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Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus logo

Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus

United States, San Francisco

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The school at a glance
Instructs in French, English
Fees $28,000 - 58,900
Ages 2 - 18 years
Type Co-educational
Opened 1967
Bus Service Yes
Part of
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum
Taught languages French, English, Spanish, German, Mandarin, Latin
Typical class size 18
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Preschool, Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Lycée Français de San Francisco (LFSF) is an international school serving PreK–12 with two bilingual tracks: a French Track aligned to the French Ministry of National Education, and an International Track powered by the International Baccalaureate (IB). Students aged 2 to 18 benefit from continuous education across three campuses: Ashbury (Preschool–Grade 5) in San Francisco, Sausalito (Preschool–Grade 5) in Marin, and Ortega (Middle–High School) in San Francisco. The International Track follows the IB Middle Years Programme (Grades 6–10) and the IB Diploma Programme (Grades 11–12). The school is accredited by the French Ministry and CAIS and is part of the AEFE network. Across campuses sustainability is embedded: Eco-Delegates, solar aquaponics, water cisterns, living green walls, and an organic Cantine kitchen. LFSF hosts a diverse community of around 50 nationalities and offers strong arts, athletics, and language programs, enabling bilingual French–English instruction and a wide range of extracurricular activities for families.

This campus is part of Lycée Français de San Francisco

755 Ashbury St, San Francisco, CA 94117, United States

The Essentials

Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus has typical class sizes of 18, instruction in French, English.

Location

The Lycée Français de San Francisco operates on three campuses: Ashbury Campus in San Francisco (755 Ashbury Street, 94117) for Preschool through Grade 5; Ortega Campus in San Francisco (1201 Ortega Street, 94122) for Middle School through High School. The Sausalito Campus in Marin County (610 Coloma Street, 94965) serves Preschool through Grade 5.

Stages

Ashbury and Sausalito campuses offer Preschool through Grade 5. Ortega Campus houses Middle School (Gr 6–8) and High School (Gr 9–12).

Type

Private international school offering PreK–12 bilingual education with two tracks: French Track and International Track powered by IB.

Pupil Nationality Mix

More than 50 nationalities are represented across campuses; more than 30 languages are spoken.

Country affiliation

France; AEFE member

Bus service

Transportation operates across three campuses with routes between Marin County and the Ortega Campus, between Cupertino (South Bay) and the Ortega Campus, and between the Ortega Campus and the Ashbury Campus in the morning for K–5. Starting in 2026–2027, a free shuttle will connect San Francisco to the Sausalito preschool/primary campus, with pickup locations published in Spring 2026.

Fees

Annual tuition at Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus ranges from USD 28,000 to USD 58,900 for 2026/27.

Application & Enrollment Fees

- One-time Entrance Fee (new students): USD 2,500 per child — required at the time of enrollment; non-refundable and not deductible from tuition.

- Tuition Deposit: 3.5% of the total annual tuition — required with the signed Enrollment Agreement to secure a child's space; this deposit is non-refundable.

- Financial Aid Application Fee (when applying for school financial aid via the Clarity portal): USD 60 required at submission.

Tuition — Annual and Per-Term (2026–2027)

All amounts shown are annual tuition rates by campus and grade band. Per-term and per-month illustrations below follow the school's offered payment schedules (two equal installments or ten monthly installments). All amounts are in USD.

- SAUSALITO (Marin) Campus — Preschool through Grade 5:
- La Petite École (Part time): USD 28,000 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 14,000 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 2,800 per month.)
- La Petite École through Kindergarten: USD 38,100 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 19,050 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 3,810 per month.)
- Grades 1–5: USD 38,100 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 19,050 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 3,810 per month.)

- ASHBURY (San Francisco) Campus — Preschool through Grade 5:
- La Petite École (Part time): USD 32,450 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 16,225 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 3,245 per month.)
- La Petite École through Kindergarten: USD 44,100 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 22,050 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 4,410 per month.)
- Grades 1–5: USD 44,100 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 22,050 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 4,410 per month.)

- ORTEGA (San Francisco) Campus — Middle & High School:
- Middle School (Grades): USD 45,500 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 22,750 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 4,550 per month.)
- High School: USD 58,900 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 29,450 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 5,890 per month.)

These annual tuition amounts include the core program elements described below.

What Tuition Includes

- Daily school lunches (the Lycée Cantine) are included in tuition.
- Global Learning educational trips for Grades 1 through Grade 12 are included in tuition.
- Before- and after-school care for Preschool students (including Kindergarten), with extension to Grades 1–5 on the Sausalito campus, is included in tuition.

Other (Optional) Fees and Additional Costs

- School transportation (optional): USD 4,680 per year (annual flat rate). Note: transportation between San Francisco and the Sausalito campus is complimentary.

- Camps and Study Hall: optional services with separate fees. A bundled price for Preschool through Kindergarten families is available at USD 5,500 (this bundle covers registration to all camps — school year and summer). Specific study hall and individual camp fees are charged separately when families register.

- After-school activities: fees for extracurricular programs, clubs, and some specialty offerings are charged in addition to tuition.

- Incidental/exam or materials fees: certain exam fees, specialized course fees, or optional materials may be charged separately where applicable; these are not listed as included in base tuition.

Billing Schedule & Payment Terms

- Payment options (families choose one):
- Pay in full by June 01 (pre-payment discount applies — see next item).
- Two equal installments due on June 01 and November 01 (each installment = 50% of annual tuition).
- Ten monthly installments starting June 01 (each installment = annual tuition ÷ 10).

- All payment plans must be paid in full by the date specified for enrollment for the 2026–2027 year. The school's published schedule states that all payment plans must be paid in full by March 2026 at the latest for enrollment in 2026–2027. Automatic payment plan registration is mandatory at enrollment unless tuition and fees are prepaid in full by an employer. Families may pay by automatic bank withdrawal or by credit card; a processing fee will be added for credit-card payments.

- Pre-payment discount:
- USD 1,500 discount for families who prepay 100% of tuition before June 01.
- USD 600 discount for families who prepay in two parts (timing as defined by the billing schedule).
- Discounts do not apply to families receiving scholarships, tuition paid by companies, or staff receiving tuition remission.

Boarding Fees

- Boarding is not applicable. The Lycée is a day school operating multiple campuses (Ashbury, Sausalito, Ortega) and does not publish boarding or residential program fees.

Refund Information

- The USD 2,500 entrance fee and the tuition deposit (3.5% of annual tuition) are explicitly stated as non-refundable.

- A general mid-year tuition refund schedule for withdrawals (for example, prorated refunds based on withdrawal date) is not published on the school's tuition pages; families should confirm the withdrawal and refund terms directly with the school's billing office or in the Enrollment Agreement.

Fee Payment Methods

- Automatic bank withdrawal (ACH/automatic debit) is accepted for installment plans.
- Credit card payments are accepted; a credit-card processing fee will be added to card transactions.

Notes for Billing and Planning

- Entrance fee and tuition deposit are due at enrollment and are non-refundable. Budget for optional charges such as transportation (USD 4,680), camp bundles (USD 5,500 for eligible Preschool-K families), study hall, after-school activities, and any course-specific or exam fees when planning total annual cost.

- The Financial Aid application requires a USD 60 submission fee and has published deadlines for returning and new families; families should account for that when applying for aid.
Academics

Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus teaches IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.

Curriculum

The International Track is based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Spanning Grades 6 through 10, the Middle Years Programme emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and real-world applications. It is organized around eight IB subject groups: language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical and health education, and design. Language & Literature uses the California State Standards to develop reading, writing, and global perspectives. The Diploma Programme begins in Grades 11-12, with six subject groups and a DP core including Creativity, Activity, Service; the Extended Essay; and Theory of Knowledge. The DP leads to both the IB Diploma and the US High School diploma.

Exam Results

French Baccalaureate results are outstanding.

Higher Education Progression

85% of our Seniors chose to continue their educational journey in North America; 19% enrolled in Canadian universities; 15% will go to Europe, including 3.5% to France.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

The Wellness Coordinator provides one-on-one student support including crisis intervention; organizes health education workshops for students, educational teams, and parents, and develops a health education curriculum (including sex and drug education). The school promotes mental health and well-being and implements a curriculum in socio-emotional strategies (SEL) with campus events such as Wellness Wednesdays, stress-less activities, and mental health awareness campaigns.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

A Speech Therapist provides information and resources to teachers to better support students; creates Student Accommodation Plans (PAP) for students diagnosed with Specific Learning Disorders and conducts annual reviews; assists students eligible for accommodations for the DNB and French Baccalauréat in filing requests with the French embassy.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

The International Track is powered by the IB and makes the Lycée accessible to all prospective students without any French language requirement.

Mental Wellbeing

Wellness initiatives support mental well-being; the Wellness Coordinator leads activities to promote mental health and the development of a socio-emotional learning curriculum, along with events that foster protective factors for students (e.g., Wellness Wednesdays and mental health awareness campaigns).

Safeguarding

An Emergency Disaster and Incident Preparedness Plan outlines safety procedures for emergencies such as earthquakes and fires, with annual updates and staff training; procedures include evacuation, ‘duck, cover and hold,' designated adult responsibilities, emergency pickups, and external communication systems to inform families.

Admissions

Admissions

Online application starts on the Veracross portal. Create an account on the School Admin platform and submit the online application. A 150 application fee is charged at application. Grade placement follows the French‑US equivalence: LPE = PreK2; PS = PreK3; MS = PreK4; GS = K; CP = 1st; CE1 = 2nd; CE2 = 3rd; CM1 = 4th; CM2 = 5th; 6e = 6th; 5e = 7th; 4e = 8th; 3e = 9th; 2nde = 10th; 1re = 11th; Terminale = 12th. The admission journey includes applying online, meeting with the Admissions team, and Admissions decisions and notifications. For families living abroad, applications are mostly considered on rolling admissions. Admissions main dates for 2026–2027 include March 5, April 2, May 7, and June 4 (Ortega Campus). First notifications are sent by email in early March; after these dates, applications are reviewed regularly and notifications follow. Upon acceptance, families have one week to enroll by signing the enrollment contract electronically and paying the non‑refundable enrollment fees. Tuition information for 2025–2026 will be posted in early February. High School admissions include virtual meetings with an Admissions associate to discuss goals; these meetings can be scheduled at convenient times and are optional for sibling applicants. The American International Section (AIS) runs from Grade 1 through Grade 12; AIS students follow the core syllabus with courses taught in English; in Middle School, Language and Literature and History‑Geography are taught in English, with additional English‑language coursework. The Lycée Français de San Francisco operates on three campuses: Ashbury (San Francisco), Sausalito, and Ortega; the school maintains a non‑discrimination policy for admissions and programs.

Scholarships

Full High School Scholarship program offers scholarships to new students entering Grades 9–12; up to two Full Scholarships may be awarded per class year; the full value is estimated at over $235,000 for four years and covers the full academic program, academic and student support resources, instructional materials and in‑class technology, the Global Learning Program, and daily lunches. Bay Area residency is required; Scholarships are based on demonstrated financial need and academic potential. How to Apply: Step 1 indicate interest; Step 2 complete the standard financial aid application via Clarity by January 2, 2026; Step 3 complete the standard application for admission by January 23, 2026; Fee waivers are available for scholarship applicants earning below the county's low income cap. The Seona Herail Scholarship is a four‑year merit scholarship granting 25% of tuition per year for high school students (Grades 9–12), renewable if eligible, awarded on the recommendation of a pedagogical committee. AEFE French Government Financial Aid covers all or part of tuition; second AEFE round deadline is February 20, 2026; Outside financial aid programs exist. In 2024–25 about 24% of students received financial aid, and over 83% of aid is funded by Lycée.

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