Our Facilities

In 1997, we purchased our first permanent home moving from our previous location in Bryn Mawr to North Highland Avenue in Bala Cynwyd. The campus, originally built as an elementary school houses our Lower School. In 2006, we acquired a 12,000 square-foot property to serve as our Upper school for our older students. Located on City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd, it is just a few minutes away from the other campus.

The French International School of Philadelphia is conveniently located on the Main Line, less than 20 minutes away from center city Philadelphia; it is immersed in an academically and culturally rich environment which enhances EFIP’s program. Our immediate neighbors include Saint Joseph University and the Barnes Foundation.

 

Lower School Campus

Our Lower School, which houses our pre kindergarten to fourth grade, is a two-story building on a two–acre site. Half of the building and the land is owned by the Township of Lower Merion and houses the Bala Cynwyd Public Library, which our students can access from the inside of the school building. The other half is owned by the French International School of Philadelphia and houses the school. Since the property that the school purchased was built in the 1970s as an elementary school, it was already equipped with all the necessary amenities for an educational program.

The ground floor includes six spacious and large classrooms, and a large multipurpose room which is used as a gym, cafeteria and assembly room.

The second floor includes nine bright and comfortable classrooms, our music and science rooms, our technology lab, our French resource center, our faculty room and an office suite for our administrative staff.

In our French resource center, our students have access to a large collection of French books and resources; they can also make worldwide connections through the Internet from their classroom and technology lab.

The outdoor space includes a fenced-in area for young children’s play. It is equipped with a new climbing structure and play equipment, a recently remodeled junior play area, a playing field and a paved play area. Our ground floor classrooms have direct access to our young children’s playground with doors that are kept locked during the day.

The front door is controlled and monitored electronically.

 

Upper School Campus

Built around the same time as the Lower school, the two-story building was last occupied by a radio station. For that reason, it is particularly well insulated and provides a quiet and peaceful environment for our upper grades. It was entirely remodeled and renovated upon its purchase and can house up to 150 students. It is located on a large lot which is used as a recreational area; there is ample parking on the premises.

On the ground floor, there are five bright and spacious classrooms, the technology lab which is equipped with wireless laptops, the French resource center, the multipurpose room which is used as a cafeteria and an assembly room, a student lounge and the kitchen.

The second floor includes two large classrooms, a state of the art science lab and the art studio. An elevator provides easy access to the second floor.

Our Upper School students use the Bala Cynwyd Public Library, through on-site visits and remote access, and participate in programs with the Lower School. For several hours a week, they have access to a local gymnasium located around the corner from the Upper School.