The architectural style may be distinctly New York, but step inside and the atmosphere reflects French educational traditions: classes are conducted in French, and the educational philosophy incorporates French republican values of laïcité and égalité.
Beyond serving French families temporarily posted to New York, the lycée has become a destination for American families seeking a rigorous, internationally-minded education, creating a genuinely bilingual and bicultural environment.
This institutional link between France and New York represents more than just educational exchange—it is a living example of how France projects its cultural identity abroad through its accredited school network. The lycée serves as a bridge, ensuring that French children growing up in New York maintain connection to their home country’s intellectual traditions, while also introducing American students to the distinctive rhythms and expectations that define education in France.
Tours & experiences in Paris
Powered by Viator. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.