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San Francisco

United States

San Francisco and the Bay Area have drawn French families for decades, carried by tech, research and a genuinely gentle way of life. The French-speaking community is dense and warm, from the city to Silicon Valley, and the bilingual school offering is one of the richest in the United States. First landmarks before you unpack.

Currency
US dollar (USD)
Language
English
Time vs Paris
9h 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.

San Francisco Bay Accueil

Since 1994

Since 1994, San Francisco Bay Accueil has helped French-speaking families find their feet in the Bay: welcome cafés, cultural outings, sports activities and a precious support network for the first months away from France.

Where to meet them

Regular welcome cafés for newcomers, by registration through the association's website and Facebook page.

Visit the association's website See the FIAFE page

What they offer

  • Welcome cafés to greet newcomers
  • Cultural outings and discovering the region
  • Sports activities and friendly gatherings
  • A support network among French-speaking Bay families

Other support networks

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

  • UFE

    UFE San Francisco

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

    Visit the website
  • Français du monde – ADFE

    Français du monde – ADFE San Francisco

    The San Francisco section of Français du monde - ADFE informs and supports French speakers of the Bay Area and the Northwest US 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, California

California's French-American business network, based in San Francisco and part of the CCI France International network: networking events, a Career Center and hands-on support that really helps when a spouse is looking for work or starting out in the Bay Area.

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

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 Bay Area offers one of the finest line-ups of French and bilingual schools in the United States, from the Lycée Français to Silicon Valley. A local twist: a free public school with a French track exists in Santa Rosa.

Good to know

  • French and bilingual private schools are excellent but pricey: negotiate this line in an expat package.
  • Santa Rosa French-American Charter School is a free public school with a French track, north of the Bay.
  • The school year runs late August to early June; summer camps are part of the family budget.
  • Admissions are decided as early as autumn for the following year: visit early, places are in high demand.

Children's healthcare

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

Good to know

  • Check family coverage before signing the contract: deductible, network and copays.
  • Pick an in-network paediatrician quickly and book the first 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

The Bay's French community is large and well organised, from San Francisco to families in Silicon Valley, around schools, associations and cultural events.

Good to know

  • San Francisco Bay Accueil (FIAFE network) has welcomed newcomers since 1994.
  • The French American Chamber of Commerce California helps spouses network and look for work.
  • Facebook groups of French-speaking parents in the Bay are very active, from gear swaps to nanny tips.
  • The French Consulate and cultural institutions pace the year, from Bastille Day to French-speaking celebrations.

Family outings and events

San Francisco with kids means the ocean, huge parks and museums made for little ones, all within reach of a bridge.

Good to know

  • Golden Gate Park packs in playgrounds, gardens, museums and the California Academy of Sciences.
  • The Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito is a safe bet right by the Golden Gate.
  • San Francisco's Bastille Day brings the French-speaking community together each summer.
  • Beaches, the Muir Woods redwoods and nature trips are an hour's drive away for the weekend.

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

Coming soon: the full San Francisco guide.

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

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