MS 256, a screened middle school located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, will launch a new French Dual Language Program this fall (2013) for incoming sixth grade students. The program is open to participants of elementary school French Dual Language and Bilingual programs, as well as English Language Learners and French heritage language speakers. Students are expected to be proficient or fluent in reading, writing, and speaking French prior to entering the program. Spaces are available and students are encouraged to apply now.

An extension of the successful Manhattan elementary school French dual language program at the Lillian Webster School for the Arts, PS 84, the program at MS 256 is designed to provide advanced French education for middle school students already fluent in the language.

The Dual Language Program will have four components: Advanced French Language Arts, Math and Social Studies taught in French and optional after school programs in French.  It is also our intent to offer students a one-of-a-kind culminating trip to France at the conclusion of eighth grade.

MS256 was awarded a $20,000 Bilingual Education Program Grant from the Department of Education to support the development of the program. In addition, Principal Perl has applied for a grant to further incorporate technology into the curriculum.

The program will begin with one French Dual Language class in grade six in the fall of 2013.  In 2014, we will accept another class, encompassing grades six and seven.  By 2015, we anticipate having one class in each grade; our first Dual Language class will graduate in June, 2016.  

Spaces are currently available. Please apply for admission on the MS 256 website,

http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/03/M256/default.htm

or by emailing the school’s parent coordinator: Starrlynn Fikaris at sfikaris@schools.nyc.gov.  

MS 256 is located in the Joan of Arc Educational Complex at 154 West 93rd Street, between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues.

Click here to download the brochure and application