International School of Brooklyn vs Lycée Français de New York
🇺🇸 New York · Side-by-side comparison on verifiable public data.
Neither International School of Brooklyn nor Lycée Français de New York sits in a market with a public inspectorate, so both are assessed on verifiable accreditation, curriculum authorisation, and published data rather than an official quality rating. Curriculum is the core differentiator: International School of Brooklyn offers IB, Blended while Lycée Français de New York offers National, American, Blended — the choice should follow the family's target qualification system. On cost, International School of Brooklyn has the noticeably lower entry fee — a material difference for budget-conscious families. See the table below for the figures, and verify against each school's own published fees.
Key Facts
| International School of Brooklyn | Lycée Français de New York | |
|---|---|---|
| Curriculum | IB / Blended | National / American / Blended |
| Ages | 3–14 | 3–18 |
| Languages of instruction | English, French, Spanish | French, English |
| Annual fees | USD 40,206–52,537 | USD 51,925 |
| Enrollment | 386 | 1,200 |
| Boarding | Day only | Day only |
| Accreditations | NYSAIS, AEFE, Mission Laïque Française, Spanish Ministry of Education | NYSAIS, French Ministry of Education, AEFE |
Strengths
- ✓Genuine dual-language immersion — a single French OR Spanish track from Pre-K, with a transparent, published target-language ratio by grade (100%→90%→75%→50%)
- ✓IB World School authorized for BOTH the PYP (Pre-K 3–Grade 5) and MYP (6th–8th) — a continuous IB framework across the whole Pre-K–8 span
- ✓Faculty teach in their native language (school-reported), reinforcing authentic linguistic and cultural fluency
- ✓Documented language and learning support — an English Language Coordinator, extra support for English/French/Spanish acquirers, and grade-band Learning Specialists
- ✓A third language is introduced in Grade 6, extending the multilingual model into Middle School
- ✓Long-established institution (founded 1935; first baccalaureate 1938) — one of the oldest French-American schools in the US
- ✓Genuine dual-diploma pathway: the American High School Diploma AND the French Baccalauréat (BFI/international option referenced)
- ✓NYSAIS-accredited and recognized by the French Ministry of Education, within the AEFE network
- ✓Full continuous pathway from Nursery-3 (age 3) through Grade 12 (age 18) on a single purpose-built campus
- ✓Authentic French–English bilingual, bicultural model rather than a token language track
Trade-offs
- !Ends at Grade 8 — there is NO high school, no IB Diploma, and no secondary-exit credential; families must transfer for grades 9–12
- !Because it is Pre-K–8, there are no exit-exam results or university-placement data at all — outcomes must be judged on programme quality, not graduating results
- !Does NOT hold US regional accreditation (CIS or MSA); quality assurance runs through NYSAIS and the IB plus French/Spanish national networks
- !Immersion entry is language-gated in the upper primary years — applicants to Grades 1–5 must already speak, read and write French or Spanish at grade level
- !Premium Brooklyn day-school fees (up to $52,537 for Grades 6–8 in 2026–27), plus a $5,000 deposit and ancillary charges; day school only, no boarding
- !Publishes no baccalaureate pass rates, distinction rates or university-destination data — academic outcomes cannot be independently verified
- !No graded external inspection exists (US has no public inspectorate), so quality rests on accreditation membership plus self-description
- !Enrollment is inconsistent across sources (official 'over 1,200' vs Wikipedia 'over 1,350')
- !EAL/English- and French-language support for non-native speakers is not documented on public pages — a barrier for older non-French-speaking entrants
- !Premium fees ($51,925 for 2026-27) plus one-time and ancillary charges; day school only (no boarding)
Best Fit For
- • Families in Brooklyn seeking authentic French OR Spanish dual-language immersion from the early years within an IB framework
- • Internationally mobile or heritage-language families wanting bridges into the French (AEFE/Mlf) or Spanish education systems
- • Households prioritising a strong bilingual Pre-K-through-Grade-8 foundation and comfortable transferring for high school
- • Families who may need substantial need-based financial aid (a real, funded programme reaching about a third of students)
- • Francophone or French-heritage families in New York wanting a continuous French-curriculum, baccalaureate pathway
- • Families seeking authentic French–English bilingual, bicultural education from age 3
- • Households targeting both American university admission and the French Baccalauréat via a dual diploma
- • Internationally mobile families valuing the AEFE network and portability of the French system
University Placement
School-reported · not independently verified
Not applicable / not published. ISB is a Pre-K 3–8th Grade school with no high school, so there are no graduating cohorts, exit-exam results, or university destinations to report. Families should assess ISB on its early- and middle-years programme rather than on secondary outcomes, and plan a transfer for grades 9–12.
Not public. No baccalaureate pass/distinction rates or university-destination lists were found on the school's public site (consistent with the norm among independent US day schools). Any placement claims should be treated as school-reported, unverified.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose International School of Brooklyn or Lycée Français de New York?
International School of Brooklyn is best for: Families in Brooklyn seeking authentic French OR Spanish dual-language immersion from the early years within an IB framework. Lycée Français de New York is best for: Francophone or French-heritage families in New York wanting a continuous French-curriculum, baccalaureate pathway. The right choice depends on target curriculum, budget, and family priorities — the two are not linearly comparable.
How do fees compare between International School of Brooklyn and Lycée Français de New York?
International School of Brooklyn: USD 40,206–52,537. Lycée Français de New York: USD 51,925. Verify against each school's own published fees; some figures are sourced from third-party aggregators.
What curricula do International School of Brooklyn and Lycée Français de New York offer?
International School of Brooklyn: IB, Blended. Lycée Français de New York: National, American, Blended.
Do International School of Brooklyn or Lycée Français de New York offer boarding?
International School of Brooklyn: day school only. Lycée Français de New York: day school only.
Questions parents ask
This comparison is BrightKey's independent assessment using verifiable public data only. University-placement figures are school-reported and not independently verified. BrightKey takes no payments from schools. Our method →