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Lycée Français de San Diego

United States, San Diego

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French, English
Fees $0 - 22,106
Ages 2 - 15 years
Pupil numbers 240
Type Co-educational
Opened 2006
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum French Curriculum
Taught languages French, English, Spanish
Typical class size 6
Strengths Languages, STEM, Visual and Creative Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School
Introduction

Lycée Français de San Diego (LFSD) is a private bilingual immersion school in central San Diego, accredited by the French Ministry of Education and affiliated with the AEFE network. The school serves ages 2 through 15, offering pre-K to 8th grade on two campuses, including La Petite Ecole. LFSD follows a French curriculum with a fully immersive French program; preschool is 100% French, while Kindergarten includes 45 minutes of English language arts daily. Grades 1-3 are taught in French with 60 minutes of English daily, and Grades 4-8 add Spanish language arts alongside core subjects. The program prepares students to continue their education in U.S. schools, AEFE institutions worldwide (over 600) or other international programs such as the IB. LFSD is a nonprofit (501(c)(3)) with about 215 students from 29 nationalities. Extensive after-school enrichment emphasizes STEM, arts, and language, plus field trips, sports, and clubs. Campus tours are available year-round.

8401 Aero Dr, San Diego, CA 92123, United States

The Essentials

Lycée Français de San Diego has 240 pupils, typical class sizes of 6, instruction in French, English.

Location
The campus is at 8401 Aero Drive, San Diego, CA 92123, in the Serra Mesa / Kearny Mesa area near Mission Valley. It has quick access to the 805, 163 and 15 freeways.

Stages
Preschool through High School. The school offers a bilingual English–French program.

Type
Private bilingual immersion school fully accredited by the French Ministry of Education and affiliated with AEFE.

Country affiliation
France; affiliated with the AEFE network and accredited by the French Ministry of Education.

School day structure
Classes start at 9:00 am. Recess and lunch times are extended as part of the daily schedule.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has a uniform. P.E. Tee-shirts and patches are available as uniform items.

Food Options
Hot lunches from Girard Gourmet are available; lunch is offered 2, 3, or 5 days per week; the menu features French-inspired dishes; vegetables come from Girard's organic garden in Julian, CA.

Governance and Ownership
LFSD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation governed by a Board of Directors.
Fees

Annual tuition at Lycée Français de San Diego ranges from up to USD 22,106 for 2026/27.

Application / Registration fee

- New-student registration fee: USD 1,000 (one-time, non-refundable).

Tuition fees (listed as annual amounts; per-term equivalents shown as an equal one-third of the annual total)

- Preschool (2–3 years):
- Two full days (Tue–Thu) — Annual: USD 10,485. Per term (1/3 annual): USD 3,495.
- Three full days (Mon–Wed–Fri) — Annual: USD 13,471. Per term: USD 4,490.
- Full time — Annual: USD 17,718. Per term: USD 5,906.

- Junior Kindergarten & Kindergarten (4–5 years):
- Full time only — Annual: USD 18,853. Per term: USD 6,284.

- Elementary (Grades 1–5):
- Full time only — Annual: USD 19,840. Per term: USD 6,613.

- Middle School (Grades 6–8):
- Full time only — Annual: USD 21,256. Per term: USD 7,085.

- Sibling discount: 10% off the lowest tuition in the family (applies to tuition only).

Annual / Incidental fees (charged in addition to tuition)

- Preschool annual fee (includes classroom art supplies, some workbooks and textbooks, 1 school t-shirt, PreK & K snacks, some field trips, earthquake kit): USD 730.
- Grades 1–5 annual fee (same inclusions as above): USD 790.
- Grades 6–8 annual fee: USD 850.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- The registration fee for new students is charged once at enrollment and is non-refundable.
- Extended Care and incidental program billing are processed through the FACTS online billing system.
- FACTS supports multiple payment arrangements (examples used widely by schools): pay-in-full, semi-annual, and monthly plans; payments may be made by automatic bank withdrawal (ACH), credit or debit card, and by check where accepted by the school's FACTS setup. Credit-card transactions typically incur a convenience/service fee assessed through FACTS. Exact plan options, due dates, and any convenience fees are set through the school's FACTS/RenWeb enrollment and billing setup.

Boarding fees

- Boarding is not applicable. Le Lycée Français de San Diego operates as a day school (student ages 2–15) and does not publish boarding or residential fees.

Other costs and typical additional charges

- School attire / uniform: Students are required to wear specified school attire (polo/button shirts, navy/khaki bottoms, P.E. T‑shirt, etc.). School badges must be sewn onto uniforms; new badges may be purchased at school (price not listed publicly). Parents should anticipate one-off costs for badges and for any replacement uniform items beyond the single school t-shirt included in the annual fees.
- Hot lunch program (optional): Hot lunches are available from Girard Gourmet; menu selection and frequency are optional and billed separately. Specific lunch pricing is provided through the lunch ordering vendor.
- Extended Care / After-school care: Billed through FACTS; fees depend on enrollment in the Extended Care program and are added to the family account.
- Enrichment, after-school activities, and seasonal camps: These programs have separate fees. Camp and activity enrollments include stated refund rules (for example, many published program listings state no refund if a participant discontinues at or after the program start date).

Refund information

- The registration fee for new students is non-refundable.
- For extracurricular camps and short-term activities, published program listings state that there is no refund if you discontinue at or after the program start date (specific programs show this rule).
- No general, school-wide tuition withdrawal/refund schedule (for example pro-rated tuition refunds after mid-year withdrawal) is published on the school's publicly available tuition and admissions pages. If an exact tuition-refund or withdrawal schedule is required, that policy is established in the school's enrollment/tuition agreement and the school's billing office or enrollment contract.

Fee payment options

- The school uses online platforms for enrollment and billing (RenWeb/ParentsWeb and FACTS are used for application/enrollment and for billing of incidental items and Extended Care). Families set up their payment plan and payment method through those platforms.
- FACTS payment methods (as implemented for schools using FACTS) include automatic bank withdrawal (ACH), debit/credit card payments (convenience fee may apply), and check payments where permitted by the school's FACTS setup. Returned-payment fees and convenience fees are assessed through FACTS per its terms.

Notes on published discounts and financial assistance

- Sibling discount: 10% off the lowest tuition in the family (applies to tuition only).
- Students with French citizenship are eligible to apply for French government scholarships; consular procedures apply.

Brief note on information coverage

- The tuition and fee figures above are the school's published annual tuition and annual fees for the 2026–27 tuition schedule; the school publishes the annual amounts and the annual incidental‑fee line items. The school's public pages do not publish a full, itemized tuition withdrawal/refund schedule or an exhaustive list of every incidental charge (uniform badge replacement, specific activity fees, lunch pricing) on the same page as the annual tuition schedule; those items and the precise billing due-dates and payment-plan choices are administered through the school's enrollment/billing platforms (RenWeb/FACTS) and in the family enrollment agreement.
Academics

Lycée Français de San Diego teaches French Curriculum for students aged 2 to 15.

Curriculum
LFSD offers pre-K to 8th grade education with a fully immersive French program. Preschool is a full French immersion program (100% French) building linguistic and cognitive development. In Kindergarten, there is an additional 45 minutes of English language arts each day. Grades 1 to 3 are taught in French with an additional 60 minutes of English language arts per day. Grades 4 to 8 cover French language arts, English language arts, and Spanish language arts alongside Mathematics, Science & Technology, History & Geography, Civics, Fine Arts, and Physical Education. By the end of the program, LFSD students are prepared to pursue education in U.S. schools, French AEFE institutions (over 600 schools worldwide), or other international programs such as the International Baccalaureate (IB). LFSD is accredited by the French Ministry of Education and is part of the AEFE network.

Higher Education Progression
LFSD graduates may continue their education in U.S. schools, French AEFE network schools, or International Baccalaureate programs.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
LFSD fosters a safe, family-oriented learning environment. Values such as respect, politeness and good manners are emphasized. The school's mission is to instill and foster a love of learning and to respond to students' needs in a welcoming place to learn. Everything LFSD does supports the well-being of the children. Music, fine arts and PE are integrated into the curriculum.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school is a fully immersive bilingual program in French and English. It serves Pre-K through 8th grade in central San Diego. Teachers are native French speakers and are overseen by evaluators from the French Ministry of Education.

Mental Wellbeing
LFSD is committed to student well-being and to fostering a safe, family-oriented learning environment. Everything LFSD does supports the well-being of the children. Music, fine arts and PE are integrated into the curriculum to support holistic development. Classes start at 9am to help students arrive rested and ready to learn.

Safeguarding
LFSD fosters a safe, family-oriented learning environment. LFSD is a non profit organization (503(c)(3)) and an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in its educational programs, activities, admission, or employment policies.
Parent Experience

History
The school began in 2003 as a small daycare center operating out of a home in San Diego. In 2006, Le Lycée Français de San Diego opened at its Clairemont location with five teachers, one administrator, and a handful of students. The school is a fully immersive French/English bilingual institution that advocates bilingual education, combining traditional French teaching methods with modern approaches. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and accredited by the French Ministry of Education. LFSD offers pre-K to 8th grade education to about 215 students from 29 nationalities in central San Diego.

Community
LFSD is a fully immersive school located in the central San Diego area (Serra Mesa / Kearny Mesa, near Mission Valley). It describes the environment as safe and family-oriented, with a mission that centers on student well‑being and a love of learning. Students come from diverse income levels and linguistic backgrounds, and parents value bilingual education and the French cultural ethos. The school presents itself as an international learning environment that aims to develop confident, independent thinkers and global citizens.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The PTR is the Parent Teacher Resource group, a nonprofit organization composed of LFSD parents and guardians, teachers, and staff, operating independently from the school. It has an elected leadership team including a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Event Coordinator, and all LFSD parents and guardians are general members. The PTR meets monthly and organizes events for students and families, promotes school spirit, and encourages parent involvement. Fundraising by the PTR supports student and school initiatives, including playground equipment, PE gear, auditorium improvements, and the Petite Plume student newspaper, with volunteer opportunities and calendar events for the LFSD community.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school offers bilingual education in French and English from preschool through high school. It is located in the central San Diego area, with La Petite École serving as LFSD's campus. La Petite École is LFSD's San Diego campus, and interactive tours are available for families. The school serves about 215 children from 29 nationalities and is accredited by the French Ministry of Education.

Sports Facilities
Preschool, Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten students have 45 minutes of gross motor activities every day. They also have access to tricycles, scooters, jump ropes and balls during recess. A variety of activities and team sports are introduced in first grade and continued through sixth grade, with a minimum of 3 hours of P.E. every week.

Academic Facilities
LFSD offers a fully immersive bilingual program in French and English. The school follows the French curriculum and is accredited by the French Ministry of Education. It serves pre-K through 8th grade education to about 215 children from 29 nationalities. The program blends bilingual instruction with two centuries of traditional education and modern teaching methods.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Art is an integral part of LFSD's bilingual education. Sports and physical activities are a key component of the program, with a focus on teamwork and daily movement. Music education includes instruction in singing and instruments for older students. Field trips are part of LFSD life, with experiences such as Life in the Desert, Carlsbad Museum of Making Music, Trees, Upper Grades Camp, and Whale Watching. Field trips begin in Junior Kindergarten, with younger children having visiting activities brought to LFSD.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
LFSD offers after-school ASA programs with a strong emphasis on STEM and academic enrichment. STEAM, sports, art, singing, cooking, theater, yoga, and dance are available after school, encouraging exploration beyond classroom lessons. Academic and cognitive activities include Math Club, Chess Club, Coding, Rocket Club, and related workshops that promote problem‑solving and strategic thinking.

Arts & Creative
Art education is an integral part of LFSD's bilingual program and starts as early as age two. Older students receive music classes in singing and instrumentation, and events showcase dance, percussion, and rhythm. Drama and theater are featured in the after‑school program, with activities conducted in English and French. The enrichment program also includes Theater & Role-Playing Games as a core creative offering.

Cultural & Language
LFSD provides a fully immersive bilingual program in French and English. Language immersion and a structured curriculum help students acquire French rapidly and develop cross‑cultural competencies. The bilingual education promotes discovering a new culture, developing different ways of thinking, tolerance, and worldliness. LFSD's language focus is supported by a bilingual learning environment and cultural exchange opportunities.

Social & Hobbies
The after‑school program offers Theater & Role‑Playing Games and Chess & Strategy, supporting social interaction and cognitive development. Enrichment activities include drama, Esports, Lego, art, music, dance, and cooking, fostering collaboration and creativity among students. These programs provide opportunities for teamwork, public speaking, and imaginative play in English and French.

Leadership & Professional
LFSD has an Enrichment Director and a STEAM Director on staff to oversee after‑school and enrichment programs, ensuring cohesive leadership across activities. Theater, Drama, and public speaking components in the ASA offerings help students develop leadership and communication skills. Leadership‑focused roles and structured programs are evident in the Enrichment program administration and course variety.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
LFSD prioritizes physical activity as part of daily life. Preschool through 6th grade include at least 3 hours of PE each week, with younger students enjoying daily gross motor activities. After‑school programs feature sports and movement such as soccer, team sports, pickleball, and parcours. The enrichment program also includes yoga, dance, and other active activities to support well‑being.
Languages

Language Provision
French and English are the languages of instruction at LFSD, reflecting its French/English bilingual identity; the school offers pre-K through 8th grade.

Bilingual Teaching
Le Lyce9e Frane7ais de San Diego is a unique French/English bilingual educational institution located in central San Diego, offering pre-K to 8th grade education to about 215 children from 29 nationalities. The school emphasizes bilingual education and uses traditional French teaching methods alongside English-language learning. It is fully accredited by the French Ministry of Education.

Immersion Programs
LFSD provides a fully immersive program for French learners, designed to help students acquire and retain French.
Reputation

Accreditations
The school is fully accredited by the French Ministry of Education and follows the French curriculum; it is visited by the French Ministry almost every year to verify compliance. It is a member of AEFE (Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger).
Admissions

Admissions
1. LFSD accepts children from ages 2 to 15. The school uses a dedicated online application platform; begin the process by clicking the Application for Admission (NEW LINK). The LFSD admissions page confirms the dedicated application platform and contact options.

2. Schedule a Tour is available under Enroll to arrange a campus visit. The tour provides an opportunity to learn about LFSD's bilingual program and campus facilities. This option helps families connect with staff and learn about admissions timelines.
School Events
The school has not added events
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