EDUCATION SUPPLEMENT 74 JUNE 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL FSO Martin Thomen is a desk officer in the Bureau of African Affairs Office of West Africa. His child has been in French Ministry of Education–certified schools abroad and presently attends the AEFE-certified Rochambeau in Bethesda, Maryland. Some U.S. foreign affairs professionals educate their children in the French school system, an option in cities of many foreign and domestic assignments. Choices abound, from public bilingual schools in the Washington, D.C., area to a worldwide network of Frenchgovernment schools on six continents. Motivations for choosing French vary: For some, it’s a bridge to a cultural or family connection, and for others, it’s a decision made with future opportunities in mind. French school families rely on the trusted network of the State Department’s Office of Overseas Schools’ regional education officers, post resources, and tips from other families, but they face additional challenges and benefits specific to the French school system. The French School System: Nuts and Bolts French schools are divided into maternelle, école primaire, collège, and lycée with grade levels corresponding to the U.S. grade levels as noted in the table (page opposite). While some schools may make changes for local conditions, the standard is that to begin in the system, the child must Choices abound when considering the French school system for your child. Here are some tips to help guide your decision-making. BY MARTIN THOMEN turn 5 years old by Dec. 31 of the year of enrollment to grande section (GS). In other words, 4-year-olds turning 5 between the fall school start date and end of the calendar year normally may enter GS. French schools will accept new students with little or no French language ability through first grade cours préparatoire (CP), although most require French language skills for children enrolling in levels beyond CP. For families considering enrollment in the French system, a good tip is to start in the system as early as possible in the child’s education journey. AEFE and Non-AEFE Options The government of France created the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) in 1990 to coordinate and manage the network of French schools What to Know When Considering French Schools ISTOCKPHOTO/QVASIMODO
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