Rochambeau is a French curriculum school with a strong native-level English component. Students who attend the school over several years attain fluency in French at grade level. English speakers who complete their studies at Rochambeau will graduate with high level fluency in both English and French.

Children who do not speak French can enter the school during any of the four years of preschool or kindergarten.  Or, they can choose to enter into a specially adapted French Immersion program offered from 1st to 3rd grade. As of 4th grade, French is required and children will be tested on their French ability, oral and/or written, depending on their age. They need to be at or near grade level to attend the school.

Yes! Formal English language instruction begins in preschool. From second grade on, the classes are divided into groups according to the level of English. The highest level group offers English classes comparable to American private school English classes. 

The early pre-school program "Toute Petite Section" is the only program that does not run on the calendar year. It requires children to be 2-years old at the start of the academic year, or before September 1st.  

A student's grade level is determined by birth date.  The school adheres to the French cut-off date of December 31 for all grades except TPS.

• Your child must be 2 years old by September 1 to enter Nursery 1 (TPS)
• Your child must be 3 years old by December 31 to enter Nursery 2 (PS)
• Your child must be 4 years old by December 31 to enter Pre-K (MS)
• Your child must be 5 years old by December 31 to enter K (GS)

The "Toute Petite section", starting at age 2, is the beginning of formalized education based on the French curriculum program. Its focus is on developing the skills required for kindergarten and elementary school.

There are no part time options for the Petite Section (age 3). 

Most of the curriculum is taught in French. English is required at all grade levels and are place in instructional level classes.  Beginner and advanced levels of Arabic and Spanish are offered afterschool in Elementary school (Arabic starts in 1st grade; Spanish starts in CE2/3rd grade). 

As of 6th grade, students may study Spanish, German and Arabic in addition to French and English. Latin is also offered as an option.  All options require a minimum of students to enroll for them to be offered.  

Rochambeau offers 4 different levels of Spanish, including a native-level class, and a beginner or advanced level of Arabic.

Students may also independently pursue other languages through the French Online program (CNED).

Admissions applications for the 2020-2021 school year are currently available. Applications for the 2021-22 school year will open in October 2020. 

The admissions application is a paperless process, requiring a scanned copy of all documents.  Applications received by January deadline will receive an admissions response before March 1.  After that date it is on a rolling basis.

Ours is a truly international school with an incredible mix of nationalities and languages. We currently have students representing over 70 nationalities. Approximately, one-third of the students are French nationals, another 21% are French/USA dual citizens, 51% hold U.S. citizenship, and 23% are citizens of countries other than the U.S.A. or France.

The French “Baccalauréat" or "BAC" is a diploma that marks the completion of a French high school program and follows the curriculum guidelines established by the French Ministry of Education.  The Bac exams are taken over a two-year period (11th and 12th grade), and includes written as well as oral parts. It is a challenging and highly respected diploma widely recognized by universities around the world. Students entering North American universities often do so with a certain number of credits (generally up to the equivalent of one year). In addition to the “baccalauréat" (a national exam graded by external examiners), students at Rochambeau can be awarded their American high school diploma.

OIB is a bilingual option within the traditional Baccalauréat. The French curriculum is augmented by courses in English on language and literature, and U.S. history-geography. Students taking the OIB option master both English and French as native speakers and writers. The OIB curriculum starts in 10th grade, but can enter in 11th on request.  This is a highly selective class and students are accepted based on an English assessment.  

In the United States, the High School Diploma also signifies the completion of secondary studies. However, a student is not required to pass a specific exam, rather she or he must acquire during the four years of high school, a certain number of “credits" by taking classes in various subjects and passing tests in each class.

Rochambeau students, who complete the academic requirements of the State of Maryland which includes two courses in American History, receive their American High School Diploma at the end of 11th grade (the second to last year of the French high school system), so one year earlier than in the American system.

Yes, students can receive both diplomas. The vast majority of Rochambeau students graduate with both the French “baccalauréat" and the American High School diploma.

No. Rochambeau follows the French national curriculum which leads to the French baccalauréat. The French baccalauréat offers an international option called the OIB (option internationale du baccalauréat) which includes a native level English language component.

Rochambeau is looking to introduce the IB in the 2021-2022 school year. More information will be provided at a later date. 

Rochambeau offers AP* Literature and AP history as of 10th grade. A entrance evaluation is required to qualify for this class.  An AP Calculus class is also offered to students in 11th grade (Science track 1ere S)

Many students also independently take AP exams. They prepare for the AP exams on their own.

* Advanced Placement

During the High School years, the English and Math departments include relevant key content in the curriculum. In addition, students in 9th, 10th and 11th grade have the option to take a US Math or PSAT/SAT and ACT preparation classes offered at the school outside of regular school hours.

In general, a third of the students go to university in the United States, a third go to universities in Canada and a third continue their education in Europe either in France or a number of countries including the U.K., Switzerland and the Netherlands. The school has a team of college/university counselors who have extensive experience in college admissions in these geographic regions.

Students are not required to complete a number community service hours. However, it is highly encouraged, and we have a very active community service department providing students with opportunities to engage in various service related activities and actions.

No. All families are eligible for Rochambeau Financial Aid. However, French nationals must first request for French Government financial aid through the French consulate in Washington DC.

Maternelle: Drop off: 8:30 am; class starts at 9:00am – End of class activities: 3:10pm - Pick-up: 3:30pm  

Elementary (grades 1-5): Drop off as of 8:00am; class start at 8:30 – End of day 3:20pm; Pick up between 3:20 and 3:45pm

6th and 7th grades:  8:30am – 3:30pm

8th grade and up – 8:30am – 3:30pm or 5:30pm depending on agenda and options

After school child care is offered as of 1st grade on the Rollingwood and Forest campus. Children as of 1st grade can register for afterschool childcare, study hall with teacher support (étude dirigée), or after school extracurricular activities "Club Rochambeau".  The transportation system has a late run for students staying after normal school hours. For more information see Transportation and After school programs.  

We do not have an afterschool service for children in the Maternelle (nursery to kindergarten), but have found convenient solutions for families needed afterschool daycare.  After and before care solutions 

At what age does a child begin elementary school?

The French school system is organized in cycles. Elementary school is the start of the second cycle that starts in first grade until fifth grade. To enter into first grade "CP", students must be 6-years old by December 31. Children who are coming from a different system and age cut-off dates, will be evaluated based on their academic grade. The final grade will be determined by the results of the evaluation and a common agreement between the school director and the parents.

Rochambeau provides transportation and bus services to its student living in Maryland, DC and Virginia. Pick-up and drop off points are determined in July for the following school year based on bus registrations. It is recommended to contact the transporation department to ensure that we provide service to your area. A shuttle service is also provided between campuses. This is a paying service. Financial aid takes into account the transportation fees.   Transportation

Rochambeau does not have a cafeteria service on any of its three campuses. Students bring a lunch box and the school respects a no nut-policy.

The parent association has partnered with outside vendors to provide food delivery on certain dates for the Rollingwood campus (grades 1-4) and the Forest Campus (grades 5-12). Parents can order food online from specific menus. For more information.