A Little School with a Big International Program
Since its inception in 2014 the French American International School of Boca Raton (FAIS) has seen its student population grow over 200%. The little school initially started teaching through the 3rd grade, but now offers classes through 6th grade. The educational program is unique to Palm Beach County. Not only is FAIS a full immersion bilingual school in French and in English, but the school curriculum adheres not only to the US standards but to the French National Curriculum, which has a reputation of being rigorous and is used in schools around the world.
The French American International School is the only French-bilingual School in Boca Raton and serves families from as far as Wellington to Fort Lauderdale. The students are not only taught French, in French, by qualified native Teachers, but the academic program is from France. Elementary subjects such as Math, Science, History, Geography and Civics are taught according to the French Department of Education.
The American section of elementary subjects cover everything a student would be learning in any other American School, from Language Arts, Math to Social Studies. “We want our children to be not only bilingual, but academically on or above target should they go to another school, whether here or abroad,” says Director and Founder Celine Von May. Enrichment courses are also offered on a daily basis and are included in the school’s program: P.E., Computer Lab, Art, Music and Spanish. In addition to the already extremely rich and challenging curriculum, FAIS how now become a candidate for the IB World School program.
“We now offer the whole IB Primary Years Program curriculum”, a program available in only a few schools in Boca. “It’s our first year implementing the IB. Most parents find it a plus. We’re very fortunate to have two of our teachers on staff that are from another IB World school,” indicated Celine Von May.
After school clubs and a before and after-care are also available. “We try to offer everything a big private school does, but without the big price tag” she adds. The French American International School Board hopes to continue opening classes through High School like most of the French American Schools in the country. For more information, visit their website at www.faisbr.org.
