General FAQs
FrenchAm Preschool is our private, tuition-based preschool serving children age 1 through Pre-Kindergarten. We commonly refer to it as “the Preschool”.
FrenchAm Academy is the name of our public charter school which serves Kindergarten through 5th grade. We commonly refer to it as “the Academy”.
Yes, both schools are located in the same building, at 2031 N Arizona Avenue in Chandler, Arizona. Families find this very convenient as it allows them to have multiple children enrolled at the same location.
FrenchAm Preschool is a complete French immersion experience for young children. Our instructors and caregivers are native French speakers who immerse your child 100% into a Francophone environment.
FrenchAm Academy offers a true immersion program, the only one in the state of Arizona for charter schools.
Kindergarten students spend the bulk of each day working in and receiving their instruction entirely in French, with the exception of 2 hours of English instruction focused on English Language Arts acquisition.
Grade 1 through Grade 5 students receive 50% English and 50% French instruction. They spend 2 full days each week in French and 2 full days in English, progressing through all the core subjects in both languages simultaneously. Special subjects such as Art and PE are taught in the native language of the instructor, either French or English.
FrenchAm Schools’ teachers are native speakers of the language they teach. Many of our teachers are multilingual, speaking French, English, and a variety of other languages such as Arabic, German, Spanish, and tribal languages.
No. The FrenchAm Schools are language immersion schools, therefore it is expected all students are on campus, in person for instruction. When state mandate requires a closure of schools, we follow a temporary distance learning plan for a designated period of time until in-person learning may be resumed. There is no full-time option for online learning through our schools.
Academy FAQs
Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8am to 4pm. Friday is Teacher Planning Day for staff and Enrichment Day for students.
Academy students are not required to attend on Fridays but child care is available, as well as organized activities, French and English language support, homework assistance, and tutoring for students who may need help catching up. Friday Enrichment Day is considered Extended Care and attending on this day incurs an additional fee.
The 8-hour school day allows for longer blocks of time for instruction and for adequate recess, which is critical in supporting cognitive processing. Providing a dedicated day each week for Teacher Planning helps ensure the success of our program of instruction by allowing teachers time to prepare their lessons, assess student progress, communicate with peers and parents, and receive professional development. Students who need help closing an educational gap can receive dedicated time for tutoring as well as extra support in their second language, French or English.
FrenchAm Academy offers a true immersion program, the only one in the state of Arizona for charter schools.
Kindergarten students spend the bulk of each day working in and receiving their instruction entirely in French, with the exception of 2 hours of English instruction focused on English Language Arts acquisition.
Grade 1 through Grade 5 students receive 50% English and 50% French instruction. They spend 2 full days each week in French and 2 full days in English, progressing through all the core subjects in both languages simultaneously. Special subjects such as Art and PE are taught in the native language of the instructor, either French or English.
Charter schools in Arizona are tuition-free, however because we are not fully funded by the state, we may ask parents to help by making financial donations or by taking advantage of tax credits which benefit the school.
FrenchAm Academy offers a teacher-led, dual language immersion program taught in French and English. The curriculum and academic program at FrenchAm Academy are rigorous and challenging. Academy students who graduate the school have completed the Elementary programs of both languages.
The Chief Education Officer, Corinne Arnout, and her team review curriculum every year and make changes/supplements based on the French National Ministry of Education or AZ State standards. Samples of curriculum used include Singapore Math, Questionner le Monde, McGraw Hill reading and math textbooks, and Taoki, Mots en Herbe, and Rallye Lecture textbooks.
FrenchAm Academy teachers are native speakers of the language they teach. Many of our teachers are multilingual, speaking French, English, and a variety of other languages such as Arabic, German, Spanish, and tribal languages.
No. The two schools are separate entities. All FrenchAm Preschool students need to apply if they wish to enroll at FrenchAm Academy.
You may view the FrenchAm Academy’s Framework on the ASBCS Charter Performance Dashboard:
https://online.asbcs.az.gov/charterholders/view/1055#performance-tab
Preschool FAQs
FrenchAm Preschool is a complete French immersion experience for young children. Our instructors and caregivers are native French speakers who immerse your child 100% into a Francophone environment. Your child will learn proper pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary from the earliest ages.
Yes! Preparation for spelling, reading, and mathematics are conducted in small group activities. Curriculum is based on monthly themes focusing on the different cycles of the year, animal kingdom, countries and people of the world, local events and exhibitions, etc. This allows the children to learn things that are both familiar to them and their family as well as learn more about the world in which they live. Children are encouraged to be active learners and even at a young age are able to appreciate the rich environment around them.
Outside guests are often invited to share important concepts with the children. Topics such as safety (Fire, Police), special trades (How bread is made; Why I should brush my teeth), Arizona wildlife, and history are incorporated into the curriculum to bring the real world to the children.
Our littlest students enjoy circle time, story time, and arts and crafts as key components of their learning and motor skill development. During art and craft activities, children give free rein to their imagination and creativity by using the available tools such as easels, paints, crayons, markers, and glue. For projects based on a specific theme, the children are guided and coached by the teacher. Music, dance, or drama help the children in learning self-esteem and communication skills.
Absolutely. Our classrooms are designed to encourage exploration and free play as the children arrive each day and throughout the day’s schedule. Physical activities also play a very important role in the evolution and education of the children. Games and activities such as running, jumping, pulling, throwing, and catching help the children gain balance and physical awareness. Children at FrenchAm Preschool have multiple opportunities to play outdoors each day, weather permitting, and in our dedicated indoor playground. Free play as well as organized activities are incorporated.
All activities are conducted in age-appropriate groups as well as on an individual basis. The children will have the opportunity to work within their own age group as well as interact with children of varying ages to learn and grow. The programs used are focused on building general knowledge and language skills while awakening creativity in the child.
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2031 N Arizona Avenue, Ste 2. Chandler, AZ 85225
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The FrenchAm Schools admit students and employees of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students or employees at the school. The FrenchAm Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity in administration of its educational policies, admissions or hiring policies, and athletic or other school-administered programs.