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New York

United States

New York is intense, demanding, and incredibly stimulating for children. The French community is long-established and well organised, from the Upper East Side to Brooklyn, and the bilingual school offering keeps growing. First landmarks before you dive in.

Currency
US dollar ($)
Language
English
Time vs Paris
6h behind
Emergencies
911

FIAFE network

The Accueil for French-speaking families

In each city, a volunteer-run association from the FIAFE network welcomes, informs and helps French-speaking families settling in.

Accueil New York

Since 1990

Since 1990, Accueil New York has helped French-speaking families tame the city: drop-in sessions at the French Consulate on Fifth Avenue, workshops, cultural outings and a precious support network for the first months.

Where to meet them

Drop-in sessions twice a month at the Consulate General of France (934 Fifth Avenue), upon registration.

Visit the association's website See the FIAFE page

What they offer

  • Monthly consulate sessions for newcomers
  • Workshops, including a women entrepreneurs club
  • Cultural outings and friendly gatherings
  • Practical guide and members newsletter

Other support networks

Two large national networks also support the French abroad, each with its local chapter.

  • UFE

    UFE États-Unis New York

    The New York chapter of the Union des Français de l'Étranger: mutual aid, events and practical advice (tax, assets, settling in) for the French in New York.

    Visit the website
  • Français du monde – ADFE

    Français du monde – ADFE New York

    The New York section of Français du monde - ADFE informs and supports French residents of the area with their paperwork, in a spirit of solidarity.

    Visit the website Email the chapter

The French business network

The local French chamber of commerce (CCI France International network) is a real asset for work: networking, job offers and help to restart a career or start a business locally.

CCI France International

French-American Chamber of Commerce, New York

New York's French-American business network, with over 750 members: networking evenings, a job board and hands-on support that really helps when a spouse is looking for work or starting out locally.

Visit the website CCI country page

AEFE network

Accredited French schools

Schools accredited by the French Ministry of Education follow the French curriculum: your child can continue their schooling seamlessly, abroad and back in France.

💰 Compare school fees
  • AEFE partner

    Lycée Français de New York

    Nursery to final year (ages 3 to 18)

    📍 Upper East Side (East 75th Street) · 1,180 pupils

    School website 📅 2026-2027 calendar
  • AEFE partner

    The École

    Nursery to Grade 8 (age 14)

    📍 Flatiron (East 22nd Street) · 310 pupils

    School website
  • AEFE partner

    Kennedy International School

    Nursery to age 15 (end of collège)

    📍 Midtown (East 43rd Street) and Ardsley · 157 pupils

    School website
  • AEFE partner

    École internationale des Nations unies (UNIS)

    Ages 7 to 11 (accredited French track)

    📍 Manhattan (East River)

    School website

Source: official AEFE directory, verified June 2026. aefe.gouv.fr

Tutoring and private lessons

To support your children's schooling across two systems, two solutions designed for expat families.

  • Axiom Academic

    Private lessons and tutoring for expat families: French curriculum, IB and British curriculum, at home or online, with teachers who know the schools in your city.

    Discover Axiom Academic

  • IB Tutor

    Tutors specialised in the International Baccalaureate: online lessons in every IB subject, to aim for top grades from MYP to the diploma.

    Discover IB Tutor

Schools and education

The Lycée Français de New York is an institution, and a constellation of bilingual schools completes the picture. A precious local twist: free French-English dual language programmes exist in some public schools.

Good to know

  • French and bilingual private schools are excellent but pricey: negotiate this line in an expat package.
  • Free French dual language programmes in public schools (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens) are in high demand.
  • The school year runs September to late June; July-August summer camps are part of the budget.
  • Between LFNY, The École or Kennedy, visit early: admissions are decided in autumn for the following year.

Children's healthcare

No universal healthcare here: everything rests on health insurance, usually through the employer. Once properly covered, New York paediatric care is excellent.

Good to know

  • Check family coverage before signing the job contract: deductible, network, copays.
  • Pick an in-network paediatrician quickly and book the registration visit.
  • Hospital ER visits are very expensive: urgent care clinics handle the non-vital cases well.
  • 911 remains the reflex for any life-threatening emergency.

French-speaking community

French Morning was born in New York, and the French community is everywhere: around the Lycée on the Upper East Side, in Carroll Gardens on the Brooklyn side, and in dual language programmes across the city.

Good to know

  • Accueil New York (FIAFE network) has held its sessions at the Consulate since 1990.
  • Carroll Gardens and its surroundings in Brooklyn are the historic French family neighbourhood.
  • Facebook groups of French-speaking parents in New York are very active, from gear swaps to nanny tips.
  • French cultural institutions (FIAF, bookshops, film clubs) give children a real language bath.

Family outings and events

New York with kids means playgrounds on every corner, giant museums and Central Park as your garden. Many classics are free or close to it.

Good to know

  • Central Park and Prospect Park pack playgrounds, a zoo and activities all year round.
  • The American Museum of Natural History and the Brooklyn Children's Museum are rainy-day safe bets.
  • Public libraries (NYPL, BPL) run free storytimes, sometimes in French.
  • The free Staten Island ferry has the best view of the Statue of Liberty.

These landmarks change fast: the MumExpat community will keep them up to date.

Coming soon: the full New York guide.

Verified addresses, paediatricians recommended by mums, a family agenda updated every week. Join the waitlist to discover the New York page first.

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