French International School Inaugurates New Campus In Bethesda

BETHESDA, MD — Rochambeau, the French International School inaugurated its new Maplewood campus in Bethesda on May 10, consolidating the school's pre-school and elementary campuses.

Newly nominated French Ambassador to the United States Laurent Bili joined Rochambeau Executive Director Hélène Fabre and Proviseur (Academic Director) Xavier Jacquenet at the opening ceremony.

“It’s an honor to inaugurate Maplewood,” Bili said. “The new campus holds great promise for elevating international education and preparing Washington-area students to thrive wherever they may go.”

The Maplewood campus consolidates Rochambeau's previously separate elementary and preschool campuses, while letting the school expand its student body and educational amenities. The new campus serves students from age two through fifth grade, while the Rochambeau campus on nearby Forest Road educates students from grades six through 12.

The 11-acre new Maplewood campus, at 9650 Rockville Pike, includes four playgrounds, a turf soccer field and a teaching garden. Indoor facilities feature spacious classrooms, including specialized ones for science, music and culinary arts. The facility also includes two gyms, two large activity rooms, two multipurpose rooms and a health center.

A multilingual library and media center plus interactive digital interfaces ensure that students can learn using the latest tools and technologies.

Rochambeau moved out of its Rollingwood Elementary School location in Chevy Chase last fall after 32 years at the location.

The new Maplewood campus accommodates 200 preschool and 500 elementary school students.

"Our new campus advances Rochambeau’s ability to prepare students for a lifetime of excellence starting from the youngest ages," Jacquenet said. "Those who go on to graduate from Rochambeau emerge well-prepared for university studies and attend top universities throughout the world."

Rochambeau, one of the largest French schools in the United States, was founded in 1955 to make the French curriculum available to children of all nationalities in the Washington, D.C., area. It started with 11 students. About 80 nationalities and 55 spoken languages are now represented in the school's student body of 1,178.