Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus vs Silicon Valley International School - Cohn Campus

	L Lycée Français de San Francisco - Ashbury Campus San Francisco, United States	S Silicon Valley International School - Cohn Campus San Francisco, United States
Snapshot	Snapshot
Fees / year	Fees / year $28,000 - 58,900	Fees / year $39,970 - 49,130
Age range	Age range 2 - 18 years	Age range 2 - 11 years
Type	Type Co-educational	Type Co-educational
Curriculum	Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum	Curriculum IB (PYP), American Curriculum, Bespoke Curriculum
Pupils	Pupils —	Pupils —
Typical class size	Typical class size 18	Typical class size —
Instruction language	Instruction language French, English	Instruction language English, Mandarin, French, German
Opened	Opened 1967	Opened 1979
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 Two campuses in the San Francisco Bay Area: Willows Campus, 475 Pope Street, Menlo Park, CA 94025-2826; and Cohn Campus, 151 Laura Lane, Palo Alto, CA 94303-3221.
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 Preschool and Pre-K on the Willows Campus; Kindergarten–5th Grade on the Cohn Campus; 6th–12th Grade on the Willows Campus.
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 IB World School
Pupil nationality mix	Pupil nationality mix More than 50 nationalities are represented across campuses; more than 30 languages are spoken.	Pupil nationality mix —
Additional learning support	Additional learning support —	Additional learning support —
Country affiliation	Country affiliation France; AEFE member	Country affiliation —
Religious affiliation	Religious affiliation —	Religious affiliation —
School day structure	School day structure —	School day structure —
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 Bus service is available for students from Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and surrounding areas. Routes include North: San Mateo and Redwood City; South: Mountain View and Sunnyvale. Service runs Monday through Friday on days when school is in session and is currently offered at no cost. Registration is via SchoolPass; there are 80 seats for the Willows Campus bus and 60 seats for the Cohn Campus bus.
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 Application fee - Application fee: USD 100 for Preschool–Grade 11 applicants. One-time enrollment / registration fee - One-time new-student enrollment fee (due at enrollment): USD 2,000. Tuition — annual amounts by year group (2026–2027 academic year) - Early Years Program (Preschool – Prekindergarten): USD 39,970 per year. - Elementary School (Kindergarten – Grade 5): USD 42,630 per year. - Middle School (Grades 6–8): USD 44,750 per year. - High School (Grades 9–12): USD 49,130 per year. Billing schedule and payment terms - One Payment: full annual tuition due May 1. - Two Payments: first payment due May 1; second payment due September 1. The Tuition Refund Plan is included when using this option. - Eight Payments: first payment due May 1; six equal monthly payments due the 1st of each month; final payment due by December 1. The Tuition Refund Plan is included when using this option. Tuition Refund Plan / refund-related arrangements - A Tuition Refund Plan is offered by Dewar. It is optional for families who pay the full tuition in a single lump sum and is mandatory for families who choose the two-payment or eight-payment plans, families receiving variable tuition, recipients of the French Bourse, or families receiving tuition remission. Specific coverage and claim rules are administered by the Tuition Refund Plan provider. Boarding fees - Boarding is not listed as a program or fee; there are no boarding fees (the school operates as day campuses). Other costs and variable fees - English language acquisition (ELA) support: additional, varying fee depending on level and services. - Optional hot-lunch program: priced through the lunch vendor; 2025–2026 sample lunch prices ranged approximately USD 7.10 to USD 9.20 per meal. - After-school activities / extended care: costs vary by program. Extended care is available for Preschool–Grade 5 (hours noted in the program listing); some early-years mini-camp and summer-camp sessions are included for Preschool and Pre-K. - International exchange and optional travel trips: costs vary by trip and grade level (some high-school volunteer travel is covered by tuition; many international and service trips incur additional charges). - Spirit/store purchases (optional school-branded clothing and merchandise) are available through the school spirit store; these items are optional and paid separately. Refunds, deposits and enrollment requirements - To secure an offered seat, families must return the signed Enrollment Agreement within the stated time frame and provide the required registration/enrollment deposit. The one-time new-student enrollment fee of USD 2,000 is charged at enrollment. The Tuition Refund Plan provides insurance-style coverage; whether tuition (or portions of it) is refundable in specific withdrawal scenarios depends on the terms of that plan and the school's enrollment agreement. Fee payment options - The school accepts payment methods commonly used for gifts, tuition administration, and school business: paper check and credit card are accepted for development and advancement payments, with online credit-card giving and eCheck options noted for gifts; the school lists processes for check and online credit-card transactions. Families should follow the school's tuition billing instructions and payment portal/process given in their enrollment materials for tuition payments. Summary of items that may be charged in addition to annual tuition - Application fee: USD 100 per applicant. - One-time new-student enrollment fee: USD 2,000. - ELA support: varying fee. - Hot lunch: vendor-priced (example 2025–2026: USD 7.10–9.20 per meal). - After-school activities, optional trips, and ancillary program fees: varying costs. - Optional spirit-store purchases: varying costs. (End of fee overview)
Diving deeper	Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements	Boarding arrangements —	Boarding arrangements —
Uniform requirement	Uniform requirement —	Uniform requirement —
Food options	Food options —	Food options —
House system	House system —	House system —
Governance and ownership	Governance and ownership —	Governance and ownership —
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 Preschool–12th grade IB World School with a bilingual program in Chinese, French, and German. The school offers the full IB continuum (Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, Diploma Programme). The Upper School Language Acquisition program provides a second-language curriculum for 6th–12th grade English-speaking students, culminating in the IB Diploma.
Student teacher ratio	Student teacher ratio —	Student teacher ratio —
Exam results	Exam results French Baccalaureate results are outstanding.	Exam results Class of 2025: 100% IB Diploma pass rate; average DP score 35; three Advanced Bilingual Diploma and three Bilingual Diploma recipients. Class of 2024: 100% pass rate; average DP score 33; bilingual diplomas awarded.
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 Graduates gain admission to top colleges and universities worldwide; college counseling begins in 9th grade; alumni have been accepted to and attend institutions including American University, Bucknell University, Berlin International University of Applied Sciences (Germany), Brunel University (UK), CalArts, CSU campuses, Carleton College, NYU, McGill University, Middlebury College, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, University of Toronto, and more.
Gifted and talented	Gifted and talented —	Gifted and talented —
Academic calendar	Academic calendar —	Academic calendar —
Wellbeing & support	Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning	Social & emotional learning —	Social & emotional learning —
Special educational needs (SEN)	Special educational needs (SEN) —	Special educational needs (SEN) —
English as an additional language	English as an additional language —	English as an additional language —
Mental wellbeing	Mental wellbeing —	Mental wellbeing —
Safeguarding	Safeguarding —	Safeguarding —
Safeguarding policy	Safeguarding policy —	Safeguarding policy —
Facilities	Facilities
Facilities overview	Facilities overview —	Facilities overview —
Sports facilities	Sports facilities —	Sports facilities —
Academic facilities	Academic facilities —	Academic facilities —
Extra curricular facilities	Extra curricular facilities —	Extra curricular facilities —
Parent experience	Parent experience
History	History —	History —
Community	Community —	Community —
Parent teacher association	Parent teacher association —	Parent teacher association —
Extra-curricular	Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual	Academic & intellectual —	Academic & intellectual —
Arts & creative	Arts & creative —	Arts & creative —
Cultural & language	Cultural & language —	Cultural & language —
Social & hobbies	Social & hobbies —	Social & hobbies —
Community & service	Community & service —	Community & service —
Leadership & professional	Leadership & professional —	Leadership & professional —
Lifestyle & wellbeing	Lifestyle & wellbeing —	Lifestyle & wellbeing —
Language provision	Language provision
Language provision	Language provision —	Language provision —
Bilingual teaching	Bilingual teaching —	Bilingual teaching —
Immersion programs	Immersion programs —	Immersion programs —
Reputation	Reputation
Awards	Awards —	Awards —
Accreditations	Accreditations —	Accreditations —
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 Every September Silicon Valley International School begins the application process for the following academic year. After March, rolling admissions are available for grades with open seats. Applications, supplemental forms, and activities are due in January 2026; grade‑specific requirements appear in Ravenna. Language requirements: Preschool, PreKindergarten, and Kindergarten have no language proficiency requirement; 1st–11th Grade students applying to German, French, or Chinese programs will be assessed for language proficiency during the application process (scheduled January–February). Upper School language acquisition expectations apply to 7th, 8th, 10th, and 11th Grade and may be discussed during parent interviews. Age requirements: 3 years old for Preschool, 4 for PreKindergarten, 5 for Kindergarten by September 1; children must be potty trained. Foreign students must comply with US immigration regulations, and guidance for I‑20 visas is available from the admissions team. Admissions checklists by grade include: Preschool, PreKindergarten, Kindergarten and 1st Grade applicants — attend a tour and virtual information session, submit an Application and a $100 fee, schedule a Parent Conversation, attend a playdate assessment (January/February), and submit a Teacher Recommendation Form; 2nd–5th Grade — attend a tour, virtual information session, submit an Application and fee, schedule a Parent Conversation, attend a student visit day and 1:1 Language Assessment, submit a Teacher Recommendation Form, and submit Report Cards; 6th–8th Grade — tour/Open House, virtual information session, submit an Application and fee, schedule a Parent Conversation, attend a student visit day, 1:1 Language Assessment, submit a Teacher Recommendation Form, and submit Report Cards; 9th–11th Grade — tour/Open House, virtual information session, submit an Application and fee, schedule a Student Interview, attend a student visit day, 1:1 Language Assessment, submit two Teacher Recommendations, and submit Report Cards; 12th Grade — contact admissions regarding IB DP requirements. Important dates include January 13, 2026 (Application for Admission Due, PS–11th), January 20, 2026 (Variable Tuition Application Deadline), January 30, 2026 (Supplemental Forms Due), March 19, 2026 (Admission Decision for PS–8th, 12:00 noon), and March 20, 2026 (Admission Decision for 9th–12th, after 4:00 pm). Decisions are published in March via Ravenna. If accepted, the Enrollment Agreement must be returned within 7 days with a registration deposit. Spaces not filled after the 7‑day return period are offered to wait‑pooled applicants on a rolling basis, continuing until the start of school in August, space permitting. Inquiries are welcome year‑round; rolling admissions are available for grades with open seats.
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 —
Waitlist	Waitlist —	Waitlist Spaces not filled after enrollment deposits are made available to wait‑pooled applicants on a rolling basis. Rolling admissions continue until the start of school in August, depending on space in each class.
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