The Lycée Français de New York (LFNY), literally The French High School of New York, is a private, independent bilingual French school for students from pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade based in Manhattan, New York City which follows the French curriculum of study and allows students to study for the French general Baccalauréat, the international option of the French Baccalaureate, or a special Franco-American Baccalaureate (BFA), as well as the American High School Diploma. It fosters over 1300 students from over 45 different nationalities from pre-kindergarten through high school. The student to teacher ratio is approximately 7:1.
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History
In the mid-1930s the LFNY was the brainchild of the then French Consul General in New York, Comte Charles de Ferry de Fontnouvelle. He enlisted the help of Forsythe Wicks, a lawyer and businessman who was the president of the Alliance Française and Paul Windels, Sr., the attorney general of the City of New York. Others involved in the founding of the LFNY include Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, the President of Columbia University, Mr. Jesse Straus, the U.S. Ambassador to France, and Mr. Jean Marx, the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Quai d'Orsay The LFNY granted its first baccalaureate degree in 1938. During the late 1930s and 1940s world events helped shape the School as it continued to expand to accommodate the many students who came here from Europe and elsewhere during WWII. Eight graduates of LFNY died in combat during the war. Since 1935 over 36,000 students have studied at the Lycée. More than 150 nationalities have been represented throughout the School's history."
De Fontnouvelle served as the school's first President from 1935 until his death in 1956. He was succeeded by two interim Presidents: Jean de Siéyès (president or former president of the French-American Banking Corporation) from de Fontnouvelle's death until the end of the school year; and Robert Lacour-Gayet (a writer and academic) for the next school year. Then, Mr. Maurice Galy (deceased 1993) became the school's President starting in 1957, a post he held until he retired in 1989.
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Curriculum
The Lycée Français de New York's curriculum is a blend between the rigor of the French education and the pragmatism of an American one. The French Educational system is famous for its curriculum - a course of study so rigorous that American colleges consider a student's final year at a French high school to be the equivalent of post-secondary education in the United States. Equally renowned, New York City's elite private schools are known for promoting intellectual inquiry and encouraging students to learn and grow not just in the classroom but also in civic, cultural and athletic pursuits.
At the Lycée Français de New York, the school curriculum parallels the academic program laid out by the French Ministry of National Education and used in French schools throughout the world. This curriculum is supplemented by the essential elements advanced in American private-school education. This dual approach produces academically-adept, bilingual students, proficient in both English and French, who can easily matriculate into either the French or the American educational systems. The blending of French and American educational traditions distinguishes the Lycée and creates graduates who have a deep understanding of both the European culture in which they are educated and the American culture into which they are integrated - a sound combination superior to either alternative.
LFNY Students pursue their post-secondary education in US, Canadian, French and British universities and colleges.
Facilities
The school originally occupied a residential building at 3 East 95th Street near Fifth Avenue (Mrs. Amory S. Carhart House), and Mr. Galy arranged for the acquisition of three more landmark mansions, two on East 72nd Street (Henry T. Sloane House and Oliver Gould Jennings House) and one on East 93rd Street (Mrs. Graham Fair Vanderbilt House)." In 2003, the school completed a modern, 158,000-square-foot (14,700 m2) state-of-the-art facility located at 505 East 75th Street. Taking up nearly a full city block, it houses the upper and lower schools and boasts such amenities as a 354-seat auditorium and two full size gymnasiums.
The modern LFNY building was designed by the New York-based architecture firm Polshek Partnership Architects in 2003. It consists of two buildings linked together by a patio, serving as a walkway, but also a lawn where students congregate and play. The North building (76th street) houses the pre-school and elementary schools while the middle school and high school students are taught in the South building (75th street). All students share the cafeteria and the gymnasiums. The facade of the building is made of stainless glass, and the lobby wall is dedicated to great French and American people who define the Lycee curriculum.
The building was actually re-modeled from what had previously been a Volkswagen Car Dealership and five-story garage from at least the early 1970s through the 1980s (the exact year that dealership closed is unknown).
The present building is presently expanding to accommodate more students and teachers
Student body
As of 2011, about one third of the students are dual French-American citizens, one third are French citizens, and one third are American citizens.
Tuition
The Lycée Français de New York has a tuition of $35,000. Financial Aid (Bourses de scolarité) is given to students based on need. The LFNY is a private, independent school and receives no funding from the French government. The children of French citizens, however, are eligible for tuition grants from the French State based on need. These are independent from the LFNY financial aid and are allocated to the families, not the school. The LFNY holds a yearly Gala to raise money to support financial aid, among other things.
Notable alumni
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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