History
Rochambeau The French International School was founded in 1955, and has a current total enrollment of approximately 1100 students, the largest of the nine French schools in the United States. Rochambeau The French International School, formerly known as Lycée Rochambeau, is a non-denominational, coeducational, day school serving students from nursery (age 2, toute ''petite section'') through high school and the last year of the French secondary system (''Terminale'') on three campuses located just outside the city of Washington, D.C. Rochambeau offers a French Immersion program for non-French speakers from nursery school until 3rd grade. In 1992 the school had plans for a new campus for all grades K-12 and the administration in an area in Potomac, Maryland, and that year it acquired land there. Area residents complained as they feared there would be more vehicular traffic. Liz Spayd of the '' Washington Post'' wrote "The community's opposition has been interpreted by some to be a thinly veiled attempt to keep foreigners out of Potomac". In November 1993 the county planning board gave disapproval to the French school's plans there.Campuses
The School's secondary school accommodates approximately 309 students on an campus in Bethesda, the Forest Road Campus; the same campus houses the school's administrative offices. The preschool (maternelle) classes are at the Bradley Campus in Bethesda. The elementary school classes are at the Rollingwood Campus in Chevy Chase. Circa 2022 the school plans to open a new preschool and elementary campus in Bethesda. Previously it had a campus inStudent body
Approximately forty-nine percent (48.996%) of students hold French citizenship (with a large percentage of those holding a second citizenship), fourteen percent (14%) are U.S. citizens, and thirty-seven percent (37%) come from fifty-five (55) other nations. Many Rochambeau students come from families who are in Washington, D.C. on postings with embassies, foreign-owned corporations, and multilateral organizations. In 1993 most students came from countries that spoke French, including France, Belgium, and multiple countries in Africa.Graduation requirements
To receive the high school diploma accredited by the State of Maryland, Lycée Rochambeau students must complete a minimum of 21 Carnegie units. Twenty of these units must be in specified areas: * 4 units in English * 4 units inStructure and curriculum
All French lycées follow the academic curriculum established by the French National Ministry of Education. Rochambeau's faculty members are certified by the same French ministry. The student-faculty ratio is 10 to 1, with all courses being taught in French. However, English and U.S civilization classes are taught in English, along with History classes in the International Baccalauréat section (see OIB section of this article). Beginning in the first year of Middle School ''(6ème)'', Spanish, German and Arabic are offered as a second language, with each student having to choose one of those languages. English language instruction is offered at four levels with placement depending on a student’s level of proficiency: Group 1 – ESL; Group 2 – standard English; Group 3 – Honors English; and Group 4—OIB English. During the ''Terminale'' year, Groups 1 and 2 and Groups 3 and 4 are combined, and a separate Group is created for the OIB section. In addition, students may enroll in a Latin class, which is made available to them at the beginning of Middle School and continues on until the final year of High School. Theater, Cinema, Art and Music may be chosen separately as optional classes during the first year of High School.Course load
During the final three years of secondary education, Lycée students often carry a course load of 37 to 40 hours per week, School Digger: Lycee Rochambeau (retrieved on August 30, 2013) with a corresponding amount of homework. School hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. or 5:30 p.m for upperclassmen, depending on each academic student's schedule. Given the long school day and heavy academic load, students have little time to pursue extracurricular activities. However, various activities are organized by different student groups, including a talent show, which takes place before December break and features students presenting particular talents. Sports, such as swimming, rugby, basketball, volleyball or soccer, are accessible to students of different grades. The ''lycée'' also celebrates the ''Fête de la francophonie,'' emphasizing the diverse francophone cultures from which the various students come. In 2021 there are clubs for every grade. There is a programming club for the 3emes and lower. There is also a SIA (Section Internationale Americaine) for students 6emes or lower.French ''Baccalauréat''
During the last two years of French secondary education (''Première'' and ''Terminale''), students choose concentrations in one of the following specialized academic tracks (''Séries duInternational Option of the French Baccalauréat (OIB)
Within the context of the ''Baccalauréat's'' international options (the ''option internationale du baccalauréat'', or OIB) the Lycée offers the American Option. The Lycée’s OIB American Option, which is taught by French and American faculty, is an optional three-year program that offers students advanced level studies in English language and literature and an integrated curriculum in world history and geography. The OIB is not a separate diploma, but rather an additional specialization within the framework of any of the three ''Séries'' of the ''Baccalauréat''. The concept, curriculum, and evaluation standards of the OIB American Option have been developed by the French Ministry of Education and the Advanced Placement Division of theAlumni
* Florent Groberg * Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón * Francine LacquaSee also
* American School of Paris – An American international school in France *References
External links
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