School Profile 2016-2017

1929 W. Wilson Ave., Chicago, IL 60640 | Tel: 773-665-0066 www.lyceechicago.org | CEEB Code: 140-996 Eric Veteau, Head of School | Vincent Aime, Head of Secondary School | Christine Eischen, College & University Advisor

History Lycée Français de Chicago (LFC) was founded in 1995 with the support of the French Consulate in Chicago and is listed in the French Ministry of Education’s official roster of French schools in foreign countries. Lycée Français de Chicago offers two educational programs. The Baccalauréat Français program, taught in French, adheres to the mandates of the French Ministry of Education. LFC also offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, taught in English standardized by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Both programs aim to develop independent research, reasoning, analysis, and critical thinking skills. Students who have earned either the French Bac or IB diploma have attained a high level of intellectual maturity at the university level. Enrollment Accreditation Since its founding, Lycée Français de Chicago (Pre-K–12) has Lycée Français de Chicago is accredited by the French grown from 139 to 755 students, with a current enrollment of 130 Ministry of Education, the International Baccalaureate students in Grades 9 through 12. Its multicultural student body Organization, and ISACS (Independent School Association hail from France, the U.S., Europe and other countries around of the Central States). the world. There are a total of 32 students in the class of 2016: 25 French Baccalaureate and 7 International Baccalaureate.

CURRICULUM Baccalauréat Français / French Baccalaureate LFC students pursue a highly challenging bilingual (French and English) and multi-cultural academic program that expands upon the French curriculum by integrating courses in English in American History and Social Studies, and American and British Literature. In grade 11, students select one of three curriculum sequences: Sciences & Mathematics (Baccalauréat S), Economics & Social Sciences (Baccalauréat ES), or Literature & Languages (Baccalauréat L). Regardless of grade reported, American students’ level of French, and French students’ level of English is far superior than their counterparts applying who have not studied in a dual-language program. Students also complete an Extended Project, a group directed interdisciplinary project presented to faculty.

S Curriculum Years ES Curriculum Years L Curriculum Years (grades 9-12) Needed (grades 9-12) Needed (grades 9-12) Needed Mathematics 4 Mathematics 4 Mathematics 3 Physics / Chemistry 4 History / Geography 4 History / Geography 4 Biology / Geology 4 Physics / Chemistry 3 Physics / Chemistry 3 History / Geography 4 Biology / Geology 3 Biology / Geology 3 French Literature 3 Economics / Social Sciences 4 French Literature 4 Third Language 4 French Literature 3 Third Language 4 English 4 English 4 English 4 Economics / Social Sciences 1 Third Language 4 American Social Studies 3 American Social Studies 3 American Social Studies 3 Philosophy 1 Philosophy 1 Philosophy 1 Physical Education 4 Physical Education 4 Physical Education 4 The Baccalauréat curriculum allows for students to complete the equivalent of high honors level coursework in the chosen track of S, ES, or L and specialty areas are equivalent to high honors level courses in Grades 11 and 12. All coursework in Grade 12 is on par with college level coursework as students are preparing to pass the French Baccalauréat exam.

Section Américaine de l’Option Internationale du Baccalauréat / International Option of the French Baccalaureate - American Section (OIB) The American section of the International Option of the French Baccalaureate (OIB) combines the breadth and rigor of the French Baccalaureate with extra subjects taught and examined in English, resulting in a bilingual, bicultural diploma. Students in the OIB program have the opportunity to take English Language and Literature and History and Geography courses taught from an American perspective by certified American AP examiners and French OIB teachers. The OIB provides students with a university entrance qualification valid in both the U.S. and France. It makes academic and linguistic demands on an equal level in English and French.-The College Board, 2015

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB) The Lycée Français de Chicago was accredited as an IB World School in 2013. In June 2015, we graduated our first IB Diploma class. Lycée Pre-IB courses are offered in grades 9 and 10; these honors level courses prepare students for the IB Diploma courses in grades 11 and 12. Students take six subjects, three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level in grades 11 and 12 to qualify for the IB Diploma. Students complete the IB core requirements of CAS, the extended essay and a Theory of Knowledge course.

Courses for Lycée Pre-IB Program (grades 9–10) Courses for French Baccalauréat

Language and English Language and Literature, Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Geometry, Literature French Language and Literature ‘S’ Math Statistics, Probabilities, Trigonometry, Calculus

Foreign French, Spanish, German, Algebra, Geometry, Statistics and Probability, ‘ES’ Math Languages Chinese (Mandarin), Latin some Trigonometry, Calculus History of the Americas History Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, some European History ‘L’ Mat h Trigonometry, Calculus

Advanced Algebra, Geometry, Statistics, Mechanics, Organic Chemistry, Titration, Mathematics Physics / Probabilities, Trigonometry, Calculus Relativity theory, Spectral Analysis, includes Chemistry lab work Sciences Biology, Physics, Chemistry Biology / General Biology, Botany, Geology, Genetics, The Arts Visual Arts, Dance, Music Geology Immunology, Evolutionary Theory History / World and European History and Geography Courses for International Baccalaureate (grades 11–12) Geography All IB courses offered at Standard Level and Higher Level Literature, Grammar, Writing, English Language & English Language and Literature, Oral Expression Literature French Language and Literature History of Philosophy (Antiquity to present) Language Philosophy French or Spanish through the study of major themes Acquisition Economics / Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, Individuals and History of the Middle East, Social Sciences Sociology Societies Africa: Arab and Israeli conflict Literature, Grammar, Writing, Algebra, Advanced Algebra, Geometry, French Mathematics Statistics, Probabilities, Trigonometry, Oral Expression Calculus, Math Studies German, Spanish or Mandarin Third Language Sciences Biology, Physics (an elective)

The Arts Visual Arts or a second science course The Arts Visual Arts

Course descriptions available upon request. Course descriptions available upon request. Course Load/Hours Ranking Lycée students often carry a course load of over 30 hours per week, Due to small graduating class sizes and the various tracks with a corresponding amount of homework. School hours vary, but leading to the French Baccalaureate exam (the BAC) and IB normally run from 8:25 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Given the long school Diploma Programme, students are NOT ranked. day and heavy academic load, participation in extracurricular activities can be a challenge.

Grading The French & IB grading scales in secondary education differ LFC follows the grade equivalents below as proposed by the from those used in traditional U.S. schools. French grades range Franco-American Commission for Educational Exchange. from 0-20 and the IB ranges from 1-7, whereas the American system grades students by 0%-100%. It would be inaccurate French IBDP to merely multiply an IB grade by a factor of 14.2 to find its Grading Scale Grading Scale American equivalent. Also, it would be inaccurate to multiply a French grade by a factor of 5 to find its American equivalent. A+ 15-20 7 From elementary school to university, grades are based on a scale A 14 6 of 20. Evaluation of students in all subjects takes the form of an A- 13 5 essay where all aspects of the student’s response are considered in attributing a grade: reasoning, form and presentation of B+ 12 5 proofs, and written expression. B 11 4 B- 10 4 Official transcripts forwarded to American colleges reflect the American letter grade equivalents of the numerical grades C+ 9 3 utilizing a conversion chart. On students’ U.S. transcripts, the C 8 3 GPA calculation is based upon the American grade equivalents C- 7 3 (4.0 scale) and we do not weight any courses. D+ 6 2 D 5 2 D- 4 2 F 3 1

Graduation Standards In France, a student’s success on the Baccalauréat exam is the sole criterion for satisfactory completion of high school. The Baccalauréat exam (9 or 10 written and oral exams taken over the course of a week) is also graded on a 20-point scale. A 10/20 or higher is a passing grade. Between 12 and 13.99 receive “Mention Assez Bien” (Honors), between 14 and 15.99 receive “Mention Bien” (High Honors,) and above 16 receive “Mention Très Bien” (Highest Honors). If a student receives 18 or above, a letter of recognition is received. At the Lycée Français de Chicago, students who achieve a minimum GPA of 10/20 during grades 11 and 12 are eligible to graduate with a high school diploma. IB Bilingual Diploma (BD) Standardized Testing LFC students can choose between the English is usually a second or third language for most of our students, and our students are standard IB Diploma or the Bilingual unfamiliar with the multiple-choice testing format. Consequently, SAT and ACT scores IB Diploma (BD). Approximately half do not accurately predict our students’ ability to undertake and excel in college-level work. of the IB class opts for the Bilingual The sequencing and terminology of the French curriculum and absence of test preparation Diploma. A student can earn a BD by does not allow for true achievement of students’ standardized test scores. meeting one or both of these criteria: 1) completion of two languages selected from group 1 with a grade of 3 or higher Since a small number of students take the ACT, in both, 2) completion of one of the ranges as well as average scores are provided (see % tested below). subjects from Individuals and Societies Class Middle 50% Average or Sciences in a language other than the candidate’s group 1 language, with 2012 21-36 26 a grade of 3 or higher. Only 3% of 2013 22-31 25 United States IB Diploma candidates are registered for the Bilingual Diploma 2014 22-32 25 (IBO Research summary, 2013). 2015 (60%) 23-30 27 2016 (50%) 23-29 26 Baccalauréat Examination Results Lycée Français Baccaularéat results for the past five years

Year Students Passed Total Honors Total % Honors USA % Honors 2012 28 27 18 64% 80% 2013 26 26 17 65% 81% 2014 30 30 26 87% 83% 2015 29 29 23 79% 86% 2016 15 15 14 93% 83%

International Baccalaureate Diploma Examination Results

Year Students Avg. points World Average Passed bilingual diploma 2015 5 27 29.8 5 3 2016 8 33 29.8 6 1

Extracurricular Activities and Cultural Exchanges The Lycée offers drama club, film club, Amnesty International Club, Student Government, Model U.N., yearbook club, a variety of musical theater production opportunities and sports teams. The Flames sports program is an opportunity for students to learn leadership skills, team building and play in a competitive league. Community Service College Acceptances The Lycée Français de Chicago is committed to educating students to become well- 100% of Lycée Français students go on to rounded members and leaders in a global community. Service learning projects and attend institutions of higher education experiences engage students in ways that expand their awareness of the world outside in North America, Canada or Europe. themselves and of the needs of others. LFC high school students must complete ten The college matriculation for alumni hours of community service each year in grades 9–12. Additionally, IB Diploma from the graduating classes of 2012 to students follow the CAS guidelines and complete the requirement to be eligible for 2016 are listed below. the IB Diploma. LFC UNIVERSITY MATRICULATION (2012-2016)

United States Southern Illinois University France Université Catholique de Lille Bard College Syracuse University (2) Atelier de Sèvres, Paris Université de Rennes 1 Beloit College University of California, Los Atelier de Sèvres, Paris Université de Rennes 2 Boston University Angeles (4) Conservatoire de musique de Paris Université du Havre Columbia College Chicago (5) University of Chicago (3) Université Dauphine, Paris Ecole Preparatoire paramedicale Columbia University University of Colorado Boulder ECE Paris, école d’ingénieurs EDHEC Business (Lille) (3) Cornell University University of Illinois Chicago I.U.T de Montpellier Lycée Hoche (Versailles) CUNY Borough of Manhattan University of Illinois, Urbana- Instititut Supérieur des Arts Lycée Jeanne D’Albret (Saint- DePaul University (4) Champaign (2) Appliqués Germain-en-Laye) Eastern Kentucky University University of Indianapolis Université La Sorbonne, Paris (2) Lycée La Martiniere Monplaisir Georgia Institute of Technology University of Pennsylvania LEGTA Jean Monnet (Vic-en- (Lyon) Harvard University University of Washington-Tacoma Bigorre) Illinois Institute of Technology Vassar College Polytechnique Montpellier, école Kalamazoo College Wake Forest University d’ingénieurs Loyola University Wheaton College New York University (3) Williams College (2) Canada University of British Northwestern University Yale University Concordia University Montreal (3) Columbia Oberlin College École Polytechnique de Montréal (3) Université of Laval Parsons School of Design HEC Montréal Skidmore College McGill University (19) Université de Montréal (4) Other Columbia University/Sciences Po (Reims) Dual BA (5) United Kingdom University of Exeter NYU Shanghai Imperial College London (2) University of the Arts London Université de Lyon III/ Université de Essex Dual BA Kings College London University College London *Names in bold represent class of 2016 matriculation.