The International School of San Francisco (San Francisco)

For other French-American International Schools, see French-American School.

The International School of San Francisco
Location
San Francisco US
Information
Type	Private
Established	1963
Head of School	Melinda Bihn, Ed. D.
Enrollment	2000
Website	www.internationalsf.org, alumni.frenchamericansf.org

The International School of San Francisco (formerly known as French American International School) is an independent co-educational PK2–Grade 12 school in San Francisco, California, U.S.

The lower and middle schools both follow a bilingual curriculum in French and English. The high school (International High School) offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) degree as well as the French Baccalauréat ("the French Bac").

History

The International School of San Francisco is the city's oldest and largest bilingual school. The school was founded in 1962 under the name French American Bilingual School. The founders had a particular style of education in mind. They desired more academic rigor, and a touch more critical thinking than was locally available at the time. They also wanted an education of and about the entire world; one not blinkered by a singular perspective. In the early 1980’s, the school began implementing a high school program for non-bilingual students entering in the 9th grade. Additionally we saw the implementation of the schools Global Travel program and student exchange programs, which still resonate as core values within the school today. The International School of San Francisco moved into a couple different locations in San Francisco before making its home in its current location at 150 Oak Street in October 1997 under the leadership of Jane Camblin (former head of school). In 2008 the school embraced the full age range scope of French education by recruiting its first PK3 class. Since then the school has gone on to open locations at 1155 Page Street for the Maternelle (Pre-K), and 66 Page Street for the Arts Pavilion. In July of 2014, the school welcomed in the new Head of School, Dr. Melinda Bihn who is still in that position today. The International School of San Francisco today maintains its original core values from its founding and continues to grow in its pursuit to educate our youth.

Academics

Global education has been at the heart of The International School of San Francisco’s mission since its founding nearly 60 years ago. The school’s Pre-K through Grade 12 educational program is organized into four divisions: Maternelle, Lower School, Middle School, and High School.In Pre - K through Grade 8 (Maternelle, Lower School and Middle School), the curriculum is French-English bilingual. At International High School, students can choose to pursue a bilingual curriculum or an English curriculum (as bilingual abilities are not required). When applying to the high school in Grade 9, students may choose a first, second or third language. Students who have attended this school since before Grade 9 may continue with their third language, which can be Mandarin, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, or French. However, they are not obliged to continue taking French if they switch to the "IB" program

Programs

Arts

From Maternelle to Grade 12, students foster a love of learning and aesthetics in the arts through a flexible and highly-personalized Arts curriculum that integrates French national and IB standards. The International School of San Francisco offers many different types of art classes across all grade levels including, visual art, theater, music, and film. The high school has its own theater company called Back à Dos which puts on professional grade performances.

• Theater: The theater program provides students with a well-rounded education in the performing arts. Through theoretical and practical learning, students gain an understanding of various aspects of theatrical production, including acting, directing, and stage design.
• Music: The music program is designed to cultivate a love for music and develop students’ musical talents. Through classroom learning and practical experience, students learn about various genres, music theory, notation, and performance techniques.
• Visual Arts: The Visual Arts program allows students to express their creativity and explore different mediums, such as painting, sculpture, and digital art. Through hands-on projects, students learn about various techniques, styles, and historical influences.
• Film: Students explore various aspects of filmmaking, including screenwriting, cinematography, editing, and directing. The program’s hands-on approach enables them to develop their storytelling skills and technical expertise.

Athletics

Athletics are fully integrated into the school's educational philosophy and experience. International's athletic program fosters a spirit of commitment, leadership, and sportsmanship, while honoring cultural diversity and gender equity. The school offers competitive sports from grade 4 all the way up to grade 12. The International School of San Francisco offers a multitude of sports, including team and individual sports. Sports offered include; badminton, baseball, basketball, cross country, skiing, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, and women's lacrosse. Competing in the BCL West and Central Leagues International has won 46 league championships across all of its teams since 2000, and has gathered 12 scholastic awards as well. With over 70% of the student body participating in athletics, it is a huge part of the culture at International.

Global Travel

One of the most unique aspects of The International School of San Francisco is their Global Travel program. Every year, students have the opportunity to participate in unforgettable trips all over the globe. The school offers a wide variety of school trips in which they can visit different countries each year. Global Travel starts in Grade 5 with a trip to Strasbourg followed by a trip to Paris in Grade 8 and a multitude of options in high school. Some of the trips are language trips that focus heavily on a specific language taught at school and other trips are more focused on learning about the overall history and culture of the country.

International Baccalaureate

The International School of San Francisco offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. The IB program was developed in Geneva over 50 years ago to allow students to obtain a respected credential that would be recognized around the world. The International School of San Francisco was the 1st school in California to offer the IB diploma, and the 4th in the United States. The program is highly customizable, giving students the opportunity to select subjects unique to their strengths and interests.

French Baccalaureate

When students pursue the rigorous French Bac, the journey is an exceptionally rewarding one. About a quarter of our high school students choose to continue their studies in French and prepare for the French Baccalaureate, and the power of our French bilingual education PreK-Grade 8 is evidenced in the fact that many of our highest performing students in the high school’s French Track come from families where French is not spoken at home.

Campuses

The International School of San Francisco has 3 main campus locations:

• 150 Oak Street
• 1155 Page Street
• 66 Page Street

External links

• Official site of French American International School of San Francisco
• Official Alumni Website