| Lycée Français de New York | |
|---|---|
| 505 East 75th Street | |
| Address | |
| 505 East 75th Street New York City, New York, U.S.A. |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Co-op |
| Established | October 1935 First charter: 17 April 1936 |
| Grades | Preschool to high school |
| Gender | Girls and boys |
| Language | French and English |
| Website | www.lfny.org |
The Lycée Français de New York (LFNY), literally The French High School of New York, is an exclusive French-medium school for K-12 students based in Manhattan, New York which follows the French curriculum of study and allows students to study for the French general Baccalauréat, the international option of the French Baccalaureate, and the American High School Diploma. It fosters over 1300 students from many different nationalities from pre-nursery through high school.
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In the mid 1930s the LFNY was the brainchild of the then French Consul General in New York, Count Charles de Ferry de Fontnouvelle. He enlisted the help of Forsythe Wicks, a lawyer and businessman who was the president of the Alliance Française and Paul Windels, Sr., the attorney general of the City of New York. Others involved in the founding of the LFNY include Dr. Nicholas Murray Butler, the President of Columbia University, Mr. Jesse Straus, the U.S. Ambassador to France, and Mr. Jean Marx, the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Quai d'Orsay The LFNY granted its first baccalaureate degree in 1938. During the late 1930s and 1940s world events helped shape the School as it continued to expand to accommodate the many students who came here from Europe and elsewhere during WWII. Eight graduates of LFNY died in combat during the war. Since 1935 over 36,000 students have studied at the Lycée. More than 150 nationalities have been represented throughout the School's history."[1]
Mr. Charles de Ferry de Fontnouvelle served as the school's first President from 1935 until his death in 1956. He was succeeded by two interim Presidents: Jean de Siéyès (president or former president of the French-American Banking Corporation) from de Fontnouvelle's death until the end of the school year; and Robert Lacour-Gayet (a writer and academic) for the next school year. Then, Mr. Maurice Galy (deceased 1993) became the school's President starting in 1957, a post he held until he retired in 1989.
The modern LFNY building was designed by the New York based architecture firm Polshek Partnership Architects in 2003. It consists of two buildings linked together by a patio, serving as a walkway, but also a lawn where students congregate and play. The North building (76th street) houses the pre-school and elementary schools while the middle school and high school students are taught in the South building (75th street). All students share the cafeteria and the gymnasiums. The facade of the building is made of stainless glass, and the lobby wall is dedicated to great French and American people who define the Lycee curriculum.
The school originally occupied a residential building on East 95th Street near Fifth Avenue and Mr. Galy arranged for the acquisition of three more landmark mansions, two on East 72d Street and one on East 93d Street."[2] In 2003, the school completed a modern, 158,000-square-foot (14,700 m2) state-of-the-art facility located at 505 East 75th Street. Taking up nearly a full city block, it houses the upper and lower schools and boasts such amenities as a 354-seat auditorium and two full size gymnasiums. Student to teacher ratio is approximately 7:1
The Lycée Français de New York has a tuition of $22 360. Financial Aid (Bourse) is given to students based on need. The LFNY holds a yearly Gala to raise money for the Bourse, and receives some funding from the French government.