French Immersion School of Washington

We attended FISW for eight years. The staff was friendly and organized. When we started, FISW had only been open a few years. By our class, I feel like they had worked out the kinks. I loved the detailed attention and focus on different learning styles in early grades. They have excellent teachers but many stay only for 3 years due to visa limitations. Some get permanent residency. FISW polls parents annually. I see an increasing focus on listening to and addressing concerns. I love that in immersion schools they cannot replace natural attrition at the higher grade levels as easily as in typical school. With decreasing class size, you get more attention and deeper curriculum. We had 11 students in 5th. The girls are fluent in French. One daughter had the highest score the teacher had seen. Their 4th and 5th grade evaluations were fantastic. Their class trip to France assured them of their skill. Both girls tested above grade on the MSP and the IEEE last fall. Subject matter sequence differs, but ultimately, if you follow the cycles, they are usually ahead for MS. I am thrilled with the quality education. The staff and student body are close knit. I would make the same choice.
—Submitted by a parent

I love FISW. The community (teachers and parents) are supportive, nuturing and helpful. Our daughter is in her second year and speaks French impressively with a native accent. When she had trouble last year, the teachers and administration took the time to help us work through it, both in and out of school hours.
—Submitted by a parent

Preschool was great and the teachers were really nurturing. When we moved our son from 1st grade to 2nd grade in a public school, we found out that he was actually behind not only in English (which we expected) but also in Math. There seems to be so much emphasis on French that Math and English really fall behind. My son had to do a lot of catching up.
—Submitted by a parent

It does a great job of being a fully immersion french program and follows the curricullum in France to the T. However, if you are looking for good academics, I am not sure this is a place that challenges the bright kids. The focus is so high on French language in the early years that they are actually behind wrt to the public schools on other subjects such as English and Math until you reach 4th grade. In 4th grade they try to catch up and eventually in 5th grade they meet up or exceed some average public school standards. However, paying for private school you expect a bit more than just an additional language. The middle school that most 5th graders seem to move to is Tillicum because a private teacher teaches adv. French before regular classes start. Tillicum is not a good gauge.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a wonderful school with a warm, nuturing environment. We have been at the school now for 6 years The teachers we have had, without exception, have all been excellent. We do not speak French at home but my child speaks like a native. At all levels it is a very rich curriculum. The class sizes at the upper levels are also very small which is something we like.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a warm, nurturing school that really tries to do the best it can for its students. My children are excited and happy to go to school every day. It is wonderful to hear their French language skills improve every year. Small class sizes (especially in the higher grades) facilitate learning. We have also loved the families that we have met here. They tend to be well educated people who are very interested not only in events at the local level, but life and culture outside of the United States.
—Submitted by a parent

This is a great school! Especially if you want your child to be bilingual. My child started in Kindergarten(moyens) and by the fourth grade he was so fluent that parents from France assumed either my wife or I was from Paris! The fourth grade went on a field trip to Paris for 10 days. Parent involvement is key and the school does many activites such as a fund raising auction and Kernesse(carnival). The teachers are all native speakers and there are separate English teachers. The school also has the WASL test for 4th graders. It has preschool to 5th grade. Very safe with French style discipline. A high quality school.
—Submitted by a parent

We have been so happy with the school. Teachers are great, dedicated, principal is great, takes care of school, teachers and kids and parents. Learning enviroment is wonderful, my child had a great experience, speaks French like a native, while no one at home speaks any french. Highly recommend!
—Submitted by a parent