View source for Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans

{{Infobox school
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| type = Public Charter School
| grades = PK–12
| district = [[New Orleans Public Schools]]
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| campus type = Urban
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| website = https://www.lfno.org/
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[[File:Leonidas Street, Carrollton, New Orleans, November 2022 - 07.jpg|thumb|right|Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans on Leonidas Street in November 2022]]
'''Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans''' ('''LFNO''') is a type II [[charter school]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lfno.org/admission-faqs/|title=FAQ's|publisher=Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans|access-date=2020-05-25|quote= It is a type-2 public charter school[...]}}</ref> and French international school in [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]]. {{As of|2021}} (2020-2021 school year) it serves Pre-Kindergarten through grade 10 and will add a new grade level each school year until it is a full PK-12 school.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lfno.org/about-us-2/|title=About Us|publisher=Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> It is under the [[Orleans Parish School Board]] (OPSB).

It is in [[Uptown New Orleans]].<ref name=Nobleschange>{{cite web|author=Nobles, Wilborn P. III|url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_6e26ffb4-551a-5863-84a3-0f013bea4396.html|title=Lycee Francais school can change its admissions criteria, state says|newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]]|date=2019-01-23|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> The school has two campuses: Patton Campus and Johnson Campus, the latter in [[Carrollton, New Orleans|Carrollton]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lfno.org/|title=Home|publisher=Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans|access-date=2020-05-25|quote=Patton Campus: 5951 Patton Street New Orleans, LA 70115 Johnson Campus: 1800 Monroe Street New Orleans, LA 70118}}</ref> It plans to establish the former Alfred C. Priestley Junior High School as its new campus; the school acquired the property in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lfno.org/priestley-campus/|title=Lycée's Future Home|publisher=Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> It is in [[Pigeon Town, New Orleans|Pigeon Town]], in the [[Leonidas, New Orleans|Leonidas]] neighborhood.
It is accredited by the [[Agency for French Education Abroad]] (AEFE).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aefe.fr/reseau-scolaire-mondial/rechercher-un-etablissement/etats-unis-la-nouvelle-orleans-lycee-francais-de|title=Lycée français de La Nouvelle Orléans|publisher=[[Agency for French Education Abroad]]|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> Its governing organization is a non-profit organization Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans, Inc.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boarddocs.com/la/bese/Board.nsf/files/9R3LMK0972A2/$file/SIT_2-5_Charter_Extensions_and_Renewals_Nov14.pdf|title=Charter Extensions and Renewals|publisher=[[Louisiana Department of Education]]|page=18/160|date=November 2014|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Lycee Francais NOrleans.jpg|thumb|right|Patton St. Campus, the former St. Francis of Assisi School, in September 2014]]
[[File:Eleonore Street Uptown NOLA Jan 2012 St Paul Church of Christ Front.JPG|thumb|St. Paul's Church of Christ, Eleonore & Patton Streets, Uptown New Orleans]]
[[File:ClaiborneAvFirstPresp15Nov07B.jpg|thumb|Claiborne Avenue, showing buildings attached to First Presbyterian Church]]

[[File:Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans, March 2021 04.jpg|thumb|Monroe Street, 2021]]
The school opened in 2011.<ref name=Moga>{{cite web|author=Moga, Nathalie|url=https://france-amerique.com/en/le-lycee-francais-de-la-nouvelle-orleans-accredite-par-letat-francais/|title=Le Lycée français de La Nouvelle-Orléans accrédité par l'Etat français|work=[[France-Amérique]]|date=2014-07-30|access-date=2020-05-25|language=fr}}</ref>

Originally the school operated out of the [[Audubon Zoo]] and the First Presbyterian Church, with three classrooms at each location. That year the school was making plans to sign a lease on a school building.<ref>Morris, Robert. "[http://uptownmessenger.com/2011/11/lycee-francais-november-board-meeting/ Lycee Francais nearing deal for new school building]." ''[[Uptown Messenger]]''. November 14, 2011. Retrieved on August 3, 2012.</ref> The school had to rent facilities since, according to its charter classification, the Louisiana state government and the OPSB did not guarantee the school facilities.<ref name=Jewsonmajorwork>{{cite web|author=Jewson, Martha|url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_fa29a53d-d742-509f-be58-d9836ca71f92.html|title=Lycée Français has major work ahead to open Priestley campus |newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]]|date=2015-06-08|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> Jill Otis was the first CEO of the school.<ref name=DreilingernewCEO>{{cite web|author=Dreilinger, Danielle|url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_3c1fce7d-f05e-5536-a3f1-de9ef3d68f2a.html|title=New CEO takes over at New Orleans' Lycee Francais, possibly ending leadership upheaval |newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]]|date=2013-07-09|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> The [[Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education]] (BESE) authorized the charter of the school.<ref name=Dreilingerstepinprobcont>{{cite web|author=Dreilinger, Danielle|url=https://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/01/consultant_begins_leadership_i.html|title=State steps in as problems continue at French immersion charter Lycee Francais|newspaper=[[The Times Picayune]]|date=2013-01-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118065946/https://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2013/01/consultant_begins_leadership_i.html|access-date=2020-05-25|archive-date=2013-01-18}}</ref> It was not a part of the [[Recovery School District]] (RSD).<ref name=DreilingernewCEO/>

In November 2011 St. Francis of Assisi Church agreed to lease its school building to the lycee.<ref>{{cite web|author=Morris, Robert|url=https://uptownmessenger.com/2011/11/lycee-francais-announces-st-francis-of-assisi-school-at-state-and-patton-as-new-campus/|title=Lycée Français announces St. Francis of Assisi school at State and Patton as new campus|newspaper=[[Uptown Messenger]]|date=2011-11-21|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> Milestone SABIS Academy previously leased the building; the Milestone SABIS school leadership learned of the change through the media.<ref>{{cite web|author=Vanacore, Andrew|url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_e1600c89-8267-5a13-84d0-f5e74811d7ad.html|title=Charter school mystified after St. Francis of Assisi leases building out from under it |newspaper=[[The Times Picayune]]|date=2011-11-23|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>

In April 2012, Jean-Jacques Grandiere became the interim CEO. By fall 2012 the school received a deficit of $80,000, and the school had to lay off some employees. At that time Grandiere had resigned. The chairperson of the board hired a former [[McGehee School]] employee, Gisele Schexnider, as the interim CEO. In response some parents complained to the Louisiana state government. Danielle Dreilinger of ''[[The Times-Picayune]]'' stated that this decision resulted in "Trust [having] bottomed out".<ref name=DreilingernewCEO/> Parents critical believed that the decision happened too quickly and that it was not right that the hiring was done without a previous superintendent search.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dreilinger, Danielle|url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_ee463ff0-5a59-5916-8b40-955cc5c05331.html|title=Lycee Francais parents upset about hasty hiring of interim school director|newspaper=[[The Times Picayune]]|date=2012-12-11|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> There was also a group of parents who supported Schexnider.<ref>{{cite web|author=CatalAnello, Rebecca|author2=Martha Jewson|url=https://www.nola.com/news/article_3b274f6d-385e-576d-b2ed-956e7338bd24.html|title=Lycée Français leader explains bullying stance |agency=The Lens|newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]]|date=2013-01-31|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref>

On January 11, 2013, parents filed a formal complaint with the BESE.<ref name=Dreilingerstepinprobcont/> In response, John White, the Louisiana state superintendent of education, appointed a person to assist the school to get a permanent leader, Jeremy Hunnewell, who was of both EMH Strategy and the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, in December 2012;<ref>{{cite web|author=Dreilinger, Danielle|url=https://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/12/john_white_intervenes_to_help.html|title=John White intervenes to help struggling Lycee Francais charter school in Uptown|newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]]|date=2012-12-22|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> this was a decision Dreilinger described as unexpected.<ref name=DreilingernewCEO/> In 2013, due to the initial sudden changes in leadership, Dreilinger described the school as "troubled".<ref name=DreilingernewCEO/>

The board had selected Mireille Rabaté as the new CEO for 2013 but she declined the job.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_1f2b976a-a301-5893-9bcd-8cb48237f1de.html|title=Rabate declines Lycee CEO job calling it 'one of the most difficult decisions' of her life |newspaper=[[The Times-Picayune]]|date=2013-05-22|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> On July 1, 2013, Keith Bartlett became the new CEO. Its tentative enrollment for fall 2013 was 400 and it covered up to the third grade.<ref name=DreilingernewCEO/>

In 2014 the school joined the Association of French Schools in North America (AFSA, {{langx|fr|Association des Écoles française d’Amérique du Nord}}, AEFA) group and received accreditation from the [[French Ministry of Education]].<ref name=Moga/>

In 2015 it had 466 students. That year, the OPSB sold the three-story former Alfred C. Priestly Junior High School campus to the Lycee.<ref name=Jewsonmajorwork/>

By 2016 the school had 721 students. It had two additional campuses: St. Paul's United Church of Christ,<ref name=LyceeVoteRequestJohnson>{{cite web|url=https://uptownmessenger.com/2016/12/lycee-francais-holds-december-board-meeting-live-coverage/|title=Lycee Francais votes to request Johnson building in Carrollton as temporary space|newspaper=[[Uptown Messenger]]|date=2016-12-19|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref> and Central St. Matthew United Church of Christ, the latter beginning in 2016. That year the student population was expanding and the school was seeking additional temporary space.<ref>{{cite web|author=Melancon, Jamal|url=https://uptownmessenger.com/2016/09/lycee-francais-may-need-more-space-sooner-than-later/|title=Lycee Francais may need more space sooner than later|newspaper=[[Uptown Messenger]]|date=2016-09-23|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>

In 2016 the lycee's board approved plans to ask to open a campus at the former James Weldon Johnson Elementary School in [[Carrollton, New Orleans|Carrollton]].<ref name=LyceeVoteRequestJohnson/> Space in Johnson opened up since [[Sophie B. Wright Charter School]] vacated the building that year as renovation in its permanent facility had been completed.<ref name=MorrisMeetingLive>{{cite web|author=Morris, Robert|url=https://uptownmessenger.com/2016/11/lycee-francais-holds-november-board-meeting-live-coverage/|title=Lycee Francais eyes temporary move to former Johnson campus (live coverage)|newspaper=[[Uptown Messenger]]|date=2016-11-14|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref> The request was approved in March 2017.<ref>{{cite web|author=Morris, Robert|url=https://uptownmessenger.com/2017/03/lycee-francais-discusses-move-to-johnson-campus-live-coverage/|title=Lycee Francais approved for move to Johnson campus amid parents' misgivings|newspaper=[[Uptown Messenger]]|date=2017-03-13|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>

==Admissions==
For students in grade 1 and above, admissions usually requires taking a test in the [[French language]]. In 2019 the [[Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education]] (BESE) allowed the school to give waivers for the French proficiency test to students who come from schools accredited by the [[French Ministry of Education]] and/or have passed the [[Diplôme d'Etudes en Langue Française]].<ref name=Nobleschange/>

==Campuses==
[[File:Carrollton Priestly School Birch Jolliet.JPG|thumb|The old Priestly School complex, vacant in 2010]]
The new Lycee school building, the former Priestly Junior High School, is in the Pigeon Town/Pension Town area,<ref name=Dreilingerwanttobuy>{{cite web|author=Dreilinger, Danielle|url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_2f15bfdd-cbc7-59c0-93b5-980c0a16b764.html|title=Want to buy a school that closed 21 years ago? First, take a look inside|newspaper=[[The Times Picayune]]|date=2014-06-12|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> in Leonidas. The Priestly building has a total of {{convert|32000|sqft|sqm}} of space. The 1955-built gymnasium had a total of {{convert|6500|sqft|sqm}} of space. The Priestly building/complex was worth about $425,000 in 2015; Martha Jewson of ''[[The Times-Picayune]]'' wrote that the school would need to spend at least $9 million to make the building student-worthy. According to a 2008 report from the OPSB, "The facility has extensive damage, and most is beyond repair."<ref name=Jewsonmajorwork/> The property makes up a single [[city block]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Morris, Robert|url=https://uptownmessenger.com/2014/06/charter-leaders-look-for-potential-in-vacant-carrollton-school-buildings/|title=Charter leaders look for potential in vacant Carrollton school buildings|newspaper=[[The Times Picayune]]|date=2014-06-12|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref>

In 1980 Priestly junior high had closed. From 1980 to 1993 the building housed offices,<ref name=Newbegpriestly>{{cite web|url=https://www.lfno.org/priestleys-new-beginnings/|title=Priestley's New Beginnings|publisher=Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans|date=2015-07-08|access-date=2020-05-25}}</ref> and from 1993 to 2005 it was used to store furniture.<ref name=Dreilingerwanttobuy/> [[Hurricane Katrina]] disrupted the latter usage.<ref name=Newbegpriestly/> OPSB owned the school building but sought to sell it as it deemed the building to be not needed. As per Louisiana law, charter school operators had priority in buying school buildings ahead of private entities. In 2015 all members of the lycee board agreed to purchase it.<ref>{{cite web|author=Morris, Robert|url=https://uptownmessenger.com/2014/06/lycee-francais-to-discuss-possibility-of-purchasing-priestley-school/|title=Lycee Francais charter school votes to explore purchasing Priestley building|newspaper=[[Uptown Messenger]]|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref> There was a website operated by people who opposed the Lycee buying Priestly. A group of area residents advocated instead for a health center to the at Priestly.<ref>{{cite web|author=Morris, Robert|url=https://uptownmessenger.com/2014/07/carrollton-riverbend-neighborhood-discusses-future-of-priestley-site-live-coverage/|title=Group of "P-town" neighbors seeks Healing Center concept for Priestley site instead of French charter school|newspaper=[[Uptown Messenger]]|date=2014-07-10|access-date=2020-05-27}}</ref>

The Johnson campus is in proximity to Priestly.<ref name=MorrisMeetingLive/>

It formerly operated the Claiborne Campus and the St. Paul Campus.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lfno.org/|title=Home|publisher=Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans|date=2014-12-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220011801/http://www.lfno.org/|access-date=2020-05-26|archive-date=2014-12-20|quote=Patton St. Campus: 5951 Patton Street, New Orleans, LA 70115 St. Paul Campus: 600 Eleonore Street, New Orleans, LA 70115 Claiborne Campus: 5401 S. Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70125 }}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [https://app1.lla.state.la.us/PublicReports.nsf/F5481507A51E229C86257AEE004BA546/$FILE/0002E886.pdf Financial Statements June 30, 2012] (related to the leadership turmoil early in the school's existence)
* [https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2089934-existing-facility-assessment-priestley-school.html Priestly School 2012 assessment]<!--Related to the 2015 article on the Lycee acquiring the school-->
* [https://www.boarddocs.com/la/bese/Board.nsf/files/9R3LMK0972A2/$file/SIT_2-5_Charter_Extensions_and_Renewals_Nov14.pdf 2014 Charters Extensions and Renewals Report] - [[Louisiana Department of Education]] - Information on the lycee is on page 18/160
* {{cite web|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?ID=220015902331|title=Lycee Francais de la Nouvelle-Orleans|publisher=[[National Center for Education Statistics]]|access-date=2020-05-25}}

==External links==
* [https://www.lfno.org Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans]
{{Uptown New Orleans}}
{{New Orleans Schools}}
{{French schools in the United States}}
{{International schools in the United States}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans}}
[[Category:French international schools in the United States]]
[[Category:Charter schools in New Orleans]]
[[Category:K–12 schools in New Orleans]]<!--Will be K-12 in the future-->
[[Category:Public K–12 schools in Louisiana]]<!--Will be K-12 in the future-->
[[Category:Public high schools in New Orleans]]
[[Category:2011 establishments in Louisiana]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 2011]]