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French School of Detroit

United States, Detroit

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French, English
Fees $23,160
Ages Not listed
Type Co-educational
Opened 1986
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum French Curriculum
Taught languages French, English
Strengths Languages, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

The French School of Detroit is a private, non-profit bilingual day school serving pre-K through high school. It follows the French Ministry of Education curriculum, with immersion in two Birmingham Public Schools to support English language development. The school is AEFE-certified from preschool through 8th grade and prepares students for the Brevet and the Epreuve anticipée de français du baccalauréat. Established in 1986, FSD operates as a US-registered 501(c)(3) organization. Younger students study on-site with immersion at Pierce and West Maple Elementary; middle and high school students attend Berkshire Middle School and Groves High School, with transportation provided by BPS. Reading, language development, and expressive communication are emphasised; daily bilingual activities use English and French. Creative Arts, health and movement, and World Discovery are integrated to build language, cultural understanding, and scientific curiosity. The program blends Francophone pedagogy with local immersion to prepare students for French and international schooling worldwide.

The Essentials

French School of Detroit has instruction in French, English.

Location
The French School of Detroit is located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA. It operates on the West Maple Elementary site at 6275 Inkster Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301. It partners with the Birmingham Public Schools district (BPS) and uses Berkshire Middle School and Groves High School for its middle and high school programs.

Stages
Preschool; Elementary; Middle & High School (K-12)

Type
Private, non-profit bilingual day school

Country affiliation
France; AEFE-affiliated

School day structure
Middle School hours: 8:14 am–3:14 pm (Berkshire Middle School). High School hours: 7:50 am–2:50 pm, with 3:00–5:00 pm after-school office (Groves High School).
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
Founded in 1986, the French School of Detroit is an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The curriculum is AEFE-certified from preschool through 8th grade and includes preparation for the Brevet and the Epreuve Anticipée de Français du Baccalauréat; it combines the French Ministry of Education program with immersion in two local Birmingham Public Schools (Pierce Elementary School in Birmingham and West Maple Elementary School in Bloomfield Hills) with transportation provided by BPS. The school maintains a non-discrimination policy in admissions and employment.
Fees

Annual tuition at French School of Detroit ranges from USD 23,160 for 2026/27.

Application fees
- No separate application or registration fee is listed in the school's published Student Fee Structure for the 2025–2026 academic year.

Tuition fees by year group (annual amounts; tutoring option shown separately)
- K4 & K5 (Preschool): Base tuition (instruction & supervision) USD 17,700 annually. Other mandatory charges listed below apply on top of base tuition.
- Cycle 1 (Grades 1–2): Base tuition USD 18,900 annually.
- Cycle 2 (Grades 3–4): Base tuition USD 18,900 annually.
- Cycle 3 (Grades 5–6): Base tuition USD 18,900 annually.
- Optional tutoring (French or English tutoring option where offered): USD 3,300 per student (shown as an additional item in the tutoring option version of the fee sheet).

Other mandatory charges that apply in addition to base tuition (annual amounts)
- Meals: USD 2,230 per student (same amount listed for each year group in the fee schedule).
- Student life fees: USD 1,650 (K4/K5), USD 1,725 (Cycle 1 and Cycle 2), USD 1,900 (Cycle 3) as listed.
- Parents Association contribution: USD 80 per student.
- Technology & building maintenance: USD 1,500 per student.

Total annual cost examples (combined figures shown on published fee materials)
- K4 & K5, total annual cost (base tuition plus the listed other charges): USD 23,160 annually (base tuition USD 17,700 + other charges USD 5,460).
- Cycle 1, total annual cost (base tuition plus the listed other charges): either USD 24,435 or USD 27,735 depending on whether the tutoring option (USD 3,300) is included; the published fee sheets show one version without tutoring (total USD 24,435) and a tutoring-option version with higher totals (USD 27,735).
- Cycle 2, total annual cost (base tuition plus the listed other charges): USD 24,435 (without tutoring) or USD 27,735 (with tutoring).
- Cycle 3, total annual cost (base tuition plus the listed other charges): USD 24,610 (without tutoring) or USD 27,910 (with tutoring).

Per-term fees
- The published fee documents provide annual amounts and do not supply a per-term or per-semester billing breakdown. No per-term amounts are published in the Student Fee Structure materials; a per-term figure would require the school's billing period (number of billed terms/semesters) to be specified.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- The published Student Fee Structure lists annual charges and totals but does not include a detailed billing schedule, specific payment deadlines, installment options, late-payment penalties, or explicit payment terms in the fee document itself. Families should note that the fee documents show annual charge lines rather than a payment timetable.

Boarding fees
- Boarding is not applicable. The French School of Detroit operates as a day/partnered program (students attend partner local schools for immersion and the school coordinates bilingual instruction), and no boarding or residential fees are listed.

Other costs or optional fees
- Meals (annual): USD 2,230 per student.
- Student life fees (annual): USD 1,650–1,900 depending on cycle.
- Parents Association contribution (annual): USD 80.
- Technology & building maintenance (annual): USD 1,500.
- Tutoring option (annual, where selected): USD 3,300.
- No uniform fee, book fee, transportation fee, or other mandatory ancillary fees are listed on the Student Fee Structure document that presents the tuition and the other charges above.

Refund information
- The published Student Fee Structure does not include explicit refund, withdrawal, or cancellation terms in the document showing tuition and charges. The fee schedule does not state prorated refunds, deposit forfeiture, or conditions for refund.

Fee payment options (methods)
- The Student Fee Structure documents reviewed show the breakdown of charges and totals but do not enumerate accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, checks, online payment processor) or associated processing fees.

Brief summary of gaps found
- The school's published Student Fee Structure for 2025–2026 provides clear annual tuition figures, optional tutoring pricing, and the main ancillary charge lines (meals, student life fees, parents association, technology/building maintenance) with combined total annual amounts. The same materials do not publish an application/registration charge, a per-term billing breakdown, a billing schedule or payment deadlines, refund policy wording, or specific accepted payment methods. For any per-term amounts, payment-plan options, refund rules, or payment-method details you require for the external database, those items are not shown in the Student Fee Structure documents available for 2025–2026.
Academics

French School of Detroit teaches French Curriculum.

Curriculum
Language Development is central to the program, with daily bilingual communication using English and French vocabulary. Students are encouraged to express themselves through planning, reviewing, explaining, sharing perspectives, anticipating events, and building hypotheses in collaborative language activities. Reading is emphasized and literacy is foundational; students read and explore books and become authors and storytellers. Health and Movement are integral, with regular structured physical activities to develop coordination and fitness; routines around snacks and meals are treated as learning time, and safety rules are explained to children. Creative Arts are a key feature, encouraging expression through art, music, movement, and dramatic play to develop language and cultural understanding. World Discovery invites curiosity about the environment and science topics such as life cycles, nature, materials and elements, physical laws, technological objects, tools, and time. The school is a K-12 institution.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school places language development at the center of the program. Daily communication with friends and adults is a priority, and each student has time to develop language skills and creativity using English and French vocabulary. Children are encouraged to express themselves about their experiences. Daily communication arises from activities that involve planning, reflection, explanation, expressing a point of view, anticipating events, and forming hypotheses. Teachers aim to develop early language skills by encouraging students to discuss school-related topics in a collaborative way.
Parent Experience

History
The French School of Detroit was created in 1986 and is an American 501(c)(3) non-profit association. For 40 years it has offered a bilingual education from pre‑K through high school and an exceptional cultural and linguistic experience. The French Ministry of Education curriculum is complemented by immersion in local public schools. It maintains a partnership with the Birmingham Public Schools district (BPS), one of Michigan's best-ranking districts. The AEFE certifies the program from preschool to 8th grade, with preparation for the Brevet and the Epreuve Anticipee de Français du Baccalauréat.

Community
Our vision is to be a reference of excellence in bilingual education and to develop a sense of community while inspiring diversity. Our mission is to offer a bilingual and bicultural education that prepares students for success in a global world. Created in 1986, FSD is an American 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It maintains a partnership with the Birmingham Public Schools district, integrating immersion in local schools and engaging with the broader Detroit area community.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
French School of Detroit is a K-12 institution offering a bilingual education from preschool through high school. The curriculum is the French Ministry of Education program complemented by immersion in two local Birmingham Public Schools. Transportation between partner schools is provided by Birmingham Public Schools. The AEFE accreditation covers preschool through 8th grade. Created in 1986, FSD is a US-registered 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

Academic Facilities
From kindergarten through 5th grade, FSD offers a French curriculum completed by full immersion in two local Birmingham Public Schools: Pierce Elementary School and West Maple Elementary School. Transportation between the schools is provided by BPS. For middle and high school, classes are held at Berkshire Middle School (21707 W 14 Mile Rd, Beverly Hills, MI 48025) and Groves High School (20500 W 13 Mile Rd, Beverly Hills, MI 48025). Students' English level is tested upon arrival, and ESL classes are offered for non-fluent students.

Extra Curricular Facilities
After Care program offered daily up to 5:30 pm. Camp and Other is under construction.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school has offered an exceptional bilingual education from preK through high school. It provides an exceptional cultural and linguistic experience and uses a curriculum from the French Ministry of Education complemented by immersion in local public schools. It partners with the Birmingham Public Schools district, one of the best districts in Michigan. The bilingual education prepares students for education in both French and international schools. The curriculum is homologated by AEFE from preschool to 8th grade, with preparation for the Brevet and for the Epreuve anticipée de français du baccalauréat.

Cultural & Language
The school offers an exceptional cultural and linguistic experience as part of its bilingual program. It combines a French national education framework with immersion in local schools and engagement with the broader Francophone community.

Community & Service
The vision emphasizes developing a sense of community and inspiring diversity within a bilingual and bicultural education. Created in 1986, the school operates as a nonprofit organization.
Languages

Language Provision
Language development uses English and French; daily bilingual communication is encouraged and literacy activities support both languages; ESL support is available for students not fluent in English.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers a bilingual education in English and French from preK to high school.

Immersion Programs
Full immersion in two local Birmingham Public Schools (Pierce Elementary School and West Maple Elementary School) with transportation between schools provided by BPS; English as a Second Language (ESL) support is available for non-fluent students.
Admissions

Admissions
The school offers a bilingual education from preK through high school, with a French Ministry of Education curriculum complemented by immersion in two local Birmingham Public Schools (BPS). The program is AEFE-certified from preschool through 8th grade, with preparation for the Brevet and for the Epreuve anticipée de français du baccalauréat. Created in 1986, FSD is a 501(c)(3) American non‑profit. Students' English level is tested upon arrival, and English support is provided through ESL for non-fluent learners. Transportation between the two Birmingham Public Schools is provided by BPS. Students must reside in the Birmingham Public School District to be accepted into the program, with limited exceptions. There is a Tuition Enrollment program with Birmingham Public Schools.
School Events
The school has not added events
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