Academics
Program Overview
At the French International School of Philadelphia, we teach a dual curriculum in French and English. Our students learn English with their American teacher and French with their French teacher. They do not learn either language as a “foreign” language but rather as another language. At the French International School of Philadelphia, acquiring another language takes place at a young age, when children are receptive to learning another language in the same way they learn their mother tongue.
Bilingual Program
Our students are immersed in French at an early age in order to be given the opportunity to master the language. Our students learn to think in French as well as in English. Emphasis is placed on developing verbal skills in the pre-elementary grades, while academic learning (including reading and writing) takes place in the elementary grades.
As outlined below, the time devoted to English and French instruction changes from preschool through eighth grade. Click here to view news coverage and articles on the benefits of bilingual education.
| Grade Level | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool / 2-year-olds | 100% | — |
| Preschool / 3-year-olds | 90% | 10% |
| Pre-Kindergarten / 4-year-olds | 82% | 18% |
| Kindergarten / 5-year-olds | 77% | 23% |
| First Grade | 73% | 27% |
| Second Grade | 65% | 35% |
| Third Grade | 65% | 35% |
| Fourth Grade | 50% | 50% |
| Fifth Grade | 50% | 50% |
| Sixth Grade | 50% | 50% |
| Seventh Grade | 50% | 50% |
| Eighth Grade | 50% | 50% |
In classes conducted in French, we follow the official national curriculum of France and, in English, the standards established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We coordinate these two programs so that they enhance one another. Language Arts, Social Studies, and Mathematics are taught in both French and English. The remaining subjects are taught either in French or in English, as described below.
Science
Beginning in preschool, our students have an opportunity to explore the world of science through discovery and investigation with our science teacher each month. In grades two through eight, the program is formalized, with science classes occurring several times each week. As part of our science curriculum, our students learn to apply the scientific method. In March, all students participate in our annual Science Fair. Our Middle School students also enter their projects in the Montgomery County Science Fair.
Music
All students participate in weekly music classes with our English Music teacher. They learn to sing, read music, play the recorder and Orff instruments, and use a keyboard. They also study music history, discover the works of famous composers, and develop an appreciation for music.
Art
At every grade level, art is integrated into the curriculum. It includes the study of artists who have influenced society's cultural environment for centuries. In art class, students learn to relate form, color, space, and line while developing an appreciation for aesthetics. They also have the opportunity to express their creativity through a variety of media.
Throughout the year, we organize visits to local art institutions, invite local artists to our school, and participate in the Art Goes to School program. Every student also takes part in our annual end-of-year art exhibition.
Sports
Sports classes are incorporated into our weekly program and are taught by the French classroom teacher in preschool through third grade. Students in fourth through eighth grade have physical education classes three times per week in English with our athletics coach. Additionally, all Upper School students in grades five through eight are invited to join our soccer, basketball, and swim teams.
Technology
Our school is equipped with broadband internet access, a network, a computer lab, and classroom technology for student use, including iPads, laptops, and interactive smartboards. Students learn to conduct research and reinforce classroom learning through the use of technology.
Spanish
In September 2022, we launched Spanish immersion classes for fourth- and fifth-grade students. This program forms the foundation of our redesigned Middle School language curriculum. The courses are taught by native speakers and provide a fun and interactive environment in which students explore a variety of cultures and traditions through authentic short stories, songs, and literature from across the Spanish-speaking world.
The program accommodates a wide range of proficiency levels: beginners are introduced to the language, while more advanced students have the opportunity to strengthen their linguistic skills through writing and conversational activities.