Admissions FAQ

List of 17 items.

• How young can my child start?

  Ecole Bilingue’s Preschool welcomes children starting at age 2 in its dedicated “Toute Petite Section”. Children must be 2 years old on the first day of school to qualify for enrollment. Children do not have to be potty trained to be enrolled in this class.

• Do you offer a late immersion program for students entering the upper elementary or middle school with no formal French education?

  Children with no prior exposure to the French language can attend EB's Preschool and Kindergarten. We now offer a specific Accelerated French Program (AFP) to students entering First and Second and Sixth Grades, where no French experience is needed. 

• Why do you schedule meetings with families for admission, and what to expect?

  It is important for our Director of Admissions to get to know each applicant and their family. These meetings help inform admission decisions and also provide valuable insight for classroom placement once a child is accepted into the program.
  
  

  All families applying for enrollment are asked to participate in a virtual meeting with the Director of Admissions (parents only).
  
  

  For Kindergarten applicants, an additional in-person visit will be scheduled. This consists of a 30-minute, play-based interaction on campus with the child and their parents.
  
  

  For applicants to older grades, we welcome students for either an assessment or a half-day classroom visit, depending on the grade level and circumstances.
  
  

  There is no need to prepare your child for these meetings or visits. We simply ask that your child has had a good night's sleep and a snack before the scheduled time. If your child is not feeling well on the day of the interview or visit, please contact us to reschedule.

  In some cases, and with parental authorization, our Director of Admissions may visit your child's preschool or daycare to observe them in a familiar and comfortable environment.
  
  

  Kindergarten applicants also participate in a group observation session, typically held in February. During this session, Ecole Bilingue's Preschool and Kindergarten teachers spend time with small groups of applicant children through age-appropriate activities and interactions.

• When will I know acceptance?

  • Acceptance notifications are sent via email in March, the exact date may vary, depending on the years. Once families are accepted into the program, they have 1 week to make a decision. We encourage families to reach out to the admissions office during that week, if needed. To finalize enrollment parents must sign an enrollment agreement and pay the reservation fee (10% of the annual tuition). Our billing cycle starts in June each year, and parents have different options to schedule their automated payments. More details on https://www.eb.org/admissions/tuition-and-tuition-assistance

• How does re-enrollment work?

  Once your child is enrolled at EB, you will be receiving a new parent agreement for the following school year, at the end of January*. You will have a few weeks to decide if you wish to re-enroll at Ecole Bilingue. Please know that a reservation fee of 10% of your child’s annual tuition is due when you sign your parent agreement (due February 15th).
  
  

  *Unless a student status is put on “hold” by the Business office or the Academic department.

• What are school hours?

  • Preschool/Kindergarten: 8:15 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
  • Elementary (1st-5th): 8:25 a.m. - 3:30 p.m
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  • Middle (6th-8th): 8:20 a.m. - 3:35 p.m.
  •  Extended Day care runs from 7:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

• How does my immersion program work?

  • Children in Toute Petite Section (age 2) through second grade (age 7) spend 80% of their school day with a French-speaking teacher, and 20% of the day with an English-speaking teacher. In addition, all of our Preschool and Kindergarten classrooms have a full-time bilingual teacher’s assistant. 
  • In third grade, instruction time in English goes up to 35%, while instruction in French is at 65%. 
  • In fourth and fifth grade the students have 50% French and 50% English instruction. 
  • In Middle School, our students have 50% English, 45% French and 5 % of a third language (Spanish or Mandarin).

• Will immersion in French affect my child’s reading ability in English?

  The reading and study skills learned in French transfer into English. That is, once a child has grasped that letters make sounds, and sounds combine to make words, that skill is applicable to any language with the same alphabet.
  
  

  Between first and third grade, children in bilingual programs may have standardized test scores lower than the scores of children who are only mastering one language. From fourth grade on, however, our students consistently outperform their monolingual counterparts in standardized tests.
  
  

  Bilingualism enhances children’s understanding of the workings of language, and—since one-third of the words in English are of French origin—knowledge of French helps build vocabulary for reading in English.

• Does EB provide a Transitional Kindergarten (TK)?

  In the American public system, TK now means 4 years old. At Ecole Bilingue the 4 years old students are part of the preschool and are called Moyenne Section.
  
  TK can also mean that a child has a fall birthday and will turn five between September 1st and December 31st of the year. These students do not qualify to enter Kindergarten in the American system. 
  
  

  Because we are following the French educational system, EB children are able to enter Kindergarten classrooms at age 4; as long as they are turning 5 years old by December 31st. They are given a Transitional  Kindergarten enrollment contract.
  
  

  When we have “Fall Baby” candidates, we look closely at the child’s readiness, we have discussions with parents and we welcome the child for a group evaluation. Sometimes we decide to place the child in a Moyenne Section classroom (Pre-Kindergarten program) and sometimes if we feel the child is ready, we will enroll them in Kindergarten.

• How are your teachers credentialed?

  All of the teachers in our French program (including in our preschool/TK program) are native speakers.
  
  

  At the Lower School, including at the Preschool, all of our core subject teachers hold credentials from either the French Ministry of Education or the State of California.
  
  

  At the Middle School, all of our teachers hold either a credential or an advanced degree in the subject they teach. All of the teachers in our English program are fully credentialed.

• Do you follow the same curriculum as the other French schools in the Bay Area?

  EB is accredited by the French Ministry of Education, ensuring that its curriculum follows the framework and methods of the French system.
  
  

  EB is also accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools, reflecting a commitment to the highest standards of independent schooling across the United States. While a few French bilingual schools in the Bay Area hold these recognitions, EB is the only one in the East Bay.

• When is a third language introduced?

  Third languages are introduced in 4th grade and students will be discovering Spanish and Mandarin-Chinese. When enrolling in 6th grade, students will choose one of the languages and study it for three years in Middle School.

• What is happening after school and when school is closed for vacation during the school year?

  Afternoons at Ecole Bilingue are filled with fun options: Aftercare, enrichment classes, etude/study hall. Learn more about the Afterschool Program. 
  
  

  In addition to Winter and Summer breaks, Ecole Bilingue is closed for one week in October, one week in February and April. During these three breaks, EB is open with day camp options for all of our children. Days of camp can be purchase one by one as needed, or you can decide to sign up for all of them by choosing the Extended Day + School Breaks Package. 

• Do I have to provide snacks or lunches for my child?

  Ecole Bilingue provides a morning organic snack for children in preschool and Kindergarten. Children Grade 1 to Grade 8 are welcomed to eat a snack, however they must bring their own. Ecole Bilingue provides afternoon organic snacks for all students staying in aftercare, at 3:30pm. 
  
  

  For lunch, many students bring their own lunch or have the option to sign-up to get a hot lunch delivered daily by the food caterer that is working with the school. Learn more.

• What if we speak a third language at home?

  Since bilingualism makes it easier to learn a third language, children whose families speak a language other than English or French tend to thrive at EB. More than 40 nationalities are represented in our community! And many come with their own languages.
  We praise families that are already bilingual to add a third language to their children's life!

• What if we don't speak French?

  Nearly two third of our students arrive at EB without any previous exposure to French, and they go on to excel in both languages.
  
  

  Our Preschool classrooms create a welcoming environment where children can gradually become comfortable with French, and all of our programs are designed to support the academic success of all students regardless of the language spoken at home. In a recent survey of parents, families who did not speak French at home were just as satisfied with EB as French-speaking families.
  
  We encourage parents to learn the language too! In recent years we have organized a collaboration with Alliance Française de Berkeley, and propose french classes for our parents on campus. 

• What is EB’s homework policy and how can I help if I do not speak french?

  Homework at Ecole Bilingue starts in first grade. Homework always includes an independent reading time. Additionally our students have a short assignment that reviews/reworks a concept seen that same day at school.
  
  

  This is a good way for a child to memorize and practice a new concept, but also for parents to see the learning process, and know what is happening in their child’s school life. The students are always able to understand what is asked of them and do not usually need any support from a parent/adult.
  
  

  If your child is staying at aftercare, one of the afternoon options is Etude (Study Hall). Parents can sign up for their child to go to Etude on any given day from Monday to Thursday. Children will be grouped by grade level and will have the opportunity to do their homework, (after a snack and a brief recess) with a bilingual teacher or associate teacher to support them if needed.