École Française de Boston (EFB)

EFB follows the official French National Education programme (from maternelle to CM2) and holds homologation from the French Ministry of Education, which allows pupils to continue in the French school network worldwide. It is a partner institution of the AEFE. The curriculum is combined with elements of the Massachusetts standards to ease transfer into US schools. The school also prepares pupils for the DELF French language diplomas and runs FLAM heritage-language classes for francophone children who attend other schools.

EFB covers early childhood and elementary education. The preschool (maternelle) welcomes children from 21 months in toddler classes and continues through Pre-K and kindergarten, with full French immersion and a play-based approach. The elementary school runs from CP to CM2, equivalent to US Grades 1 to 5, as a full-time dual-language programme based on the French curriculum. Pupils typically leave EFB at around age 10 or 11.

EFB aims to support each child on their own path, respecting individual learning rhythms and recognising progress. It seeks to build a balanced bilingual identity and a love of learning, together with curiosity about the French-speaking world. The school values respect, openness and inclusion, encourages strong partnership with families, and wants to raise confident, responsible and open-minded children who can thrive in a multilingual setting.

EFB operates across three campuses: Concord Avenue in Cambridge, which hosts Pre-K to Grade 5, and Walden Square in Cambridge and Watertown, which host toddler to kindergarten classes. Each campus has a library with books in French and other languages, used for weekly class visits and borrowing, and children use outdoor playgrounds during recess and after-school care.

The normal school day runs from 8:30 to 15:00. Families can add a before-school programme from 8:00 and extended day care until 17:00, or until 17:30 or 18:00 depending on the campus, with snack time and supervised play. Learning support and social-emotional learning teachers work with pupils, and a financial aid fund, which includes French consulate scholarships, helps eligible families with tuition.

Physical education in elementary covers a broad mix of activities such as yoga, mini-fencing, French pétanque, ultimate frisbee, dance, track and field and racket sports. Weekly arts sessions include visual arts, music and theatre. After the school day, an after-school club programme at the Concord Avenue campus offers activities in French such as art, music, sports and storytelling, including a clay club, and a seven-week bilingual summer camp runs with weekly themes for children up to age 8.