Lycée Français de Chicago

The main campus is at 1929 West Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60640. Transit options include the Damen Brown Line El stop, CTA bus routes 50 Damen, 22 Clark, and 81 Lawrence near Wilson, and the Ravenswood UP-N Metra line within walking distance. Ravenswood Garage (entrance off Damen Ave) provides parking. The school offers bilingual instruction in French and English.

Pre-elementary | Pre-K to K; Elementary | Grades 1 to 5; Middle School | Grades 6 to 8; High School | Grades 9 to 12.

International school.

AEFE-affiliated; listed on the AEFE roster of French Schools in Foreign Countries; part of the French Ministry of Education network worldwide.

Morning Bus Program with three routes (North, West, South). North Route serves Wilmette, Evanston, Rogers Park and West Ridge; West Route serves West Town, Wicker Park, Bucktown and Logan Square; South Route serves Hyde Park, Streeterville, Lincoln Park and Lakeview. For details and registration, email operations@lyceechicago.org.

The Lyce9e Frane7ais de Chicago offers an immersion-based curriculum with two diploma tracks: the French Baccalaureate (BFI American Section) and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, for students from pre-K through grade 12. Instruction is primarily in French, with English provided through English-language BFI courses and English-language components within the IB track. The American Section of the French Baccalaureate, the BFI, is bilingual and bicultural, combining French bac rigor with American inquiry-based learning to provide a university entrance qualification valid in the US and France. The school is an International Baccalaureate World School, offering the IB Diploma Programme in grades 11412 and the IB Middle Years Programme in grades 910, with Bilingual Diploma (BD) and Advanced Bilingual Diploma (ABD) options. Graduates typically earn a US high school diploma and either the French Baccalaureate or the IB Diploma, with CNED courses available for additional options.

Baccalaureate examination results show a consistent 100% pass rate from 2021 to 2025. Honors at LFC range from 94% to 100% over these years, with honors in North America ranging from 89% to 94%. The data reflect strong performance across both the French Bac and the IB track.

100% of LFC students go on to higher education after graduation, most frequently in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and France.

The LFC adopts a holistic approach from Pre-K through 12, prioritizing social and emotional development alongside academics. It does not teach to tests but teaches to learn, emphasizing growth beyond exams. There is extensive after-school programming, athletics, arts, and clubs to help students develop interests and talents inside and outside the classroom. Core values include Respect and Responsibility, guiding interactions and community life. Language immersion and international exposure foster empathy, cross-cultural understanding, and a global perspective. Center for the Arts, LFCextra, and other student-life offerings support social engagement and personal growth, contributing to the development of the whole child.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) recognizes diverse learning abilities and includes strategies to support inclusion. Inclusion and equity are central to LFC's mission and core values, fostering a safe and belonging-rich environment. DEI in Action includes a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager and a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. The school admits students into its programs without distinction on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, or gender identity, in accordance with applicable laws. The DEI framework also supports socio-economic diversity and ongoing student initiatives to promote inclusion and equity. Inclusion is designed to create a safe, nurturing environment for all members of the community.

French-English bilingual immersion is offered from pre-K to Grade 8. No background in French or English is required for primary or high school. A third language option becomes available beginning in Grade 4. Through the bilingual+ curriculum, language immersion and international exposure, students are prepared for global opportunities. The program emphasizes bilingualism and multilingual development as part of the international education experience. Language learning is integrated across grade levels to support ongoing language acquisition and cultural competence.

Mental wellbeing is supported through access to social work services, counseling, and school psychological services. The school provides social-emotional skill-building, counseling, and community-based support as part of addressing student needs. Investigations and safeguarding processes respect confidentiality and involve appropriate professionals to support students and families. Parents/guardians are kept informed and engaged when concerns arise, with timelines and appropriate interventions outlined. The school emphasizes restorative measures and other interventions to promote student wellbeing, and the safeguarding policies are reviewed and updated periodically.

Bullying and harassment are prohibited at Lycée Français de Chicago. Reporting is encouraged to the Primary or Secondary Directors or to other designated staff, and anonymous reports are accepted. Investigations are conducted by the Dean or a designated administrator and aim to be thorough and impartial, with confidentiality maintained and a typical timeline of up to 10 school days. Parents/guardians are informed and invited to participate in discussions about investigations and actions taken, including social work, counseling, or other interventions as needed. The policy also addresses sexual harassment and a charter against abuse, with mandatory reporting obligations to authorities (e.g., DCFS) and compliance with applicable laws; the policy is revised periodically (Revised: August 2025).

1. Your LFC journey starts with understanding entry points. The main entry points are pre-elementary (pre-K to K) and Grade 9 IB, and inquiries are welcome at all grade levels, subject to space availability. In primary school, non-French speakers may enroll from pre-K to Grade 5 through the Welcoming Language Program, depending on space availability. The high school IB program is taught in English and welcomes non-French-speaking students from Grades 9–12.

2. Submit the online application. Applications open October 1 of the preceding year, and there is a $155 application fee paid upon submitting the online application. If you are unable to pay the application fee, contact the Admissions Office. Rolling admissions apply for 2026-2027, and admissions decisions are issued on a rolling basis once the application is complete.

3. Provide supporting materials and complete assessments. Upload report cards from the past three school years where available, and ensure the current teacher submits a recommendation form via the application platform. Register for a group assessment or an individual assessment, and schedule a parent interview with the admissions team. For daycare families applying to Pre-K, there are benefits including a waived first application fee and prioritized admission, along with the Pre-K welcome pass that supports before-school and after-school arrangements.

4. Notes on dates, deadlines, and timelines. Online applications open on October 1 of the preceding year; for September 2026 entry, PK-8 applications are due December 31 and Grades 9-12 applications are due January 15. Re-enrollment opens January 15 for current families, with additional admissions assessments for PK-8 in January–February. New student acceptance notifications for Pre-K through 12th-grade applicants are issued on February 27, 2026, with enrollment decisions due March 9, 2026; the school also notes a French Bourse deadline in March. General admissions for 2026-2027 indicate rolling admissions and space-based inquiries.

5. Decisions and enrollment. Admissions decisions are communicated by email, and for certain grade bands these decisions are issued in mid-March or on a rolling basis depending on space and the timeline. The school reserves the right to request additional information or an in-person interview for candidates at any grade level. For questions or to initiate the process, use the inquiry channel or contact the Admissions Office directly.

6. Final note. The school welcomes inquiries at all grade levels and emphasizes space availability when considering applications and enrollments. Financial aid and other supports are described separately in the Tuition & Financial Aid section.

Financial aid is available, and twenty percent of LFC students receive financial aid; more than $2.3 million in financial support is awarded each year to eligible families. Financial aid uses FACTS to assess need; FACTS provides a needs analysis and a recommended contribution, while the school's Financial Aid Committee reviews the completed applications. Deadlines for new families include FACTS aid applications opening November 1, 2025 and closing December 31, 2025, with tax documents due February 9, 2026 and preliminary awards targeted by February 27, 2026, followed by final awards by April 28, 2026; current families have similar but slightly different timelines.

French Government Scholarships may be available for French citizens living in the Chicago area; applications are submitted to the Consulate General of France in Chicago. The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund (DMSF) is a partner that offers high school scholarship assistance to Chicago students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds; the DMSF application deadline is October for current 8th graders and is conducted through DMSF's website. Donations to the LFC Fund and La Soirée support financial aid.

In addition to need-based aid, the school provides external scholarship pathways (e.g., DMSF) and government scholarships where applicable; eligibility depends on family circumstances and program rules. Applicants should plan to submit the required documents and information on time to ensure consideration for aid alongside admissions.