Welcome to the Jersey City Campus !
Bilingual Education, International Citizens

JERSEY CITY, NJ - French American Academy Bilingual School

About Our Program

First opened in 2012, our Jersey City preschool, elementary, and middle school offers high-quality bilingual education for more than 200 students.

Ideally located in the historic district of Jersey City, our school is just a few blocks from the Grove Street PATH Station. Our 3-story building offers 23 classrooms with bright and natural light, warm colors, and ample space for students to develop their curiosity and become citizens of the world. Students also enjoy a huge gymnasium for physical education and indoor recess. 

Our campus in Jersey City provides children with a strong foundation for becoming lifelong learners, critical thinkers, and dynamic problem solvers. 

Through the dual lenses of French and English, our young students in our Jersey City Preschool learn to:

  1. Assert their personalities by discovering and exploring through playing & inquiry.
  2. Ask questions and develop a curious mind.
  3. Value effort over performance in order to develop growth mindsets.

Visit our Academic Pages to learn more about our Preschool, Elementary and Middle school curriculum and philosophy.

We invite you to see for yourself what makes our Jersey City campus such a special place for children to learn and grow. Whether you are considering our preschool in Jersey City or our elementary or middle school, we are confident that our school is the perfect place for your child to embark on their educational journey and reach their full potential.

On this page, we answer FAQ related to Admissions, School Life, School Tuition, Community, and Covid 19. The French American Academy holds Virtual Information sessions and in-person Open-Houses and Tours to give prospective parents an opportunity to visit and experience our school.

Admissions & Tuition

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Dear Prospective Parents,

Thank you for looking into the admissions process at The French American Academy.

As our motto suggests, our bilingual education creates international citizens. Indeed, bilingualism offers many lifelong benefits. For instance, it builds curiosity and better cognitive skills. Above all, it provides an open mind as well as an ability to better connect with others. In a growingly complex and globalized world, parents must assess how the education they choose for their children prepares them to face the future. We are proud to be recognized as one of the best private preschools, elementary and middle schools in Jersey City, providing a bilingual education that helps our students become global citizens.

Enrolling at the French American Academy will put them on the right path to start the journey of life.

This page will provide you with helpful information regarding the enrollment process for our Jersey City preschool, elementary and middle school. We hope that our International Bilingual School will be a good match for your child and your family. We hope to see you soon. A bientôt!

Apply in 3 steps

1- Online application

A non-refundable Application Fee of $140 is due per application. For students who are already attending a daycare or school, we will ask for a recommendation form to be filled out.

Teacher recommendation Form PreK-K Maternelle

Teacher recommendation Form Grades 1-5 du CP au CM2

2- Interview

The Admissions Director will acknowledge receipt of your online application and will subsequently arrange for a private interview with both parents and the child. During the interview, you will meet with the Admissions Director and/or with the School Director to determine whether the school’s values, objectives and academic expectations are right for your child. This format will allow for plenty of questions. Depending on the age of your child, she/he may stay with you, join one of our classes or meet our pedagogical coordinator.

3. Notification of decision

The Admissions Director will notify the decision by email, at the latest by the end of February 2022.  After that, it will be on a rolling basis.

The admission team remains at your disposal for any further questions and is looking forward to meeting with you.


A few things to know before applying

  • Children in our Jersey City preschool entering Pre-K2 must be 2.5 by the first day of school. Children entering Pre-K 3 must be 3 year- old by December 31st.
  • Pre-K2 children don’t have to be toilet trained. However, Pre-K 3 students must be fully toilet trained.
  • Knowledge of French is not necessary to enter Preschool; however French language is mandatory to enter any class from First grade and up.  Any child coming from a non-French school will have to take a test to determine his/her level.
  • The French American Academy’s cut-off date is December 31st.

School Life

SCHOOL HOURS

  • Pre-K through 1st grade: 8:30am to 3:00pm
  • 2nd grade through 5th grade: 8:30am to 3:15pm
  • 6th through 8th grade: 8:15am to 3:15pm

The following half-day session is available at our preschool in Jersey City:

Pre-K 2 and Pre-K 3: Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm.

Before and after school care: 

Before-school-care is available 7:30am to 8:30am.

After-school-care starts at 3pm and ends at 6:30pm.

CALENDAR : Jersey City & Hoboken

Click Calendar22 to download the 2022-2023 School Calendar.

Meet Our Team

cycleTeam-single
  • All
  • Management & Administration (7)
  • Preschool (1)
Sebastien Ziankibe
Management & Administration
ENGLEWOOD, NJ, HOBOKEN, NJ, JERSEY CITY, NJ

Sebastien is a well-rounded individual with a passion for travel, cultural discovery, and education. He holds a B.A. in Human Resources Management and is currently pursuing an MBA at Fordham. He has worked with global companies such as Air Canada and BNP Paribas, which will allow him to bring unique perspectives to the H.R. department at French American Academy.

He is excited to be part of our bilingual international education and is committed to using his interpersonal skills for a positive impact on the team.
 
Malo Gueguen
Management & Administration
ENGLEWOOD, NJ, HOBOKEN, NJ, JERSEY CITY, NJ

Malo was born in France and grew to the United States. He graduated with a Specialization in Economics from Concordia University in Montreal and has previously worked in Malaysia, France, Kazakhstan & China. Outside of his passion for education, Malo’s hobbies include cycling and reading.

Meena Negandhi
Middle School
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Meena has been in the teaching profession for over 25 years. She began her teaching career in India as a business management teacher and later earned two degrees, one in education and another in economics and business. Meena tailors her teaching approach to better accommodate the individual needs of her students. With her enthusiasm, vast experience, and kind nature, Meena is a valuable addition to the team at the French American Academy.

Boris Catelin
Middle School
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Boris Catelin is from France and has been a teacher for over 10 years, teaching students of various grades. He and his family relocated to Santa Rosa, California where he also taught at a bilingual school. Boris is a devoted educator who brings his wealth of international teaching experience to the French American Academy. With his enthusiastic energy, he inspires students to embark on a journey of discovery and learning.

Cathy Hartranft
Elementary School, Middle School
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Cathy has been a middle school science teacher for over 25 years. She challenges her students to link science concepts to current events in their daily lives and encourages them to make informed decisions. In her leisure time, she enjoys hiking, doing yoga, and spending time with her family.

 
Courtney Karam
Middle School
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Courtney received her Master’s degree from Columbia University’s Teachers College after obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in History from Marymount Manhattan College. She started her teaching career at MS167, a math and science magnet school located on the Upper East Side of New York City, where she taught 6th-grade Social Studies and English Language Arts (Humanities). Courtney played a significant role in designing the project-based curriculum for the 6th grade. She is teaching Humanities in the Middle School at the French American Academy. She remains passionate about creating engaging and bilingual Humanities units that stimulate her students’ curiosity and improve their reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

 
Vanessa Hefa
Elementary School
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Vanessa Hefa is an experienced elementary school teacher with over a decade of service in the New York City public school system. She holds a master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Bank Street College. After taking a few years off from teaching to raise her children, ages 7 and 9, Vanessa started her own Forest School program, driven by her belief in the benefits of outdoor and nature education. As part of the FAA team, Vanessa is dedicated to providing her students with engaging and hands-on learning experiences through storytelling, games, project-based learning, and nature activities. In her free time, Vanessa enjoys running, cooking, hiking, traveling, and reading.

Elisabeth Spettel
Elementary School, Middle School
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Elisabeth Spettel teaches French History & Geography, as well as Visual Arts at the French American Academy. With eight years of experience in teaching French, Literature, and Art History, Elisabeth brings a wealth of knowledge to the classroom. A native of Bordeaux, she has also worked in Paris and honed her artistic skills at the Centre Pompidou. After moving to the USA in 2015, she spent the last two years as the coordinator of youth classes at FIAF. Elisabeth is thrilled to return to the classroom and share her passion for the humanities through hands-on projects, art, and partnerships with other schools

Carine Saint Jevin
Elementary School
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Carine is originally from France and has over 15 years of teaching experience in various grades. She joined the French American Academy in September 2018. With a degree in psychology, Carine brings an empathetic and insightful approach to her teaching, always prioritizing the well-being of her students. She has 13 years of experience in classical and modern jazz dance and is also proficient in playing the piano. 

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