Admissions Overview
Welcome to The French American Academy!
Dear Families,
A heartfelt warm welcome from the Admissions Office of The French American Academy!
Thank you for considering offering your child(ren) an international education at our French bilingual school in New Jersey!
At The French American Academy, your children, our students, will be immersed in an international environment, surrounded by a diverse community of cultures, languages, concepts, and ideas, which will challenge them to explore the world from a global perspective. Our goal is to educate our students as citizens of the world, empowering them to embrace challenges and contribute to making the world a better place. We aim to develop respectful, curious, healthy, and resilient future leaders. Our students are inspired to cultivate a growth mindset and wisdom that will enable them to lead fulfilled lives with integrity and purpose.
The FAA Admissions team is here to support you through the significant milestone of choosing a school for your child(ren), and this section will provide you with all practical information about our Admissions process.
We thank you for visiting our website and look forward to welcoming you at one of our campuses soon!
Warm regards,
Kalyana Maréchal, Ph.D,
Director of Admissions
High School Launch! Accepting Grade 9 Applications
Jersey City’s ONLY IB Candidate* High School
We are excited to announce the opening of our High School and are now accepting applications for Grade 9. Our High School welcomes students of all levels of French proficiency, from those with no prior knowledge of French to native speakers. The French American Academy is a Candidate School* for the Middle Years Program. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that FAA believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.
How to Visit the School
In-Person Visit
During our 1hr in-person campus visits, you will:
- Meet our Administrators & Teachers
- Visit the campus & see the facilities
- Learn about our curriculum & teaching philosophy
- Ask any & all questions you may have
Virtual Info Session
During a 30 minute Virtual Information sessions, you will:
- Meet our Admission Director
- Learn about our curriculum and teaching philosophy
- Discuss whether the FAA is a good match for your child
- Ask any & all questions you may have
Upcoming Events & Tours
Information to Know Before Applying
Cutoff Date - Dec. 31st
At our French bilingual school in New Jersey, we adhere to the French cutoff date of December 31st. As a result, children born after October are eligible to enroll a year in advance.
Age Requirement
The earliest a student can enroll at The French American Academy is at 2 years and 6 months of age, in PreK-2.
You Don't Need to Speak French to Enroll
French knowledge is not a requirement to enter Preschool or Kindergarten.
Starting in 1st grade, we offer an Accelerated French Program (AFP) in both Elementary and Middle School for students with no prior knowledge of French. Strong English language skills and a willingness to learn are required, as the program is academically rigorous and fast-paced. Students who are bilingual or demonstrate strong language aptitude are considered strong candidates for the program.
Potty-Training
Children entering PreK-3 are required to be potty trained, but it is not required for PreK-2.
Recommendation Form & Report Card
We require parents to provide us with a teacher’s recommendation if a student attended a previous preschool or daycare. Starting from 1st grade, we also require report cards at our French bilingual school in new jersey.
Applying
Please visit our Steps To Apply page for more information on the admissions process to our French bilingual school in new jersey
2025-26
Applications are being accepted.
2026-27
Applications will start being accepted in summer 2025.
- Please Select the Desired Campus to Apply -
Why The French American Academy?
Well-Rounded Curriculum
We go beyond academics with overnight and weeklong field trips to the Arizona desert, New Orleans’ lagoon, historic sites in Quebec, and much more!
Math & Science-Focused
With dedicated STEM teachers, a math club, and our applied math curriculum, our students are challenged to understand what makes the world function.
Structured Learning
Our play/project-based approach engages student to collaborate and to develop innovative solutions to real world problems.
True Bilingual Education
Our bilingual curriculum not only allows our students to speak, read, write, count, & think in both languages, but it also gives students a cognitive & cultural edge over their peers.
Highly Trained Teachers
Our teachers have a minimum of 3+ years of experience, a masters degree, and they are ALL native speakers of French and English language.
Accredited Education
Our accreditation by both the French & American education authorities demonstrating our commitment to meeting the highest standards in French & American education.
Behind the Scenes at the FAA
Come and Discover the World of Bilingual Education!
Join us at The French American Academy’s Open Houses to explore how we combine French academic rigor with American creativity, preparing students for success in a global world. Meet our Head of School and Directors!
📅 Save the Dates
📍 Jersey City – Downtown Campus (Preschool to Elementary)
Sat, Oct 11, 2025 | 9:00 – 11:00 AM
Sat, Nov 1, 2025 | 9:00 – 11:00 AM
📌 209 3rd St, Jersey City, NJ
📍 Jersey City – The Heights Campus (Middle & High School)
Sat, Oct 11, 2025 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Sat, Nov 1, 2025 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM
📌 118 Ferry Street, Jersey City, NJ
Open only to students entering Grade 9 in Fall 2026
✨ RSVP now – seats are limited!
#FrenchAmericanAcademy #BilingualEducation #OpenHouse #NJSchools #JerseyCityNJ #EnglewoodNJ #EducationWithoutBorders #BilingualFuture
🌍 International Education Tuesday 🌍
Our 2nd graders took a double trip – first to Canada 🇨🇦 and then to Brazil 🇧🇷thanks to our wonderful parent volunteers!
Through engaging presentations, students explored the cultural contrasts between these two countries: from snowy mountains and maple syrup to tropical rainforests and vibrant festivals.
They learned about languages, traditions, geography, and daily life across the Americas.
A big thank you to the parents who continue to make our classroom a global learning space.
These experiences help our students develop a broader worldview, one country (or two!) at a time. 🌎✈️
#InternationalEducation #CanadaAndBrazil #GlobalLearning #BilingualSchool #FrenchAmericanAcademy #CulturalExchange #WorldReadyKids #2ndGradeExplorers
🧮 Math Monday: Discovering Math Beyond the Classroom
In Grade 1, students explored how math exists all around them through creative challenges, hands-on games, and a city-wide “math walk.”
As part of Math Week, they designed their own math games to reinforce key skills like counting, addition, and pattern recognition.
Outside the classroom, they searched for math in the real world, reading numbers on menus, spotting dots, stripes, and repeating patterns on sidewalks, and identifying shapes in everyday objects.
These experiences help students connect abstract concepts to concrete experiences, which strengthens comprehension and builds problem-solving abilities.
This kind of experiential learning supports long-term retention and helps students see math not just as a subject but as a language they can use to understand the world.
#MathMonday #Grade1Math #RealLifeMath #UrbanMathWalk #BilingualEducation #FrenchAmericanAcademy #HandsOnLearning #MathInEverydayLife #EarlySTEM #AcademicExcellence #CognitiveDevelopment #MathThroughExploration
🎨 Project-Based Saturday: Exploring Optical Illusions in PK4
In Mathias`s PK4 classroom, students took on the fascinating world of optical illusions where art meets perception and science.
Through guided exploration, they learned how colors, shapes, and patterns can trick the eye and change how we see things.
Students exceptionally used tablets to view examples of optical illusions and demonstrate their findings, integrating technology in a purposeful, age-appropriate way.
They then created and painted their own illusions, applying what they observed to original artwork.
To take their learning even further, they presented their work to other grades, explaining how each illusion works and what they discovered. This project built early visual literacy, fine motor skills, presentation confidence, and sparked curiosity about how the brain interprets images.
It’s a perfect example of how project-based learning gives young students the tools to explore big ideas and share them with others.
#ProjectBasedLearning #OpticalIllusions #PK4Learning #EarlySTEM #ArtAndScience #VisualLiteracy #FrenchAmericanAcademy #BilingualEducation #TechnologyInEarlyEd #StudentPresentations #CreativeExploration #HandsOnLearning #LearningThroughProjects .
🌍✈️ One more week of summer magic is left, let’s make it unforgettable!
We can’t wait to see even more smiling faces join the fun!
We still have spots available for next week!
📅 Sign up now before the final adventure begins!
Last week, our campers went on a world of adventures!
In Egypt, they wrote their names in hieroglyphics.
In Africa, they learned about Mansa Musa’s legendary wealth.
In Australia, they made boomerangs.
In China, they built a Great Wall (out of cardboard!).
And in France, they enjoyed a festive feast! 🍇🥖
Of course, no week is complete without water games, laughter, and time with friends. 💦✨
#FAASummerCamp #LastWeekOfCamp #SummerFunForKids #FAAFriends
Why choose the IB Program at the French American Academy High School?
Because it works, and the numbers prove it!
🌎 Global Reach: The IB is offered in over 8,000 programs across 150+ countries, making it one of the most respected international diplomas worldwide.
👩🎓 Proven Impact: Every year, more students benefit from the IB`s focus on critical thinking, global awareness, and lifelong learning; skills that go beyond memorization.
📱 Modern & Inclusive: The IB is evolving. Recent initiatives include digital learning tools, improved assessment methods, and a more inclusive curriculum.
👩🏫 Support for Teachers: With new investments in professional development, IB teachers are better equipped to guide students through meaningful learning experiences.
🌱 Mission-Driven: At its core, the IB is about building a better world through education, a mission we proudly share.
We are the only IB candidate high school of its kind in New Jersey!
#FrenchAmericanAcademy #IBDiploma #InternationalBaccalaureate #IBWorld #GlobalEducation #JerseyCityHighSchool #CriticalThinking #BilingualHighSchool #EducationWithPurpose #FutureReady #FAAHIGHschool
🌍 International Education Tuesday 🌍
Lily and her mom transported our 2nd graders to Australia 🇦🇺!
From kangaroos 🦘 to coastlines, cities to outback life, their lively presentation brought this faraway continent up close.
Our students discovered unique animals, landscapes, and cultural facts that sparked lots of curiosity and conversation.
With each visit like this, the world becomes a little more familiar and a lot more exciting!
Thank you to Lily and her mom for helping our classroom go global once again. 🌏💬
#InternationalEducation #AustraliaInClass #GlobalExplorers #BilingualSchool #FrenchAmericanAcademy #WorldReadyKids #2ndGradeAdventures #CulturalAwareness
📏 Math Monday: Real-Life Math in Action
During Math Week, our 2nd graders stepped into the role of real-world problem solvers.
Each day, they worked in small groups to explore math through hands-on activities that mirrored everyday situations, counting objects, measuring distances, estimating quantities, and applying reasoning to make decisions.
This practical approach helps students see math as more than just an abstract subject. It becomes a tool they can use to understand their environment, communicate ideas, and solve real-life problems.
Working in groups also encourages collaborative thinking, peer learning, and the ability to explain strategies out loud, an essential part of building mathematical fluency. By rooting math in context, students strengthen number sense, develop logical thinking, and gain confidence in applying what they’ve learned.
It’s a week full of discovery, connection, and academic growth.
#MathMonday #Grade2Math #RealWorldMath #CollaborativeLearning #MathInDailyLife #STEMEducation #ProblemSolvingSkills #FrenchAmericanAcademy #BilingualEducation #AcademicExcellence #HandsOnLearning #BuildingConfidence
Frequently Asked Questions
At our French bilingual school in new jersey, the Admissions Process is comprised of 3 steps :
- Online Application ($140 application fee)
- Admissions Interview (Both with Parents/Guardians and Child)
- Notification of Decision
For more details please visit our Steps to Apply Page.
Yes, we accept students during the year, given the availability of spots.
