About

The Franco-American School of Norfolk (EFAN) is an educational institution that offers Francophone students the opportunity to pursue a dual French and American curriculum from elementary school to high school.
Students are immersed in an American establishment and also follow the French program for certain subjects. Established since 2011, EFAN currently has around forty students from military and civilian families.
The primary level is accredited by the French Ministry of Education, while the secondary level is not. However, the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad) and CNED (National Center for Distance Education) are operators that ensure the conformity of the education provided.

Our Philosophy
In partnership with Virginia Beach and Norfolk Public School, the Franco-American School of Norfolk (EFAN) is part of the educational network implemented by the Mission Laïque Française (MLF). Starting in the 2024 school year, EFAN will be fully integrated into three American institutions in Virginia Beach (John B. Dey Elementary School, Great Neck Middle School, and Cox High School) and one institution in Norfolk (Crossroads School).
EFAN is co-funded by tuition fees from French or Francophone families. The French Armed Forces Headquarters (EMA), attentive to the well-being of families and personnel assigned to Norfolk, participates in financing the operating costs of this unique educational structure.

and Mission
Its students immerse themselves in part of the American curriculum. In addition, under the guidance of teachers, they benefit from continuity in the French national education program based on materials from CNED (National Center for Distance Education).
Membership in the network developed by MLF ensures the conformity of the education provided. Students are guided towards success in the French baccalaureate exams, the brevet des collèges (middle school diploma), and enrollment in Parcoursup (the French higher education admission platform).

History
On the initiative of the French Abroad Advisor of the French Embassy in Washington, the Honorary Consul of Norfolk, and the French Cultural Attaché, a delegation of the Mission Laïque Française (MLF) was received by the US Military authorities in preparation for the schooling of French military children.
In February 2010, on a new request of the French Joint Staff (FJS), the MLF sent its representatives to Norfolk in order to set up the project in cooperation with the French National Support Element (ESN) in Norfolk. The aim was to overcome the lack of French academic structure in Norfolk as the number of children to be schooled was constantly increasing. The French ESN of Norfolk has developed a project to create a French-American school with the agreement and support of Norfolk’ mayor who was particularly active on this issue.
The Norfolk Public Schools (NPS) School Board worked closely with the French ESN and the MLF in the development of a Franco-American pedagogical partnership. The Principals of the concerned institutions, Crossroads School and Northside Middle School as well as Granby High School, were also involved in the project. Now all students attend elementary and middle school at Crossroads and Middle school and Granby High School.
As the result of a tripartite partnership between the MLF, FSJ and NPS, the French-American School of Norfolk welcomed its first students in the fall of September 2011.
In September 2022, after signing a partnership with Virginia bEach Schools, the FASN-EFAN program opened at a new facility located in the city of Virginia Beach at Cox High School.
In September 2023, the FASN-EFAN program opened at a new facility located in the city of Virginia Beach at Great Neck middle School.