Introducing the International Track

The International Track at the Lycée offers a unique educational experience, perfect for students from diverse backgrounds who may not speak French. Unlike the traditional French Track, there is no French language requirement for admission into the International Track. This allows students of all linguistic backgrounds to benefit from a bilingual and multicultural environment while learning French along the way. The program is designed to promote a global perspective, preparing students to thrive in international settings.

At our international school in San Francisco, the International Track program equips students in Middle and High School with transferable, future-ready skills and internationally recognized qualifications. 

The program is anchored in the International Baccalaureate (IB) approach, known for its rigorous, student-centered curriculum. The IB program emphasizes inquiry-based learning, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary studies, encouraging students to engage deeply with complex global issues. At the Lycée, students in the International Track benefit from a bilingual and multicultural setting that further enriches their learning, fostering both academic and personal growth. Through the IB framework, students develop essential skills like research, communication, and problem-solving that will prepare them for higher education and beyond.

The International Track is a continuous program that, In Middle and in High School, focuses on international-mindedness through multilingualism. Students study in English and are introduced to French, as we believe that communicating in more than one language helps students to appreciate that his or her own language, culture and world view are just one of many. 

The International track in Middle School 
Building a solid academic foundation, the program develops students’ confidence in managing their own learning and making connections between learning in the classroom and the real world. It is developed under the MYP (Middle Years Program) of the International Baccalaureate program.

The International track in High School 

• Grade 9 and 10 : the MYP program extends into the first two years of High School.
• Grade 11 and 12:  the future-ready DP (Diploma Program) program builds students’ inquiring mindset, fosters their desire to learn, and prepares them to excel at their careers and lead meaningful lives.

Through Middle and High School, these themes are extended into six global contexts 

• identities and relationships
• personal and cultural expression
• orientation in space and time
• scientific and technical innovation
• fairness and development
• globalization and sustainability. 

At the end of High School, in Gr11 and 12, the iTrack encourages students to become more aware of their own perspectives and assumptions through an exploration of the fundamental question of how we know what we know. 

Culminating projects: 

• in Gr 10 : the personal project or community project
• In Gr 12: the extended essay

Culminating projects provide an opportunity for students to both deepen and showcase their knowledge, understandings and skills, and to celebrate their learning journeys. 

The International Track places the student at the center of the education in a representation referred to as the Learner Profile . 

The Learner Profile identifies 10 attributes that highlight the importance of curiosity and compassion, as well as developing knowledge and skills. Cognitive development is just the beginning. Social, emotional and physical well-being, ensuring that students learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them are also fundamental to developing internationally minded students who can help to build a better world.

Teachers help students to develop these attributes over the course of their education. Students are encouraged to demonstrate these traits in increasingly robust and sophisticated ways as they mature.

Learn more about the Learner Profile 

• A similar mission
  In choosing the International Baccalaureate approach to support its International Track, the Lycée was guided by its mission.
• Like Lycée, the IB is a not-for-profit organization.
  It is independent of political and commercial interests, and its programs are offered in a hugely diverse range of schools around the world, both state and private, national and international, large and small.
• A focus on Excellence
  The IB approach to learning is validated by international research and more than 45 years of practical experience.
• The benefit of proven experience
  The International Track brings together the IB experience with the 50+yrs of Lycée demonstrated know-how in educating bilingual and global minded students
• The valuable resource of an international network

  Similarly to the international AEFE network, the IB is globally renowned for its excellence. There are IB World Schools in over 150 countries/territories and over 5,000 IB World Schools worldwide. Universities across the globe recognize the strength of our Diploma Program (DP).

“It’s the most secure foundation available for successful college graduation.” Jonathan Burdick, Dean of College Admission, University of Rochester, USA

“This is an invaluable experience for a liberal arts education that emphasizes critical thinking.” Madhavi Menon, Director, Center for Studies in Gender and Sexuality and Professor of English, Ashoka University, Harayana, India

“When I entered my new college environment, my experience in IB gave me the foresight to understand the power of hard work and pushing through difficulty.” Alumnus Rachon Sweiss received his IB diploma from Granada Hills Charter High School in 2015.

“Learning in an IB environment involves critical thinking and depth of understanding, skills that are invaluable to making informed decisions in higher education and the workplace.”–Alumnus Byron Dolon received his IB diploma from the Shanghai American School, China.