Top-Ranked French International School Rochambeau Celebrates 

70 Years of Multicultural Education

 

French Ambassador Laurent Bili Spoke 

During Anniversary Kickoff Event in Bethesda 

 

September 13, 2025 – Bethesda, MD – Rochambeau, the French International School, kicked off its 70th year of operation with a celebration at its Maplewood campus in Bethesda. The school will continue to host events throughout this milestone year.  

The only school in the Washington metropolitan area accredited by the French Ministry of Education, Rochambeau currently ranks first among French schools in the United States and fourth in the world. Rankings are based on 2024 general baccalaureate results for schools with more than 500 students. 

The French International School of Washington, D.C. offers much more than a French academic curriculum,” said Laurent Bili, French Ambassador to the United States. It showcases a culture and its values, and helps shape new generations who are able to converse in several languages and build bridges between cultures. With students from more than 80 countries, Rochambeau fosters a spirit of openness to the world. 

Founded in 1955, Rochambeau offers an immersive education from preschool through 12th grade based on the French curriculum, established and mandated by the French Ministry of National Education and recognized worldwide for its academic excellence. The curriculum also includes an American International Section—a bilingual, bicultural program that covers subjects taught in English, such as American literature, history and geography. 

In 2021 became one of only three International Baccalaureate World Schools in North America offering the IB Advanced Bilingual Diploma, adding yet another layer of linguistic and academic rigor. Rochambeau students graduate with a Maryland high school diploma plus either the French Baccalauréat and its bilingual or trilingual international options (BFI) or the International Baccalaureate (IB) and its bilingual or advanced bilingual versions.

Turning 70 is a truly remarkable milestone for us, considering that we started with just 11 students in the basement of the French Consulate in DC,” said Rochambeau’s Executive Director Hélène Fabre. “We now have two thriving campuses serving nearly 1,300 students who represent more than 80 nationalities and speak 60 languages.”

The anniversary kickoff celebration featured a back-to-school barbecue, a soccer tournament and the unveiling of a new school mascot, among other activities. School leaders, alumni, and Ambassador Bili spoke at the event. Celebrating a vibrant 70-year relationship with the greater DC community, the event complements several annual Rochambeau traditions, including an International Food Festival and a Spring Fair, both open to the public.

The spirit of Rochambeau is really about transculturalism—transcending borders, transcending cultures, understanding hybrid identities and identifying the shared affinities with people who are so different from you,” said alumnus Claude Grunitzky. “I came here with a very African mindset, and I left as a citizen of the world. What happened to me here was really transformative.”

As it has evolved and grown over the years, Rochambeau has operated from nine different locations in greater DC before settling into its current Forest Road and Maplewood (Rockville Pike) campuses in Bethesda.

 

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Opening Ceremony Photo Album

70th Anniversary Celebrations - Opening Ceremony by Rochambeau, The French International School on Exposure

 

 

 

Back to School Barbecue Photo Album

70th Anniversary Celebrations - Back to school Barbecue by Rochambeau, The French International School on Exposure

 

 

Soccer Tournament Photo Album

70th Anniversary - BBQ Soccer Tournament by Rochambeau, The French International School on Exposure