Calgary French & International School

What Calgary French & International School does

Calgary French & International School (CFIS) is a private, non-profit French immersion school founded in 1969 in Calgary, Alberta, operating as a registered Canadian charity (#119218022RR0001). It serves more than 850 students from Junior Preschool (19 months) through Grade 12, representing over 30 nationalities, with a student-to-faculty structure that supports small class sizes (12 in Junior Preschool, 16 in Preschool/JK, maximum 20 in higher grades). The instructional model is full French immersion layered with the International Baccalaureate continuum (PYP candidate, MYP targeted 2025, DP authorized 2019), supplemented by UNESCO and Round Square memberships that provide international exchanges across partner schools in Australia, Argentina, India, Scotland, South Africa, and elsewhere.

The school generates revenue primarily through tuition (2026-27 range $10,610–$25,720 per student depending on program and grade), with additional streams from one-time application and registration fees ($275 application, $500 family registration, $2,000 non-refundable membership, $4,000 building fund loan), licensed before- and after-school care ($25/hour drop-in), pre-paid food services (Seed and Core cafeterias plus the Ohlàlà Café), bilingual summer camps ($344–$450 per week), and philanthropic donations including a $350,000 annual fund goal. The marketing and distribution approach is sales-led through a dedicated enrollment portal, monthly guided campus tours with student ambassadors, and a heterogenous marketing mix spanning content, organic social, community events, and earned media. Secondary revenue-side services include optional centralized busing and facility rentals.

Tuition only covers operating expenses; capital improvements are funded through donations and capital campaigns. The school's headquarters campus at 700 77 Street SW in the Cougar Ridge community comprises a 120,000 sq. ft. building (opened September 2, 2003 at a $20M construction cost) with a secondary wing added in 2006, and a new building opening Fall 2027 will add eight classrooms and a Movement & Performing Arts Centre. The institution is governed by the CFIS Society Board of Governors, currently chaired by Kate Bilson, and led by Head of School Nicola Abrioux-Camirand with a 106-person staff. CFIS holds #1 Fraser Institute rankings for French schools and high schools in Alberta (2024) and #2 for elementary schools.

Name

Calgary French & International School

Legal name

Calgary French & International School

Website

https://cfis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Calgary French & International School is a non-profit private French immersion school founded in 1969, serving 850+ students from Junior Preschool through Grade 12 in Calgary, Alberta, with full IB authorization, UNESCO and Round Square affiliations, and tuition-based revenue supplemented by donations and ancillary services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 French Immersion Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bilingual/Language-Immersion Preschools (EDACABAH)

Keywords

• French immersion education
• Independent school
• Bilingual education
• IB world school
• Private K-12 education

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: The primary revenue stream is tuition fees charged to enrolled families. Tuition varies by program level, ranging from $10,610 (half-day Preschool/Junior Kindergarten) to $25,720 (Embark Grade 7) for the 2026-27 academic year. A non-refundable deposit ($2,000 for 2026-27, $5,000 for 2027-28) secures placement upon acceptance.
2. Registration and Application Fees: One-time fees include a $275 new application fee and $500 annual family registration fee. New family fees include a $2,000 non-refundable membership fee and $4,000 building fund loan (refundable upon departure).
3. Before and After School Care: Optional licensed before-school (opens 7:00 am) and after-school (ends 5:30 pm) care program for Preschool to Grade 6 students. Drop-in rate of $25/hour (one hour minimum). Revenue supports extended care services.
4. Philanthropic Donations: As a registered charity (#119218022RR0001), CFIS relies on donations including annual fund campaigns ($350,000 goal for classroom upgrades), major gifts ($10,000+), monthly giving, employer matching, and gift of securities. Tuition covers only operating expenses; donations fund capital improvements and bursaries.
5. Food Services: Pre-ordered meal service for Grades 1-12 in two cafeterias (Seed for elementary, Core for secondary). A la carte options available for Grades 6-12 through the Oh là là Café using pre-loaded student ID meal cards.
6. Summer Programs (Camp CFIS): Bilingual summer camp programs for ages 19 months through Grade 3, running August 2026. Program fees range from $344 (Arts & Creativity) to $450 (Science/STEM), with full-day options from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Calgary French & International School (CFIS) delivers full French immersion education from Junior Preschool (19 months) through Grade 12, supplemented by IB programmes (PYP, MYP, DP), UNESCO/Round Square global education, summer camps, before/after-school care, and learning supports. Operating as a non-profit registered charity, the school charges tuition by grade level, with additional one-time application/registration fees, and is funded in part by philanthropic donations supporting capital improvements and bursaries.

Product overview

Calgary French & International School (CFIS) is a private French immersion educational institution offering a comprehensive, unified academic program from Junior Preschool (19 months) through Grade 12. The school provides full French immersion education with a layered portfolio approach: the core academic programs (Early Childhood, Primary School, Middle School, Senior School) form the foundational educational offerings, supplemented by the IB Programme continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) and Global Education/Round Square programs. Additional services include the Embark transitional immersion program for students new to French, Camp CFIS summer program, Before & After School Care, Co-curricular Programs (music, arts, athletics), and Learning Supports. The school operates as a non-profit organization dependent on tuition and philanthropic donations, with small class sizes (maximum 20 students standard, 16 in Preschool/Junior Kindergarten, 12 in Junior Preschool).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Childhood Education Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% university placement rate for graduates
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UNESCO Associated Schools NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFIS is the only independent school in Calgary and 1 of 19 UNESCO Associated Schools in Alberta. This membership embeds UNESCO's four pillars of learning (learning to know, do, live together, and be) into the curriculum, fostering global citizenship from early childhood through graduation.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFIS is an authorized IB World School offering the Diploma Programme since 2019, candidate school for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) since 2022, and working toward Middle Years Programme (MYP) authorization by 2025. Aims to become the only bilingual IB World Continuum School in Western Canada.
• Round SquarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFIS is the only Round Square school in Calgary, a full Global Member of this international network of schools committed to Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. Students participate in global exchanges, conferences, and service projects with partner schools worldwide.
• Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFIS holds CAIS accreditation, recognizing it among Canada's best elementary and secondary education institutions. CAIS provides accreditation standards, professional development, and network of independent school peers.
• Round Square Partner Schools (International Exchange)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFIS students have built friendships with peers at Round Square partner schools in Australia, Argentina, India, Scotland, South Africa, Colombia, and beyond. These exchanges provide immersive cross-cultural experiences and global learning opportunities through reciprocal student visits.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Calgary Academy: Calgary-based private school serving K-12 with specialized learning support focus. Local Calgary private school competitor for families seeking premium independent education, though differentiated by learning-support specialization.
• Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School: Alberta-based independent school (near Calgary in Okotoks) offering IB programmes from K-12. Comparable regional IB private school competitor for Alberta families seeking premium IB education, though English-medium rather than French immersion.

Broad incumbents

• The Bishop Strachan School: Toronto-based elite private girls' school offering IB programmes across all divisions. Established Canadian IB World School with comparable full IB continuum model and premium positioning benchmark.
• Upper Canada College: Toronto-based elite private boys' school (SK-12) with IB Diploma Programme. Major Canadian independent school benchmark for premium positioning, governance, and capital expansion strategy.
• Branksome Hall: Toronto-based independent girls' school with full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, DP) and global exchange programmes. Comparable IB World Continuum model with similar experiential and leadership development emphasis.

Direct peers

• West Island College: Calgary-based private school offering IB programmes and university preparation across Grades 7-12. Most direct local competitor for premium private K-12 education in Calgary, with overlapping university-prep positioning and shared applicant pool.
• Rundle College: Calgary-based private college-prep school serving Kindergarten through Grade 12. Direct local private school competitor drawing from the same Calgary applicant pool seeking premium K-12 education.
• Lycée Louis Pasteur: Private French school in Calgary serving Preschool through Grade 12. Direct French-language competitor operating in the same city and addressing overlapping francophone and French-immersion families in the Calgary market.
• Lycée Français de Toronto: French international school in Toronto offering French curriculum from preschool through high school with IB Diploma option. Closest pan-Canadian analog to CFIS in combining full French immersion with internationally recognized curriculum.

Emerging players

• Académie de la Capitale: Ottawa-based bilingual (French/English) private school with IB programmes. Comparable Canadian bilingual private school model combining dual-language instruction with internationally recognized curriculum at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CalgaryFrenchandInternationalSchool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/calgary-french-&-international-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/yycfrench

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Calgary French & International School