Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus vs Shu Ren International School
Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus and Shu Ren International School are both in San Francisco, about 19 km apart. Both schools offer IB and Bespoke programmes, and Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus also offers American and French. Published annual fees are $28,000 - 58,900 at Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus and $29,348 - 30,950 at Shu Ren International School, which puts Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus roughly 44% higher. Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus takes pupils from 2 to 18, and Shu Ren International School from 2 to 11.
IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum
Curriculum
IB (PYP), Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
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Pupils
185
Typical class size
Typical class size
18
Typical class size
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Instruction language
Instruction language
French, English
Instruction language
Mandarin, English
Opened
Opened
1967
Opened
2008
Bus service
Bus service
Yes
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
The Lycée Français de San Francisco operates on three campuses: Ashbury Campus in San Francisco (755 Ashbury Street, 94117) for Preschool through Grade 5; Ortega Campus in San Francisco (1201 Ortega Street, 94122) for Middle School through High School. The Sausalito Campus in Marin County (610 Coloma Street, 94965) serves Preschool through Grade 5.
Location
Berkeley, California, United States. 2125 Jefferson Ave, Berkeley, CA 94703.
Stages
Stages
Ashbury and Sausalito campuses offer Preschool through Grade 5. Ortega Campus houses Middle School (Gr 6–8) and High School (Gr 9–12).
Stages
Early Childhood (Ages 2-5) and Elementary (Kindergarten - Grade 5).
School type
School type
Private international school offering PreK–12 bilingual education with two tracks: French Track and International Track powered by IB.
School type
Private international school.
Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
More than 50 nationalities are represented across campuses; more than 30 languages are spoken.
Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
France; AEFE member
Country affiliation
United States
Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
Extended Day and Extracurricular Programs available; Summer School offered.
Bus service details
Bus service details
Transportation operates across three campuses with routes between Marin County and the Ortega Campus, between Cupertino (South Bay) and the Ortega Campus, and between the Ortega Campus and the Ashbury Campus in the morning for K–5. Starting in 2026–2027, a free shuttle will connect San Francisco to the Sausalito preschool/primary campus, with pickup locations published in Spring 2026.
Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application & Enrollment Fees
- One-time Entrance Fee (new students): USD 2,500 per child — required at the time of enrollment; non-refundable and not deductible from tuition.
- Tuition Deposit: 3.5% of the total annual tuition — required with the signed Enrollment Agreement to secure a child's space; this deposit is non-refundable.
- Financial Aid Application Fee (when applying for school financial aid via the Clarity portal): USD 60 required at submission.
Tuition — Annual and Per-Term (2026–2027)
All amounts shown are annual tuition rates by campus and grade band. Per-term and per-month illustrations below follow the school's offered payment schedules (two equal installments or ten monthly installments). All amounts are in USD.
- SAUSALITO (Marin) Campus — Preschool through Grade 5: - La Petite École (Part time): USD 28,000 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 14,000 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 2,800 per month.) - La Petite École through Kindergarten: USD 38,100 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 19,050 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 3,810 per month.) - Grades 1–5: USD 38,100 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 19,050 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 3,810 per month.)
- ASHBURY (San Francisco) Campus — Preschool through Grade 5: - La Petite École (Part time): USD 32,450 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 16,225 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 3,245 per month.) - La Petite École through Kindergarten: USD 44,100 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 22,050 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 4,410 per month.) - Grades 1–5: USD 44,100 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 22,050 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 4,410 per month.)
- ORTEGA (San Francisco) Campus — Middle & High School: - Middle School (Grades): USD 45,500 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 22,750 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 4,550 per month.) - High School: USD 58,900 per year. (Two-installment amount: USD 29,450 per installment; 10-month plan: USD 5,890 per month.)
These annual tuition amounts include the core program elements described below.
What Tuition Includes
- Daily school lunches (the Lycée Cantine) are included in tuition. - Global Learning educational trips for Grades 1 through Grade 12 are included in tuition. - Before- and after-school care for Preschool students (including Kindergarten), with extension to Grades 1–5 on the Sausalito campus, is included in tuition.
Other (Optional) Fees and Additional Costs
- School transportation (optional): USD 4,680 per year (annual flat rate). Note: transportation between San Francisco and the Sausalito campus is complimentary.
- Camps and Study Hall: optional services with separate fees. A bundled price for Preschool through Kindergarten families is available at USD 5,500 (this bundle covers registration to all camps — school year and summer). Specific study hall and individual camp fees are charged separately when families register.
- After-school activities: fees for extracurricular programs, clubs, and some specialty offerings are charged in addition to tuition.
- Incidental/exam or materials fees: certain exam fees, specialized course fees, or optional materials may be charged separately where applicable; these are not listed as included in base tuition.
Billing Schedule & Payment Terms
- Payment options (families choose one): - Pay in full by June 01 (pre-payment discount applies — see next item). - Two equal installments due on June 01 and November 01 (each installment = 50% of annual tuition). - Ten monthly installments starting June 01 (each installment = annual tuition ÷ 10).
- All payment plans must be paid in full by the date specified for enrollment for the 2026–2027 year. The school's published schedule states that all payment plans must be paid in full by March 2026 at the latest for enrollment in 2026–2027. Automatic payment plan registration is mandatory at enrollment unless tuition and fees are prepaid in full by an employer. Families may pay by automatic bank withdrawal or by credit card; a processing fee will be added for credit-card payments.
- Pre-payment discount: - USD 1,500 discount for families who prepay 100% of tuition before June 01. - USD 600 discount for families who prepay in two parts (timing as defined by the billing schedule). - Discounts do not apply to families receiving scholarships, tuition paid by companies, or staff receiving tuition remission.
Boarding Fees
- Boarding is not applicable. The Lycée is a day school operating multiple campuses (Ashbury, Sausalito, Ortega) and does not publish boarding or residential program fees.
Refund Information
- The USD 2,500 entrance fee and the tuition deposit (3.5% of annual tuition) are explicitly stated as non-refundable.
- A general mid-year tuition refund schedule for withdrawals (for example, prorated refunds based on withdrawal date) is not published on the school's tuition pages; families should confirm the withdrawal and refund terms directly with the school's billing office or in the Enrollment Agreement.
Fee Payment Methods
- Automatic bank withdrawal (ACH/automatic debit) is accepted for installment plans. - Credit card payments are accepted; a credit-card processing fee will be added to card transactions.
Notes for Billing and Planning
- Entrance fee and tuition deposit are due at enrollment and are non-refundable. Budget for optional charges such as transportation (USD 4,680), camp bundles (USD 5,500 for eligible Preschool-K families), study hall, after-school activities, and any course-specific or exam fees when planning total annual cost.
- The Financial Aid application requires a USD 60 submission fee and has published deadlines for returning and new families; families should account for that when applying for aid.
Fee details
Applicable academic year: 2025/2026.
Application fee - One-time application fee: USD 100 (charged at application). The application fee is non-refundable.
- Note on first-year total: for a new enrollee the first-year total commonly shown includes the one-time application charge; an example published total for a 2-year-old's first year is USD 29,448 (annual tuition plus the one-time application fee).
What the tuition covers - Published tuition descriptions indicate the annual tuition covers classroom materials, access to learning technology, and enriching field trips and related program elements.
Billing schedule and payment terms - Published fees are presented as annual amounts. No publicly posted per-term billing schedule, specific installment plans, or late-payment penalties were found in the available fee summaries. Families should expect the school to bill on an annual basis or to offer school-managed payment arrangements; the published figures above are the annual amounts.
Sibling discounts and financial assistance - Sibling discount: a USD 2,000 tuition-credit is offered for the youngest sibling in families with multiple children enrolled. Financial assistance is offered for Kindergarten through Grade 5 applicants (details handled through admissions/financial-aid processes).
Boarding fees - Shu Ren operates as a day school for ages 2–12; there is no boarding program and therefore no boarding fees.
Other costs or fees - Optional / additional charges that may apply: optional hot-lunch orders, extended-day or aftercare program fees, extracurricular activity fees, occasional field-trip fees if outside regular programming, and any optional services selected by the family. Published material identifies lunch service and extended care as available options. Uniforms are listed as not required.
Refund information - The application fee is charged as a one-time fee and is reported as non-refundable. A publicly posted, detailed tuition-refund or withdrawal refund schedule was not available in the fee summaries consulted.
Fee payment options - No explicit, publicly posted list of accepted payment methods (for example, bank transfer, credit card, check) was found in the published fee summaries. The school uses a parent/admissions portal for account management; billing and specific accepted-payment methods are administered through the school's billing office and parent portal.
Limitations and brief note on missing details - The figures above are the published annual tuition amounts and the one-time application fee reported in the 2025/2026 fee summaries. A per-term billing breakdown, explicit billing calendar, detailed payment terms, a full tuition-refund/withdrawal schedule, and a public list of accepted payment methods were not provided in the publicly available fee material consulted. Per-term numbers shown above are per-term equivalents (annual ÷ 3) calculated for convenience because only annual amounts were published.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
The International Track is based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Spanning Grades 6 through 10, the Middle Years Programme emphasizes interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and real-world applications. It is organized around eight IB subject groups: language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical and health education, and design. Language & Literature uses the California State Standards to develop reading, writing, and global perspectives. The Diploma Programme begins in Grades 11-12, with six subject groups and a DP core including Creativity, Activity, Service; the Extended Essay; and Theory of Knowledge. The DP leads to both the IB Diploma and the US High School diploma.
Curriculum details
Blends the International Baccalaureate (IB) program with full Mandarin immersion for Early Childhood (ages 2–5) and Elementary (Kindergarten–Grade 5). The program centers on the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and uses a concept-based inquiry cycle to develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions for lifelong learning. Students are encouraged to ask meaningful questions, make connections across subjects, and apply learning to real-world contexts. Social-emotional learning is embedded in the curriculum, with the Responsive Classroom approach, Zones of Regulation, and Personal, Social, and Physical Education (PSPE) supporting wellbeing and global citizenship. Small class sizes and a close-knit community ensure every child is seen and supported. .
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
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Student teacher ratio
Small class sizes support individualized attention.
Exam results
Exam results
French Baccalaureate results are outstanding.
Exam results
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Higher education progression
Higher education progression
85% of our Seniors chose to continue their educational journey in North America; 19% enrolled in Canadian universities; 15% will go to Europe, including 3.5% to France.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Online application starts on the Veracross portal. Create an account on the School Admin platform and submit the online application. A 150 application fee is charged at application. Grade placement follows the French‑US equivalence: LPE = PreK2; PS = PreK3; MS = PreK4; GS = K; CP = 1st; CE1 = 2nd; CE2 = 3rd; CM1 = 4th; CM2 = 5th; 6e = 6th; 5e = 7th; 4e = 8th; 3e = 9th; 2nde = 10th; 1re = 11th; Terminale = 12th. The admission journey includes applying online, meeting with the Admissions team, and Admissions decisions and notifications. For families living abroad, applications are mostly considered on rolling admissions. Admissions main dates for 2026–2027 include March 5, April 2, May 7, and June 4 (Ortega Campus). First notifications are sent by email in early March; after these dates, applications are reviewed regularly and notifications follow. Upon acceptance, families have one week to enroll by signing the enrollment contract electronically and paying the non‑refundable enrollment fees. Tuition information for 2025–2026 will be posted in early February. High School admissions include virtual meetings with an Admissions associate to discuss goals; these meetings can be scheduled at convenient times and are optional for sibling applicants. The American International Section (AIS) runs from Grade 1 through Grade 12; AIS students follow the core syllabus with courses taught in English; in Middle School, Language and Literature and History‑Geography are taught in English, with additional English‑language coursework. The Lycée Français de San Francisco operates on three campuses: Ashbury (San Francisco), Sausalito, and Ortega; the school maintains a non‑discrimination policy for admissions and programs.
Admissions
1. Connect with Us. Fill out our short Inquiry Form so we can get to know your family and start the conversation. The inquiry begins the admissions process and helps us understand your child's needs. Our admissions team will respond with next steps and available options, and you'll be invited to take the next step in person. Take the first step by connecting with Shu Ren to learn more about our Mandarin immersion program and community. 2. Come Visit. Join us for a personal tour—step into our classrooms, meet our caring teachers, and feel the warmth of our community. The visit provides an in-person look at the learning environment and the people who guide your child's day. You can ask questions and observe how our program operates in practice. 3. Start your Application. When you feel ready, we'll send you a personalized link to start your application. The admissions team is available to answer questions and offer support along the way. The application process begins once you access the personalized link and submit the required information. 4. Join Our Community. Enroll at Shu Ren and step into a global community where your child can grow, thrive, and discover their unique superpower. Enrollment marks the culmination of the admissions journey and the start of your child's Shu Ren experience.
Scholarships
Scholarships
Full High School Scholarship program offers scholarships to new students entering Grades 9–12; up to two Full Scholarships may be awarded per class year; the full value is estimated at over $235,000 for four years and covers the full academic program, academic and student support resources, instructional materials and in‑class technology, the Global Learning Program, and daily lunches. Bay Area residency is required; Scholarships are based on demonstrated financial need and academic potential. How to Apply: Step 1 indicate interest; Step 2 complete the standard financial aid application via Clarity by January 2, 2026; Step 3 complete the standard application for admission by January 23, 2026; Fee waivers are available for scholarship applicants earning below the county's low income cap. The Seona Herail Scholarship is a four‑year merit scholarship granting 25% of tuition per year for high school students (Grades 9–12), renewable if eligible, awarded on the recommendation of a pedagogical committee. AEFE French Government Financial Aid covers all or part of tuition; second AEFE round deadline is February 20, 2026; Outside financial aid programs exist. In 2024–25 about 24% of students received financial aid, and over 83% of aid is funded by Lycée.
Scholarships
Sibling Tuition: We offer a $2000 tuition discount credit for the youngest sibling in families with multiple children enrolled at Shu Ren. Financial Assistance: If you're applying for Kindergarten through 5th grade and need financial support, connect with our Admissions Team to learn about available assistance.