The École, formerly Ecole Internationale de New York, is an intimate and independent French-American school, which cultivates an internationally minded community of students from 2 to 14 years old in New York City’s vibrant Flatiron District.
From Maternelle to Middle School, the team at The École believes that the goal of education is to develop well-informed, well-rounded, responsible, and compassionate students who can create and connect to a world filled with possibilities. This belief is at the heart of their uniquely designed bilingual program, through which students learn not just to speak, read, and write in two languages but also to think, feel, and act in ways informed by two cultures. To always see, explore, and understand the world around them from two perspectives is the gift of the deeply bi-literate, bi-cultural student.
The École is fully accredited by the French Ministry of Education—from Maternelle through Middle School — and is a member of the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad) network. It is also affiliated with the Mission Laïque Française (MLF) and a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
The École has a rich After-School program with over 90 different educational, sporting or artistic activities on offer. It also organizes camps during the October, February, Spring, and Summer breaks, which allow children to have bilingual fun during their vacations. The École students go on field trips to New York’s many cultural and historic institutions, and on overnight trips in the US and abroad. The École Falcons participate in the Confederation of New York Schools and Team Sports volleyball, basketball, and soccer leagues.
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The École's Elementary and Middle School Building is at 111 East 22nd Street between Park and Lexington Avenues, where five floors accommodate the 1st to 5th grades and Middle School (6th to 8th grade). While the Maternelle preschool at 206 Fifth Avenue between West 25th and 26th Streets accommodates Pre-Nursery to Kindergarten students over five floors[1]
As of 2025, The École has a student body of 357. Each class has between 12 and 20 students, and each grade level has no more than two classes.
History
The school opened in September 2009, making it the third French international school in Manhattan. Yves Rivaud founded École Internationale. Rivaud decided to create the school because Manhattan needed a real French American bilingual school, and he believed he would easily fill the school's enrollment upon opening.[2]
Yves Rivaud retired in August 2020 and was replaced as head of school by Jean-Yves Vesseau. In September 2021, The École opened its first Pre-Nursery class (a bilingual program for 2-year-olds).
Léman High School with The École
In 2022, The École signed a partnership with Léman Manhattan to create a bilingual high school program. The program is an extension of The École’s French-American dual curriculum in 9th and 10th Grade and transitions to a bilingual IB diploma program during the final two years of high school
The IB diploma is recognized as one of the strongest college preparatory programs worldwide and is an impressive qualification for college applicants. Léman High School with The École provides a rigorous curriculum for high school students interested in pursuing a dual-language French program. Students enrolled in the program have the benefit of all the resources Léman has to offer, including a robust literature, mathematics, science, social studies, arts, and athletics high school curriculum, with the added advantage of electives taught in French by The École teachers.
In September 2025, The École's Elementary & Middle School will relocate to 115 East 22nd Street.
Name and Symbol
In September 2018, the school officially changed its name from the original Ecole Internationale de New York to the shorter name it is known by now: The École. The combination of English and French in The École is a nod to its French-American bilingual focus, while also reflecting the fluidity with which students move from one of these languages to the other.
Tuition
The 2025-2026 tuition is $44,700 for the Pre-Nursery and Nursery programs and $47,700 for Pre-K to 8th Grade.
Financial Assistance
20% of students enrolled at The École receive financial assistance. The average amount of financial assistance offered is $19,200
References
- ^ The École website
- ^ Burton, Monica. "A Language en Vogue." Shoe Leather. Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, New York University, 2011. 1 (Archive). Retrieved on May 1, 2015.
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