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French American School of Puget Sound - Mercer Island

United States, Seattle

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French, English
Fees $0 - 43,850
Ages 3 - 15 years
Pupil numbers 445
Type Co-educational
Opened 1995
Bus Service No
Part of
French American School of Puget Sound
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum
Taught languages Mandarin, Spanish
Typical class size 6
Strengths Languages, STEM, Sport
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

French American School of Puget Sound (FASPS) serves students from 18 months through Grade 8 across two campuses and a future North Beacon Hill campus opening in 2026–2027. The school offers a blended curriculum that combines the French national framework with American practices, delivered through bilingual instruction in French and English. From preschool through middle school, students follow France's cycles while participating in MAP assessments in math, reading, and language usage. The school holds affiliation with AEFE and Mission Laïque Française, is a member of AFSA, and participates in NAIS and NWAIS networks, with accreditation from the French Ministry of Education and NWAIS. Facilities include Mercer Island's 30 classrooms and a library, Capitol Hill's Preschool Campus, and a planned North Beacon Hill home with arts, STEM labs, and gym spaces. Athletics compete in CYO and CMSL; middle school clubs include Math Club, Science Club, and Musical Theater for families worldwide.

This campus is part of French American School of Puget Sound

3795 E Mercer Way, Mercer Island, WA 98040, United States

The Essentials

French American School of Puget Sound - Mercer Island has 445 pupils, typical class sizes of 6, instruction in French, English.

Location
FASPS operates two current campuses in the Puget Sound region: Mercer Island campus (Preschool through Grade 8) at 3795 East Mercer Way, Mercer Island, WA 98040, just off I-90 next to the Stroum Jewish Community Center; Seattle – Capitol Hill campus (Preschool) at 1823 East Madison Street, Seattle, WA 98122. A North Beacon Hill campus for Upper Elementary and Middle School is planned at 2203 23rd Avenue S, Seattle, WA 98144, coming soon.

Stages
18 months through Grade 8. Mercer Island campus serves Preschool through Middle School; Seattle – Capitol Hill campus serves Preschool; a future North Beacon Hill campus will serve Upper Elementary and Middle School.

Pupil Nationality Mix
Over 60 nationalities represented. 38% of students have one Francophone parent.

Additional learning support
HiCap Program supports highly capable students with flexible learning pathways, enrichment, cross-grade placement, and curriculum acceleration. Formal identification requires an external educational psychologist evaluation, typically including cognitive testing (e.g., WISC-V) and a full-scale IQ above 130.

Country affiliation
AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad) affiliation and Mission Laïque Française (MLF Monde). Member of AFSA (Association of French Schools in North America), and connected with NAIS and NWAIS networks.

Bus service
The bus program serves Seattle and the Eastside. Buses run once in the morning, arriving by 8:10 AM, and twice in the afternoon, leaving at 3:50 PM and 5:00 PM. Registration is first-come, first-served for Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Diving Deeper

Food Options
Hot lunches are provided on campus through a partnership with Ordo; the menu changes weekly and accommodates most dietary restrictions.

Governance and Ownership
FASPS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit governed by a self-selecting Board of Trustees. The Board works with the Head of School (the Board's only employee) to set policies, provide strategic direction, and uphold the school's mission, vision, and values. The school has two campuses: Mercer Island and Seattle – Capitol Hill.
Fees

Annual tuition at French American School of Puget Sound - Mercer Island ranges from USD 0 to USD 43,850 for 2026/27.

Application fees

- Application fee (per student): USD 110.
- Tuition-assistance application processing fee (Clarity): USD 65.

Tuition fees by year group (2026–2027 academic year)

All amounts shown are annual tuition in USD. Per-term figures below are the annual amount divided into three equal installments (simple 3-term division for reference). Deposit calculations shown are 8% of the annual tuition.

- Preschool (Bébé & TYPK only) — 2-day week
- Annual tuition: USD 16,500.
- Per-term (equal 3-term division): USD 5,500.00.
- Enrollment deposit (8%): USD 1,320.00.

- Preschool (Bébé & TYPK only) — 3-day week
- Annual tuition: USD 23,500.
- Per-term (equal 3-term division): USD 7,833.33.
- Enrollment deposit (8%): USD 1,880.00.

- Preschool / Elementary School (TYPK through Grade 5)
- Annual tuition: USD 38,650.
- Per-term (equal 3-term division): USD 12,883.33.
- Enrollment deposit (8%): USD 3,092.00.

- Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Annual tuition: USD 43,850.
- Per-term (equal 3-term division): USD 14,616.67.
- Enrollment deposit (8%): USD 3,508.00.

- Sibling discounts
- Third enrolled sibling: USD 3,500 discount.
- Fourth sibling and up: USD 5,000 discount.

Deposit and refund information

- Enrollment deposit: 8% of total tuition. The deposit is non-refundable and is required to secure an enrollment seat.
- Other refund terms (for tuition, auxiliary programs, camps, or ancillary fees) are governed by the school's enrollment and program agreements; the 8% enrollment deposit is explicitly non-refundable.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Enrollment requires a signed enrollment contract and payment of the enrollment deposit (8% of tuition) by the school's published deadlines for the admission cycle; the school publishes specific deadlines for tuition-assistance and enrollment steps for each admissions cycle. For the 2026–2027 cycle, tuition-assistance application deadlines were published as January 9, 2026 (returning families) and February 27, 2026 (new families).
- The school issues tuition and program charges according to the enrollment and billing procedures set in the enrollment contract and billing communications. The enrollment deposit is applied toward the total tuition balance.

Other costs and optional program fees

- Garderie (before- and after-school care), enrichment classes, middle-school extended-day activities, break camps, and summer camps are offered as auxiliary programs; these programs are available yearlong, session-based, or drop-in and typically carry additional fees separate from base tuition. Pre-registration is required for many auxiliary programs.
- Hot lunch service is available to all grades through a partner ordering platform (Ordo); lunch orders and payments are handled through that system and are charged in addition to tuition.
- Transportation, clubs, certain enrichment offerings, and some middle-school activities may incur additional charges; these are billed separately according to program sign-up and participation rules.
- Uniforms are not listed as a standard, universal charge; any required or optional school-branded items or supplies would be charged separately when applicable.

Boarding

- The school operates preschool through Grade 8 and does not provide a boarding program; boarding fees are not applicable.

Tuition assistance and scholarships

- FASPS awards need-based tuition assistance and reports awarding over USD 2 million annually to support roughly 20% of families. Need-based tuition-assistance applications for the 2026–2027 cycle are processed through the Clarity platform; the Clarity application requires a USD 65 fee. French citizens may also be eligible for French government Bourse Scolaire (AEFE) support administered via the French Consulate channels.

Fee payment options and processing (application, program, and auxiliary fees)

- Application and tuition-assistance application fees are processed online through the school's application and financial-aid platforms (Ravenna for admissions applications and Clarity for financial-aid applications). Hot-lunch orders and payments are processed through Ordo. Specific payment methods accepted for tuition bills and auxiliary program invoices (for example, credit card, ACH/bank transfer, or check) are set out in the school's enrollment and billing communications for each admissions cycle and in program registration materials.

Summary (quick reference)

- Application fee: USD 110 per student. Tuition-assist application fee: USD 65 (Clarity).
- Annual tuition (2026–2027): Preschool 2-day USD 16,500; Preschool 3-day USD 23,500; Preschool/Elementary USD 38,650; Middle School USD 43,850. Deposit = 8% of tuition (non-refundable). Sibling discounts: USD 3,500 (3rd), USD 5,000 (4th+).
Academics

French American School of Puget Sound - Mercer Island teaches American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum for students aged 3 to 15.

Curriculum
The FASPS Approach blends the French national education framework with US practices to prepare students for success. Bilingual instruction is integrated across subjects, enabling students to think, learn, and innovate in both French and English. The curriculum follows France's cycles, aligning grade levels with the French system through a Cycle and Grade Conversion Chart. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments monitor growth in mathematics, reading, and language usage and provide RIT scores to track progress over time. The school serves students from 18 months through Grade 8 and is accredited by the French Ministry of Education and the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS).

Student Teacher Ratio
7:1 student-to-adult ratio.

Exam Results
MAP assessments show that FASPS students grow consistently and perform well above national and international averages across grade levels, with particular strength in mathematics and reading. MAP results provide growth data over time to inform instruction.

Higher Education Progression
FASPS alumni have attended a range of universities, including the University of Washington, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Columbia University, Georgetown University, and the University of California Berkeley, among others.

Gifted and Talented
HiCap Program supports highly capable students who demonstrate advanced cognitive abilities, curiosity, and a strong need for academic challenge. Within a bilingual environment, students progress at a pace aligned with their strengths while remaining socially connected and emotionally supported. Formal identification requires external evaluation (e.g., WISC-V) and typically demonstrates a full-scale IQ above 130. The program offers enrichment, cross-grade placement, and curriculum acceleration, including three types of enrichment (Exploratory, Skill-Building, and Research & Innovation) and flexible pathways. Decisions about HiCap services are made collaboratively with families.
Parent Experience

History
Founded in fall 1995 by Patricia Blaise-Caves and Véronique Dussud with 13 students in the basement of a Newcastle church, FASPS moved to Newport Hills a year later due to growth. By 1999 enrollment reached 146 and the school relocated to Mercer Island, converting an old fire station near the Stroum Jewish Community Center; Dussud left to start the French Immersion School of Washington. Leadership changes followed, including Christine Knorr (1999–2001) and Yves Rivaud (2001–2003); expansion campaigns funded a one-story building completed in 2004 and a second floor added in 2008 to launch the middle school. Eric Thuau became Head of School in 2010, and the first graduating middle school class followed in 2011. In 2022 FASPS bought a city block on Seattle's North Beacon Hill for a future permanent home (opening 2026–2027) and expanded in 2024 with a dedicated preschool campus in Capitol Hill; today the school serves over 470 students from more than 60 countries.

Community
When your family joins FASPS, you become part of a warm, inclusive community where every member is valued. The FASPS Parent Committee (FPC) strengthens these connections through social events, volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that bring families, faculty, and staff together. The community celebrates monthly parent coffees, the annual Kermesse carnival, and staff appreciation gatherings. It also supports learning by fundraising for the Cultural Agility Fund, which funds field trips, performances, and global experiences, and by coordinating volunteers and grade-level liaisons to support all families.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The FASPS Parent Committee (FPC) is the school's parent association; it strengthens connections through social events, volunteer opportunities, and initiatives that bring families, faculty, and staff together. It organizes monthly parent coffees, the annual Kermesse carnival, and staff appreciation gatherings. It coordinates volunteers and grade-level liaisons to support all families. It funds the Cultural Agility Fund to support field trips, performances, and global experiences, and coordinates food/clothing drives and partnerships with Mercer Island organizations.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The French American School of Puget Sound operates two campuses: Mercer Island (Preschool, Elementary, Middle School) and Seattle – Capitol Hill (Preschool Campus), with a North Beacon Hill campus planned for the future. The Mercer Island campus is a two-story building with 30 classrooms, a dedicated library, and versatile outdoor spaces. The Seattle – Capitol Hill campus houses a Preschool program in a building at 18th and E. Madison Street with three classrooms, a cozy library corner, an outdoor play space, and an indoor swing gym shared with the Rosen Family Preschool. The North Beacon Hill campus will feature a state-of-the-art facility to serve up to 240 students in grades 4–8, including modern classrooms, an indoor gym, a gathering space, dedicated art and STEM labs, a library, and an outdoor play area.

Sports Facilities
The Athletics Program emphasizes physical wellness and teamwork and competes in leagues such as the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) and the Cascade Middle School League (CMSL). Fall sports include Coed Soccer (K–Grade 8), Cross Country (K–Grade 5), and Coed Volleyball (Grade 6–8); Winter sports include Boys Basketball (Grades 5–8), Girls Basketball (Grades 5–8), and Cheer Squad (Grades 5–8); Spring sports include Track & Field (Grades 5–8) and Soccer (Grades 1–5). The Athletics Department also organizes the Cross Scolaire “Fun Run” in the fall, Middle School Ski Trips in the winter, and the Annual Soccer Picnic in the spring. The Seattle Capitol Hill campus features an indoor swing gym used for athletics and Preschool activities.

Academic Facilities
Mercer Island houses 30 classrooms and a dedicated library, with versatile outdoor spaces to support learning from 18 months through Grade 8. The Seattle – Capitol Hill Preschool campus offers three classrooms with a cozy library corner, plus an outdoor play space. A North Beacon Hill campus coming soon will include modern classrooms, an indoor gym, dedicated art and STEM labs, a library, and an outdoor play area. The facilities are designed to support learning across the school's age range and program breadth.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Clubs & Service offers middle school clubs including Magic: The Gathering, Webradio, Math Club, Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), Yearbook, Musical Theater, Cooking, and Science Club. Campus Engagement provides leadership opportunities such as peer mediation, cross-grade mentoring, reading buddies, STEAM Fest teaching, and admissions ambassadors. Community Service activities include collecting for Tutu's Pantry, serving at Cherry Street Food Bank (Northwest Harvest), collecting supplies for a teen homeless shelter, collecting DVDs for Seattle Children's Hospital, writing letters to veterans, environmental restoration projects, and visits to elderly residents. These activities connect students with the broader Seattle area through service and collaboration.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school has middle school clubs that support academic enrichment. Math Club and Science Club promote STEM inquiry and collaboration. Webradio develops digital literacy and communication skills. Yearbook Club and Musical Theater Club also strengthen analytical thinking and teamwork.

Arts & Creative
The school has arts and creative clubs including Musical Theater Club and Cooking Club, which provide opportunities to perform, create, and collaborate. Yearbook Club documents school life and designs layouts, supporting visual storytelling. These activities foster creativity, collaboration, and project-based work.

Social & Hobbies
The school has clubs that support social interests and hobbies, including Magic: The Gathering, Webradio, Cooking Club, Yearbook, and the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA). The GSA Club offers a space for dialogue and peer support. These clubs promote friendship, creativity, and practical problem-solving outside the classroom.

Community & Service
The school has community service opportunities that empower students to volunteer beyond the school. Students collect for Tutu's Pantry, serve at Cherry Street Food Bank, collect supplies for a teen homeless shelter, and collect DVDs for Seattle Children's Hospital. They also write letters to veterans, participate in environmental restoration at local parks and beaches, and visit elderly residents in retirement communities.

Leadership & Professional
The school has leadership opportunities on campus, including peer mediation, cross-grade mentoring, and reading buddies. They also participate in STEAM Fest teaching and serve as admissions ambassadors. These roles foster leadership, communication, and collaboration.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
All middle school students have the opportunity to participate in after-school athletics in Fall, Winter, and Spring (Soccer, Cross Country; Basketball, Volleyball; Track & Field). After-school options include clubs, bilingual study workshops, and indoor/outdoor activities that support wellbeing. Athletics foster physical health, teamwork, and resilience.
Languages

Language Provision
French and English are the languages of instruction. An immersive bilingual program begins at 18 months, and many students develop age-appropriate fluency in French by the end of Kindergarten. The program supports dual-language proficiency across core subjects, with FAST providing structured pathways toward full bilingual participation. Students learn across subjects such as math, science, and history in both languages.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers a bilingual program in French and English for students from 18 months through Grade 8. Bilingual learning is integrated across subjects such as math, science, and history, enabling students to think and learn in both languages. The program blends the French national education framework with US practices to support bilingual development and global citizenship. Students develop age-appropriate fluency in both languages across the curriculum.

Immersion Programs
FAST Track (French Accelerated Scholars Track) is a program for students with little or no prior French who join the bilingual system. It provides intensive, personalized language acquisition in two phases, with initial focus on oral comprehension, foundational literacy, and academic vocabulary in French while students continue English coursework; later phases bring more regular French classes with ongoing support. By the end of the program, students become confident bilingual learners who participate fully in the French-American curriculum. Preschool and Kindergarten offer an immersive bilingual environment beginning at 18 months, with many students developing fluency in French and English by Kindergarten.
Reputation

Accreditations
The school is accredited by the French Ministry of National Education and by the Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS).
Admissions

Admissions
The school offers a harmonized bilingual program from TYPK (18 months) through Grade 8, combining French and American curricula to develop proficiency in both languages. Learn about FASPS by signing up for an in-person tour or registering for open houses through the Ravenna application portal. Preschool and kindergarten applicants can attend Discovery Morning on a Saturday in March, while elementary and middle school applicants experience a Class Visit Day scheduled by the Director of Enrollment Management. A 15‑minute Book a Call with the admissions team is available to answer questions.

Scholarships
The school awards over $2 million in tuition assistance each year, supporting about 20% of families. The program is based on demonstrated financial need and the availability of funds, with the Clarity Financial Aid system used to determine a family's level of need based on assets, income, expenses, and debts (the application is mobile-friendly). French citizens may be eligible for Bourses Scolaires through the French Consulate in San Francisco, and families may also apply for tuition assistance with FASPS; the Bourse Scolaire application is submitted online through Scolaide, a portal managed by AEFE, with information on creating a profile available from the Director of Enrollment Management. A list of supporting documents can be found for the Bourses Scolaires, and eligibility details are provided by the French Consulate. The school's Tuition Assistance FAQ explains that tuition assistance decisions are independent from admissions decisions, and that the Tuition Assistance Committee (comprising the Head of School, CFO, Director of Enrollment Management, and a board member) makes those decisions based on the provided financial information; a New Family Fee is a one-time charge that supports capital expenditures.
School Events
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