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

JERSEY CITY, NJ - French American Academy Bilingual School

About Our Program

The Core Learning Objective:

Let’s face it – the journey to becoming a happy, healthy, and successful adult is filled with numerous learning requirements.

However, relying solely on rote memorization is not sufficient. Instead, our educational philosophy centers on cultivating a comprehensive toolbox of skills. This approach is designed to empower our students, not just academically but in their journey to become well-rounded, successful individuals. This toolbox is:

  1. Character: Students exhibit a growth mindset, a strong work ethic, grit, perseverance, and resilience, and exercise independent thinking, compassion, and empathy.
  2. Citizenship: Students grow in an international and diverse environment and become considerate, empathetic, listen, and give back. Think and act on global issues and the environment.
  3. Collaboration: Students show teamwork and listening skills by taking into account each other’s ideas, adapting to new points of view, effectively managing compromises, and taking ownership.
  4. Communication: Students communicate confidently and purposefully in both French and English, demonstrating proficiency both orally and in writing.
  5. Creativity: Students use the dual lenses of French and English as well as the French and American cultures to solve problems in innovative ways. They are able to Think outside of the box, persevere, learn through interdisciplinary approaches, and develop entrepreneurial skills.
  6. Critical thinking: Students are critical thinkers. They are analytical, able to construct and debate a point of view, problem-solvers, and able to navigate ethical dilemmas.

Our Philosophy

How do we develop these 6 C’s? It’s achieved through our 4 philosophical pillars:

Bilingualism – Teaching IN Two Languages

All subjects are taught in both French & English. However, learning French and becoming fluent in two languages is a bonus. The primary reason for bilingualism is its impact on the brain development of young children. Decades of research have shown that children learning in a multilingual environment exhibit enhanced critical thinking skills, better problem-solving abilities, increased curiosity, and improved performance in Math and Science.

Inquiry & Project-Based Learning – Fostering a Love for Learning

This pedagogy ensures that students are not passive recipients of information but active participants in their educational journey, applying what they learn to real-world contexts.

Social & Emotional Development – Beyond Intelligence

Being highly intelligent is only part of the equation. In the real world, the most successful individuals are driven and hardworking but also adept at building relationships and friendships and capable of effectively presenting their ideas and themselves.

SEL focuses on developing students’ social and self-awareness. Research indicates that adults who are socially and self-aware tend to earn higher salaries and self-report greater levels of happiness.

International Education

The world extends beyond the 50 states of the U.S. Students at the French American Academy are not only conscious of the wider world but also of its history. Periods like Antiquity, the Medieval Ages, and the Renaissance are not just distant concepts; they are pivotal eras that directly influence the present day. Our students study world history, different cultures & religions to better understand the future and their place in it.

 

Curriculum

In preschool, our aim is to inspire children to be enthusiastic about coming to school. We achieve this by ensuring all activities are fun and engaging, which is the essence of our play-based and inquiry-based learning approach. This evolves into project-based learning in elementary school and middle school.

 In Preschool, the core learning objectives are:

  1. Socialization – Learning how to interact with other students and the world around them.
  2. Independence & Autonomy – Students develop a sense of responsibility & self-confidence by accomplishing activities independently.
  3. Oral Language Development – Oral language is the bedrock of reading & writing. Preschool is dedicated to developing a rich vocabulary in both French & English, facilitating the natural progression into reading and writing.

Elementary Curriculum:

Our Elementary curriculum offers a proven route to academic and personal success, emphasizing measurable progress in core skills and fostering cognitive and social-emotional development.

How We Teach in 2 Languages

Bilingual education is achieved through a balanced curriculum that integrates French and American educational systems, complemented by a co-teaching approach where native French and English teachers collaboratively deliver lessons,  building bridges between both languages and deepening students’ understanding in the process.

Facilities & Location

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. 

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

Click HERE to download the 2023-2024 School Calendar.

Click HERE to download the 2024-2025 School Calendar.

Behind the Scenes at the FAA

From to student & teacher interviews to learning about our flexible classrooms,
join us on Instagram to see discover daily life at the FAA !

Englewood wasn't the only campus with an escape game! During Math Week at the Jersey City Campus, the 1st grade and kindergarten classes also participated in an escape game. The students were mixed and divided into two groups and "locked" in their respective classrooms with their teachers present (Who, of course, knew the padlock code!). They were given an hour to solve riddles and math challenges and find the code to open the padlocks.

After solving each riddle or math challenge, they received a card and had to find the four cards to solve the last riddle and get the lamp to read the hidden letters. By putting them back in order, they obtained a number. Then, they matched the numbers found by each group to find the final number. The code they found wasn't the one on their door but the other class's code. So, they used walkie-talkies to give the code to the other children, allowing them to free themselves. It was a fun and cooperative game! This game also encouraged students to think outside the box, work together, and use their creativity to problem solve. 

Stay tuned for more updates on the Math activities that our students have been participating in! 

#MathWeek #EscapeGame #Riddles #MathChallenges #CooperativeGame #FunLearning #elementaryschool #privateelementaryschoolinnj #internationalschoolinnj

Englewood wasn`t the only campus with an escape game! During Math Week at the Jersey City Campus, the 1st grade and kindergarten classes also participated in an escape game. The students were mixed and divided into two groups and "locked" in their respective classrooms with their teachers present (Who, of course, knew the padlock code!). They were given an hour to solve riddles and math challenges and find the code to open the padlocks.

After solving each riddle or math challenge, they received a card and had to find the four cards to solve the last riddle and get the lamp to read the hidden letters. By putting them back in order, they obtained a number. Then, they matched the numbers found by each group to find the final number. The code they found wasn`t the one on their door but the other class`s code. So, they used walkie-talkies to give the code to the other children, allowing them to free themselves. It was a fun and cooperative game! This game also encouraged students to think outside the box, work together, and use their creativity to problem solve.

Stay tuned for more updates on the Math activities that our students have been participating in!

#MathWeek #EscapeGame #Riddles #MathChallenges #CooperativeGame #FunLearning #elementaryschool #privateelementaryschoolinnj #internationalschoolinnj

Check out our 3rd graders' coding their first complex code! Our curriculum introduces students to coding using BeeBots, physical coding robots, in Kindergarten. As they move through Elementary and Middle School, they advance to more complex coding projects, including Scratch Jr. and Scratch. By the time they reach Middle School, students are coding robots, apps, and games. It is incredible to see students' excitement when they can successfully execute their code. Our curriculum is designed to not only teach technical skills but also cultivate creativity and problem-solving abilities!

#coding #STEMeducation #techskills #creativity #problemsolving #robotics #appdevelopment #games #education #elementaryschool #middleschool #curriculum #privateschoolnj #privateschool #internationalschool #frenchschool

Check out our 3rd graders` coding their first complex code! Our curriculum introduces students to coding using BeeBots, physical coding robots, in Kindergarten. As they move through Elementary and Middle School, they advance to more complex coding projects, including Scratch Jr. and Scratch. By the time they reach Middle School, students are coding robots, apps, and games. It is incredible to see students` excitement when they can successfully execute their code. Our curriculum is designed to not only teach technical skills but also cultivate creativity and problem-solving abilities!

#coding #STEMeducation #techskills #creativity #problemsolving #robotics #appdevelopment #games #education #elementaryschool #middleschool #curriculum #privateschoolnj #privateschool #internationalschool #frenchschool

Meet Our Team

cycleTeam-single
  • All
  • Elementary School (12)
  • Management & Administration (12)
  • Middle School (1)
  • Preschool (8)
Anne-Sophie Gueguen
Head of School & Founder
Management & Administration
ENGLEWOOD, NJ, HOBOKEN, NJ, JERSEY CITY, NJ

Anne-Sophie Gueguen is a visionary educator who founded the French American Academy in 2007 in Bergen County. Over the years, she has expanded the school’s reach and impact by opening new campuses in Jersey City in 2012 and Hoboken in 2022. As the Head of School, Anne-Sophie is committed to ensuring the highest quality education […]

Betty Diodio
FLE & Substitute
Elementary School, Preschool
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Betty Diodio is from a small town in the East of France. She came to New York with her family. She is a French Preschool and Elementary teacher with a multicultural background. Betty has been working for the French National Education for a few years. She holds a master’s degree in science of education and […]

Michael Browne
Music – French
Elementary School
ENGLEWOOD, NJ, JERSEY CITY, NJ
Josephine Ancelle
Music – French
Elementary School, Preschool
HOBOKEN, NJ, JERSEY CITY, NJ
Florent Tarsiguel
3rd Grade – French
Elementary School
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Florent grew up in the hinterlands of Nice before going to school in Nice. He had many jobs before becoming a teacher. The one that fulfilled him the most was being a camp counselor, then a camp director. Providing children with unique experiences and unforgettable moments is a significant driving force for Florent, and it’s […]

Audrey Joffre
Kindergarten – French
Preschool
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Audrey was born and raised in Lyon, went to high school in Tarbes, and completed her graduate studies in Educational Sciences in Paris. She moved to live in Nice. Being a teacher has always felt like a natural calling for Audrey. Teaching children allows her to help them become citizens and live together to build […]

Magalie Boyer
PK4 – French
Preschool
JERSEY CITY, NJ

I am Magalie Boyer, a PK4 (Pre-Kindergarten 4) teacher. I quickly understood the role of school in life. I was never short on enthusiasm when getting up in the morning; in fact, I was more afraid of oversleeping. I loved learning but also enjoyed seeing my classmates both inside and outside the classroom. So, I […]

Chantal Mayama
PK3 Teacher Assistant
Preschool
JERSEY CITY, NJ
Inès De Castro
PK3 – French
Preschool
JERSEY CITY, NJ

Inès is originally from Reims in France and is proud of her Champagne roots. With 25 years of experience as an elementary school teacher, including 17 years as a specialized teacher certified by CAPA-SH, she has dedicated herself to providing educational support to students with difficulties and disabilities, strongly advocating for inclusion. She believes in […]

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