doris
doris
Find Schools
Events
Saved schools
My account
Parent Guide Parent testimonials Community Transparency Charter About For Schools
Currency
L

L'école - French International School of Raleigh

United States, Raleigh

Save school
Share
Navigate

· Reviewed by · Co-founder & CEO

Independently researched by doris.
Not yet claimed by the school
Claim your profile
The school at a glance
Instructs in French, English
Fees $8,675 - 14,933
Ages 1 - 12 years
Pupil numbers 49
Type Co-educational
Opened 2009
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum
Taught languages French, English
Strengths Sport, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary
Introduction

Located at 5510 Munford Road, Raleigh, L'école - French International School of Raleigh offers bilingual French–English instruction for preschool through elementary. It has been accredited since June 2024 by the French Ministry of Education and AEFE. It is the only French full-immersion preschool and bilingual elementary program in the state. Preschool follows the official French Education curriculum for Maternelle, organized around five axes: Appropriation of Language; First Mathematical Tools; Physical Activity; Artistic Activities; Discovering World. Oral language development is prioritized, with a life notebook linking home and school. Elementary blends the French Education Nationale framework (75% French, 25% English) with the North Carolina Common Core, across five domains. The school day runs 8:30 am–3:00 pm, with childcare and after-school care. Facilities include a library with English and French books, a gym, and a playground. Plans exist to expand toward a Lycée. Extracurriculars include Yoga, Chess, Music, Arithmetic, Soccer, and Jiu-Jitsu.

5510 Munford Road, Raleigh, NC 27612

The Essentials

L'école - French International School of Raleigh has 49 pupils, instruction in French, English.

Location
Located at 5510 Munford Road, Raleigh, NC 27612. The school is in Raleigh, North Carolina. The contact number is (919) 790-1219 and email is administration@lecole-fisr.org.

Stages
Preschool (TPS-1, our 2-year-old class). The school also offers a French-English bilingual Kindergarten and an Elementary School through 5th grade.

Type
French international school offering bilingual French-English instruction; accredited since June 2024 through the French Ministry of Education and AEFE (French Agency for the Teaching of French Abroad).

Country affiliation
France

School day structure
Elementary hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Preschool hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Before-care runs 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.; after-care runs 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The school is a non-profit organization (since 2012) governed by a Board of Directors and a School Council. The Executive Director is Marie-Claire Ribeill. The school is accredited by the AEFE and the French Ministry of Education. The PTA supports activities and community.
Fees

Annual tuition at L'école - French International School of Raleigh ranges from USD 8,675 to USD 14,933 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration Fees

- Registration fee for the school year: USD 495 per child. This registration fee is non-refundable and must be paid at the time of registration.
- FLAM / FLE class registration (2025–2026): USD 95 per child (non-refundable) for the year.
- Summer camp registration for students outside the school (non-refundable): USD 60.

Tuition — Preschool (annual amounts and installment equivalent) — 2026–2027

The school publishes annual tuition by schedule (half-day / full-day) and days-per-week. Parents may pay annually in full or in ten equal installments; the per-installment amounts below reflect the annual fee divided by ten.

- Preschool — Half-day (annual / per 10 installments):
- 3 days/week: USD 7,022 per year — installment: USD 702.20.
- 4 days/week: USD 8,675 per year — installment: USD 867.50.
- 5 days/week: USD 10,330 per year — installment: USD 1,033.00.

- Preschool — Full-day (annual / per 10 installments):
- 3 days/week: USD 9,946 per year — installment: USD 994.60.
- 4 days/week: USD 12,287 per year — installment: USD 1,228.70.
- 5 days/week: USD 14,628 per year — installment: USD 1,462.80.

Tuition — Elementary (K through 5th) — 2026–2027

- Yearly tuition (elementary): USD 14,933 per year. Per 10-installment payment: USD 1,493.30 per installment.

Other program fees and hourly rates

- FLAM / FLE private tutoring rates (2025–2026): Private USD 50/hour; two students USD 26/hour; three or more students USD 23/hour. Session rate: USD 220 per 10-week session + USD 50 registration fee for the first session; 5% sibling discount for these classes.
- Summer camp weekly rates (camp tuitions): Half-day USD 280/week; Full-day USD 350/week; Aftercare USD 100/week; Supplies fee USD 40/week.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Regular school tuition payment options: tuition may be paid in full at once or in ten equal installments.
- Summer camp payment schedule: 50% of the total camp tuition is due at registration; the remaining 50% is due on May 30. Cancellation policy for camps: 80% refund for cancellation before May 1; no refund after May 1.
- Sibling discount: a 5% tuition discount is available for siblings of current students.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable; no boarding fees are published for this school.

Other costs and incidental fees

- Aftercare (camp) fee: USD 100/week (see camp rates above).
- Camp supplies fee: USD 40/week (camp-specific).
- No separate uniform fee or an annual school-wide textbook fee is published in the tuition and admissions information.

Refunds and cancellation

- Registration fees (school and FLAM/FLE) are stated as non-refundable.
- Camp cancellations: 80% refund if cancelled before May 1; no refund after May 1.
- No general school-year tuition refund or withdrawal schedule beyond the registration-fee and camp cancellation details is published in the tuition and admissions materials.

Fee payment methods and contact for billing

- The published materials list tuition-payment options (pay in full or ten equal installments) but do not specify accepted payment methods (credit card, bank transfer, etc.) in the tuition summary. For billing or payment-method details, the school's administration contact is provided: administration@lecole-fisr.org.

Scholarships and financial assistance

- The school participates in the NC Opportunity Scholarship Program; families may apply and awards can be up to USD 7,000 per child. The school also administers an internal Elizabeth King Scholarship Fund. Sibling discounts (5%) are also available.

Brief note on published detail and limits found

- The published information provides annual tuition amounts and the option to pay in ten equal installments. A per-term (for example semester or trimester) breakdown of school-year tuition is not published; similarly, a general tuition refund/withdrawal schedule for the regular school year (outside of camp cancellation and registration non-refundable statements) is not published in the available admissions materials.
Academics

L'école - French International School of Raleigh teaches American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum for students aged 1 to 12.

Curriculum
The school offers bilingual instruction in French and English across Preschool and Elementary. Preschool uses the official French Education curriculum for Maternelle (215 5 years) and adapts it for students with varying levels of French, organized around five axes: Appropriation of Language; The First Mathematical Tools; Physical Activity; Artistic Activities; Discovering the World. The oral language is the main focus and students keep a life notebook to document activities and connect with their families. Elementary School provides a program that is 75% French and 25% English, combining the French Education Nationale framework with the North Carolina Common Core. The elementary curriculum centers on five domains: Languages for thinking and communicating; Methods and tools for learning; Training of the person and the citizen; Natural systems and technical systems; Representations of the world and human activity. CP, CE1, and CE2 constitute Cycle 2, the cycle of fundamental learning. The school day runs from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm, with morning childcare and after-school care available.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school includes student wellbeing and social and emotional learning as part of the program.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school teaches 60% in French and 40% in English; some subjects are taught in both languages.

Mental Wellbeing
The school addresses student wellbeing as part of the program, including social and emotional learning.
Parent Experience

History
The French School of Raleigh was created to offer a bilingual educational program for children in North Carolina. It is the only French full immersion pre-kindergarten and French-English bilingual elementary school in the state. The elementary school opened in 2021 and is accredited by the French Ministry of Education and AEFE (French Agency for French Education Abroad). Plans are underway to expand L'école to transition to a Lycée.

Community
L'école emphasizes building a strong community where students can thrive. A nurturing environment is critical to success inside and outside the classroom. The culture of leadership permeates every aspect of L'école's community. Families can learn more about the community and how to get involved.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus includes a library, gym, and outdoor playground. The library houses books in English and French to support literacy and language development. The gym is designed to promote physical activity with top-of-the-line equipment and trained instructors. The playground provides a safe outdoor space for exploration and play. The preschool has four classrooms: Reception (Accueil) for 18-month-olds; TPS2 for 3-year-olds; PS for older 3- to 4-year-olds; MS for 4- to 5-year-olds, with morning childcare available 7:30–8:30 am and after-school care from 3 to 6 pm.

Sports Facilities
The Gym is a facility designed to promote physical activity with top-of-the-line equipment and trained instructors. The Motor Skill Room supports physical development. The Playground provides an outdoor space for play. Physical education and sport are part of the curriculum from primary through middle school, focusing on motor skills, rules, health, and teamwork through a structured program with four learning fields and five continuous skills.

Academic Facilities
L'Ecole offers a French and English elementary program; the elementary curriculum is 75% French and 25% English. The program blends the French Education Nationale curriculum with the North Carolina standards. The five educational areas are Languages for thinking and communicating; Methods and tools for learning; Training of the person and the citizen; Natural systems and technical systems; Representations of the world and human activity. The CP (1st grade), CE1 (2nd grade), and CE2 (3rd grade) classes constitute Cycle 2 of Primary School. The preschool has four classrooms: Reception (Accueil) for 18-month-olds; TPS2 for 3-year-olds; PS for older 3- to 4-year-olds; MS for 4- to 5-year-olds, with preschool schedules from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm or 8:30 am to 3:00 pm for full-day; morning childcare is available 7:30–8:30 am, and after-school care runs 3–6 pm. Digital tools such as cameras, tablets, and computers are used in learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Yoga Club; Chess Club; Music Club; Arithmetic Club; Soccer; Jiu-Jitsu. Opening hours are every day from 3 to 4 pm.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school aims to develop bilingual proficiency through proven academic methods, including social and cultural activities. Children explore the world through the French language.

Cultural & Language
Preschool instruction is delivered entirely in French, and no French knowledge is required for preschool. In the elementary grades, students spend more time with English teachers: 12% of Kindergarten time (about 45 minutes per day, four days a week) and 25% of time in the elementary school (about two hours per day, four days a week). The school is accredited by the AEFE, the French National Education system. A test is administered before acceptance in the elementary school, and you do not need to speak French at home to enroll.
Languages

Language Provision
French is the primary language of instruction, following the French Education Nationale curriculum (with adaptation for bilingual learners). English is introduced as a modern language beginning in Cycle 2, taught by a native English teacher, using the North Carolina Common Core standards for English and some related subjects. The elementary program combines five curricular areas—Languages for thinking and communicating; Methods and tools for learning; Training of the person and the citizen; Natural systems and technical systems; Representations of the world and human activity—to foster plurilingual proficiency.

Bilingual Teaching
The school provides bilingual education in French and English across Preschool and Elementary. L'école aims to help children become bilingual in early childhood, using French Education's official curriculum for the classes of Maternelle (2-5 years old). In Elementary, the program is 75% French and 25% English, with English taught by a native English teacher and aligned to the Common Core of North Carolina, integrating with the French curriculum. The English instruction supports proficiency in most subjects in both languages.

Immersion Programs
The school offers a French-English immersion approach across Preschool and Elementary. In Preschool, the Maternelle curriculum uses the official French Education curriculum and emphasizes oral French language development, with a project-based approach and a personal life notebook (cahier de vie) to connect families. Preschool operates 8:30 am–12:30 pm for half-day or 8:30 am–3:00 pm for full-day, with morning childcare and after-school care available. In Elementary, English is introduced and developed alongside French, with English taught using the North Carolina Common Core standards and integrated into the broader bilingual program.
Reputation

Awards
null

Accreditations
The school is accredited by the French Ministry of Education and AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad). It is a member of the Federated US FLAM, which supports and promotes the French language and culture in the United States.
Admissions

Admissions
1. The school is the only French preschool and French-English bilingual kindergarten and elementary school in North Carolina. The elementary program opened in 2021 and has been accredited since June 2024 through the French Ministry of Education and AEFE. The school plans to expand to Lycée and offers in-person tours by appointment.

2. From preschool through fifth grade, classes are taught 60% in French and 40% in English. The curriculum combines the rigor of the French Education Nationale curriculum with the dynamism of the North Carolina standards, aiming to develop proficiency across languages and core skills. The program covers languages for thinking and communicating, methods and tools for learning, moral and civic education, and other key areas.

3. Tuition and fees include a non-refundable registration fee of $495 per child. Yearly tuition is $14,933, with options to pay in full or in ten installments. Siblings of current students receive a 5% tuition discount and admissions priority; all applicants must complete the full admissions process. Preschool offers specific schedules and rates listed under Tuition.

4. The priority application deadline is in March, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis to help secure space. Tours are offered one family at a time, and families are encouraged to download the brochure to learn more about the program. For questions, families may contact the school administration.

5. The school offers scholarships and tuition assistance. The Elizabeth King Scholarship Fund supports students in memory of a beloved teacher. The school participates in the NC Opportunity Scholarship Program, and French parents may apply for a scholarship through the French Education System. Details and forms are provided by the administration.

6. Language requirements for admission: Does not require French for preschool; beginning in Kindergarten, some French is required; by 1st grade, most students are conversant in French, with immersion continuing across grades. Beginning in Kindergarten through 5th grade, classes are taught in a bilingual model, helping students develop proficiency in both languages.

Scholarships
- NC Opportunity Scholarship Program: The school participates in this program and scholarships may be awarded up to about $7,000 per child. All families enrolling may apply, regardless of income.

- Elizabeth King Scholarship Fund: Established in memory of Elizabeth King, the school has directed contributions to this fund to support students; five children have benefited from a total contribution of $51,560, with the fund representing a portion of overall support. The school will explain the process and provide the necessary forms.

- French Education System scholarship: French parents may apply for a scholarship through the French Education System to support families attending schools that follow the Education Nationale curriculum. To apply, email the director to receive the application form.

For more details, see the Scholarships page on the site and contact administration for guidance.
School Events
The school has not added events
Search for more schools
Search schools in United States View all schools in Raleigh View all schools in United states American curriculum schools in United States Open days & tours in Raleigh What is the American curriculum? View all schools Search all schools