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Lycee Francais De New York

EIN 13-0990710 · New York, NY

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood76 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

"CITIZENS OF CULTURE AND COURAGE"COMMITTED TO BILINGUAL FRENCH AND AMERICAN EDUCATION OF THE HIGHEST STANDARD, OUR MISSION IS TO PREPARE STUDENTS OF MANY ORIGINS TO BE THINKERS, INNOVATORS AND LEADERS, AT HOME IN THE WORLD. WE INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE EACH STUDENT TO EXCEL AND TO SEEK ACADEMIC AND PERSONAL CHALLENGE, TO DISCOVER INTERESTS AND FULFILL TALENTS, TO EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND BUILD COMMUNITY, TO UPHOLD INTEGRITY AND CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

Income
$73.6 million
Spending
$64.1 million
Spent on programs
81%
Reserves
8.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 87%
Employees
350
Volunteers
22
Highest pay
$595,434, head of school

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 76 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    10 of 20

    It owes 32% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 8% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    8 of 15

    81% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 50 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (education, $10m to $100m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    22 of 22 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (2)
  1. $49.2 million spent. FOLLOWING THE CURRICULUM OF THE FRENCH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, THE LYCEE BLENDS THE INTELLECTUAL RIGOR AND BREADTH OF AN AUTHENTIC FRENCH EDUCATION WITH AN AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY THAT EMPHASIZES CREATIVITY, OPTIMISM AND INGENUITY. BOTH THE FRENCH AND AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL AUTHORITIES RECOGNIZE THE LYCEE'S EXCELLENCE: THE SCHOOL IS ACCREDITED BY THE FRENCH MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, THE NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (NYSAIS) AND THE ASSOCIATION OF FRENCH SCHOOLS ABROAD (AEFE).WELCOMING A COMMUNITY OF FAMILIES AND LEARNERS FROM A DIVERSITY OF BACKGROUNDS AND EXPERIENCES IS CENTRAL TO THE LYCEE'S MISSION AND A PRIORITY FOR THE SCHOOL. FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES HELP OPEN THE DOOR TO A LYCEE EXPERIENCE FOR A WIDE CROSS-SECTION OF NEW YORK CITY'S VIBRANT COMMUNITIES AND FAMILIES OUTSIDE THE U.S. IN 2023-2024, WE AWARDED UNDER $6 MILLION IN FINANCIAL AID TO OUR STUDENTS, DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF AID DISTRIBUTED JUST FIVE YEARS AGO.A SIGNIFICANT ASPECT OF THE LYCEE'S PROGRAM IS ITS BILINGUAL PROGRESSION FROM STUDENTS' EARLIEST YEARS. GUIDED BY ONE NATIVE FRENCH-SPEAKING AND ONE NATIVE ENGLISH-SPEAKING TEACHER, STUDENTS IN ITS PRE-KINDERGARTEN AND KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOMS ARE IMMERSED EQUALLY IN FRENCH AND ENGLISH, ALLOWING THEM TO DEVELOP TOTAL FLUENCY IN BOTH LANGUAGES BY FIRST GRADE, REGARDLESS OF THE LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME. THE PORTION OF THE STUDENTS' DAY SPENT IN FRENCH INCREASES TO 80% IN FIRST THROUGH FIFTH GRADE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO SOLIDIFY STUDENTS' FRENCH LANGUAGE SKILLS AMIDST THE PREDOMINANTLY ENGLISH-SPEAKING ENVIRONMENT OF NEW YORK CITY. SIXTH THROUGH TWELFTH GRADERS WILL SPEND ANYWHERE FROM 50%-70% OF THEIR CLASS TIME IN FRENCH DEPENDING ON THEIR INTERESTS AND COURSE OF STUDY. STUDENTS' STUDIES CULMINATE IN THE FRENCH BACCALAUREATE, INCLUDING THE CHOICE TO PURSUE ONE OF THREE OPTIONS: THE TRADITIONAL FRENCH BACCALAUREATE, THE INTERNATIONAL OPTION OF THE FRENCH BACCALAUREATE (OIB) OR THE FRENCH-AMERICAN BACCALAUREATE (BFA).MUSIC, VISUAL ART, DRAMA AND OTHER FORMS OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION ARE PART OF THE REGULAR ACADEMIC CURRICULUM. AT THE HEART OF THE SCHOOL'S ARTS PROGRAM AND FULLY INTEGRATED INTO THE ACADEMIC LIFE IS THE LYCEE'S CULTURAL CENTER, WHICH WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR TEACHING TEAM TO PROVIDE STUDENTS AT ALL AGES WITH PERFORMANCES, LECTURES, CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES AND WORKSHOPS WITH CREATORS, THINKERS AND LEADERS FROM MANY FIELDS OF STUDY IN THE ARTS, SCIENCES, AND HUMANITIES. MOST NOTABLY, THE CULTURAL CENTER'S ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM BRINGS RENOWNED WORKING ARTISTS TO THE CAMPUS THREE TIMES A YEAR TO ENGAGE AN ENTIRE GRADE IN A CREATIVE ENDEAVOR FROM CIRCUS ARTS TO MUSIC, WRITING TO ILLUSTRATION OVER THE COURSE OF A WEEK.
  2. $2.5 million spent. AUXILIARY ACTIVITIES INCLUDES AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES, SPORTS AND SUMMER CAMP.STUDENTS AT ALL GRADE LEVELS TAKE PART IN ANY OF OUR 90 AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS AND PROGRAMS, INCLUDING ART, PRIMARY SCHOOL CHORUS, MUSICAL THEATER, JAZZ BAND, ROBOTICS CLUBS, A BILINGUAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER, CODING, DIGITAL ART, MODEL U.N. OR HARVARD MODEL CONGRESS. FROM TRACK TO GYMNASTICS, BASEBALL TO SQUASH, 43 AFTER-SCHOOL COMPETITIVE ATHLETIC TEAMS OFFER SIXTH-GRADE, JUNIOR VARSITY AND VARSITY LEVELS OF PLAY ACROSS MOST SPORTS. A FULL TWO-THIRDS OF ALL SECONDARY STUDENTS PARTICIPATE, PLAYING AGAINST TOP NEW YORK CITY INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS. THE LYCEE ALSO OFFERS AN EXTENDED AFTER-SCHOOL CHILDCARE AND STUDY SUPPORT PROGRAM IN FRENCH AND IN ENGLISH FOR STUDENTS IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADE, AS WELL AS A THREE-WEEK LONG FRENCH IMMERSION SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN IN PRE-KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADE. THE CAMP IS OPEN TO ANY FAMILY INTERESTED IN FOSTERING A SECOND LANGUAGE FOR THEIR CHILDREN IN A PLAYFUL, CREATIVE ATMOSPHERE. THE SCHOOL'S CULTURAL CENTER, IN ADDITION TO ENHANCING THE LYCEE'S ACADEMIC PROGRAM, OFFERS FRANCOPHONE AND FRENCH FILMS, CONCERTS AND EVENING PANELS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1939.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

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