Where will our alumni go? Exploring the Pathways of the French School of Maine Graduates by Willy LeBihan, Founder and Head of Schools
As the academic year draws to a close, it’s a fitting time to reflect on the diverse and impressive paths taken over the last 22 years by the alumni of The French School of Maine (L' École Française du Maine - EFDM). Known for its robust French immersion program, EFDM prepares students not just for academic success but for global citizenship. FASTB was modeled in 2017 after The French School of Maine.
Diverse High School Destinations
After completing their foundational education at EFDM, many students transition into local public schools or prestigious private high schools that echo the school’s emphasis on rigorous academics and a multicultural environment. Alumni have spread across continents, attending schools such as Waynflete School in Maine, The Putney School in Vermont, The French American School of San Diego, and even the Lycée Pierre Loti in Istanbul. These institutions, including specialized programs like the International Baccalaureate at Greely High School and arts-focused schools like The Master's School in NY, cater to our students' varied interests and aspirations.
Prestigious College Admissions
The journey continues into higher education, where EFDM alumni thrive in diverse academic environments. Many have secured placements in top-tier universities worldwide, including Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale, technical institutes such as MIT, and international universities like Oxford in England, the University of Edinburgh and St Andrews in Scotland, and Science Po in Paris. This global spread underscores the adaptability and preparedness of our students, who apply the skills and knowledge gained at EFDM to excel in various settings.
Defining Success Beyond Academia
It’s crucial to highlight that while many of our students pursue traditional paths of success through renowned universities, EFDM’s definition of success is broad and inclusive. Success for our alumni also means excelling in personal and professional endeavors outside the conventional academic realm. From advancing in creative fields like music at the École Normale de Musique in Paris to engaging in rigorous programs at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, EFDM graduates are making their mark.
Beyond impressive academic accomplishments, the French School of Maine is proud of the top athletes representing us on National and Olympic Teams in skiing, ice hockey, figure skating, golf, and sailing. Additionally, we're excited to highlight the success of former students who have ventured into Hollywood and Broadway as talented actors.
Looking to the Future
As we celebrate these achievements, we also look forward to the continuing journey of our current and future students. EFDM remains committed to nurturing critical thinkers, fluent multilingual communicators, and socially responsible global citizens. Whether our students choose to stay close to home or spread their wings far and wide, we are confident in their ability to adapt, excel, and innovate in an interconnected world.
DELF and DALF certifications
Many alumni choose to obtain DELF and DALF certifications as a natural progression in their language-learning journey. These certifications provide official validation of their French proficiency, which can be particularly beneficial for academic and career opportunities. The structured learning in immersion schools prepares students well for the comprehensive testing of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills that these exams require. Additionally, the certifications align with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), helping students to benchmark their proficiency. Holding a DELF or DALF certificate can open doors to higher education in French-speaking regions and enhance job prospects in various fields such as international business, diplomacy, and cultural management. The cultural immersion at the French School of Maine has deepened the students' understanding of French culture, further enriching their credentials and global perspectives. Ultimately, DELF and DALF certifications serve as a capstone to the immersive educational experience, highlighting students' dedication and mastery of the French language.
In Conclusion
The paths our alumni take are as diverse as they are impressive. Each journey, whether it leads to a liberal arts college in the U.S., a science institute in Europe, or beyond, starts with the foundational experiences at The French School. Here, students are equipped with academic knowledge and a broader understanding of the world, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of a dynamic global landscape. More than 95% of our alumni have graduated from college, and many are currently enrolled in graduate school programs.
The inaugural alumni of FASTB, The French American School of Tampa Bay, are now thriving in the 4th grade. Both academically and collectively, they are demonstrating exceptional progress. Their achievements are a clear indication that they are poised to replicate the success of their peers in Maine.
Below: Alumni from The French School of Maine have earned degrees from a wide range of colleges and universities, a noteworthy achievement given the school's average yearly enrollment of 80 students spanning from pre-K to 6th grade!
Baruch College, NY
Bates College, ME
Bishop's University, Canada
Boston University, MA
Boston College, MA
Bowdoin College, ME
California Polytechnic State University
Clark University, MA
Clarkson University, NY
Colby College, ME
College of William & Mary, VA
Colorado College, CO
Columbus State University, GA
Concordia University, Canada
Connecticut College, CT
Dartmouth College, NH
Davidson College, NC
Eckerd College, FL
Ecole Normale de Musique, Paris
Emmanuel College, MA
Florida Southern College, FL
Georgetown University, DC
Harvard, MA
Husson College, ME
Lafayette College, PA
Loyola University, LA
Maine Maritime Academy, ME
Marymount Manhattan College, NY
McCombs School of Business, TX
McGill University, Canada
Merrimack College, MA
Middlebury College, VT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MA
Northeastern University, MA
Pomona College, CA
Rochester Institute of Technology, NY
Roger Williams University, RI
Sarah Lawrence College, NY
Sciences Po Paris, France
Sherbrooke University, Canada
Skidmore College, NY
Smith College, MA
St. Francis Xavier University, Canada
St Joseph College, ME
The American University of Paris, France
The American University of Rome, Italy
The Catholic University of America, DC
The George Washington University, DC
Thomas College, ME
Tufts University, MA
University of California of Los Angeles, CA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Aix en Provence, France
University of Arizona, AZ
University of Colorado Boulder, CO
University of Connecticut, CT
University of Denver, CO
University of Edinburgh, Scotland
University of Hawaii at Manoa, HI
University of Oxford, England
University of Maine at Orono, ME
University of New Hampshire, NH
University of Southern Maine, ME
University of St Andrews, Scotland
University of Texas at Austin, TX
US Naval Academy, Annapolis MD
US Air Force Academy, CO
Vanier College, Canada
Virginia Polytechnic Institute, VA
Washington University, MO
Wesleyan University, CT
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, MA
Wyant College of Optical Sciences, AZ
Yale, CT
