The French American School of Tampa Bay

What The French American School of Tampa Bay does

The French American School of Tampa Bay (FASTB) is a private, independent, nonprofit bilingual school founded in February 2017 by Willy and Elizabeth LeBihan and opened in September 2018 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The school delivers French immersion education from age 2 through Grade 6, with middle school expansion underway (grades 7-8 coming soon). It combines the French Ministry of Education's three-cycle curriculum (Cycle 1: EC3-EC4/K, Cycle 2: Grades 1-3, Cycle 3: Grades 4-5) with the IB Primary Years Programme framework and American educational practices, producing functional bilingualism in French and English.

FASTB holds homologué accreditation from the French Ministry of Education and AEFE, is an Etablissement Partenaire through Mission Laïque Française (MLF), and is an active member of the Association of French Schools in North America (AFSA). It is also an authorized DELF/DALF testing center through France Éducation International and an IB PYP candidate school. Core programs include La Maternelle (early childhood), the Elementary Program (Grades 1-6), IB PYP, Visual Arts, Music Arts (including Music Together, Choral Program, and Suzuki instrumental lessons), and Extended Day Care with before/after-school clubs. Add-on revenue streams include Camp FASTB summer camp ($325/week), adult French education ($425/semester), DELF prep classes ($320/quarter), and ancillary fees.

The school charges $6,930-$19,987 in annual tuition depending on grade level and enrollment frequency, plus a $650 annual student fee, with payment plans administered through FACTS Tuition Management. It serves families seeking bilingual education, French expatriate families, and French diplomatic/military families, with Florida scholarship programs (Step Up For Students, AAA, Gardiner, McKay, Hope, VPK, Family Empowerment) and French government scholarships (via the Miami Consulate) providing additional enrollment pathways. The school operates a single campus with approximately 14 faculty/staff and is currently recruiting for the 2026-2027 school year.

Name

The French American School of Tampa Bay

Legal name

The French American School of Tampa Bay

Website

https://fastb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The French American School of Tampa Bay is a private, nonprofit French immersion school in St. Petersburg, Florida, serving children ages 2 through Grade 6 (with middle school expanding) through the French Ministry of Education curriculum integrated with the IB Primary Years Programme, producing functional bilingualism.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Bilingual Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Language Schools (61163)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAL

Language Immersion & Bilingual Private Schools

Education/K–12 / Primary & Secondary Education/Private & Independent K–12 Schools

SECONDARYEDACABAH

Bilingual/Language-Immersion Preschools

Education/Early Childhood Education/Preschools & Pre-K Programs

Keywords

• Bilingual education
• French immersion
• Private education
• IB curriculum
• Language acquisition

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition Revenue: Annual tuition payments for Early Childhood through Grade 6 programs, ranging from $6,930-$19,987 depending on program and enrollment frequency. Payment plans available through FACTS Tuition Management.
2. Annual Student Fees: $650 annual fee per student covering field trips, Music & Me program, enrichment activities, special events, facilities, books, materials, and technology.
3. Extended Day Care: Before care (7:30-8:15 AM) and aftercare (3:00-5:30 PM) programs with various enrollment options (full year, session, monthly, weekly, pay-per-day).
4. After-School Clubs: Fee-based extracurricular activities including Judo, Theater, Arts & Crafts, Zumba, Yoga, Chess, Gardening, Soccer, Rollerskating, Jewelry Making, Embroidery, Young Journalists, and Voyages Around the World.
5. Summer Camp/Childcare: Bilingual summer camp for children ages 3-9 (Pre-K through Grade 3), offered 9 AM to 3 PM at $325 per child per week.
6. Adult Education: French language classes for adults, $425 per person for 13-week spring semester plus $60 materials fee. Taught in-person or via Zoom.
7. DELF Exam Fees: French language proficiency certification exams (A1-B2 levels) administered on-site as official testing center. Fees charged separately by France Éducation International ($140-$200).
8. Advanced French Classes: After-school French classes for middle/high school students preparing for DELF exams, $320 per quarter.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The French American School of Tampa Bay provides French immersion bilingual education for children ages 2 through Grade 6, delivering the French Ministry of Education's "Les Programmes" curriculum integrated with the IB Primary Years Programme framework. The school supplements core academics with music arts (Music Together, Suzuki instrumental lessons), visual arts, extended day care, summer camp, and adult French language classes, charging annual tuition ranging from $6,930 to $19,987 per student.

Product overview

The French American School of Tampa Bay operates as a bilingual French-American educational institution offering a structured progression of programs from Early Childhood through Grade 6, with middle school expansion planned. The core educational offerings include La Maternelle (French immersion early childhood program for ages 2-kindergarten), the Elementary Program (Grades 1-6 with full French immersion), and the IB Primary Years Programme framework. The school enhances its core curriculum with integrated Music Arts (Music Together, Choral Program, and Suzuki lessons), Visual Arts (with Artsonia digital portfolio), and Physical Education. Additional revenue-generating programs include Extended Day Care with before/after-school clubs (Chess, Yoga, Judo, Soccer), Camp FASTB bilingual summer camp, DELF/DALF French language certification preparation with on-site testing, and Adult French Education classes. The school utilizes RENweb for enrollment management, FACTS for tuition payment processing, and Seesaw for parent communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• La Maternelle (Early Childhood Program) French immersion early childhood and kindergarten program following the French Ecoles Maternelles model, serving children from age 2 through kindergarten with full-day instruction conducted entirely in French.
• Elementary Program (Grades 1-6) Full-time elementary program teaching students to read, write, and speak French exclusively in the classroom through immersion approach, covering all core academic subjects through grade 6.
• IB Primary Years Programme International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme curriculum framework emphasizing learner agency, transdisciplinary themes, and the Programme of Inquiry for holistic international education.
• Music Arts Program Comprehensive music education including Music Together program, Choral Program (La Chorale), and private Suzuki instrumental lessons (piano, violin, guitar, cello) for all grade levels.
• Extended Day Care & After-School Clubs Before and after-care programs from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM, plus after-school enrichment clubs including Chess, Yoga, Judo, Art, Gardening, Rollerskating, and Soccer.
• Camp FASTB Summer Program Bilingual summer camp for children ages 3-9 offering themed activities in French-English environment with arts, crafts, games, and outdoor play across multiple summer weeks.
• DELF/DALF French Language Certification Official French Ministry of Education certification preparation for DELF (A1-B2) and DALF (C1-C2) exams, with on-site testing center for advanced middle and high school students.
• Adult French Education Group French language lessons for adults offered in-person and via Zoom, taught by native FASTB educators covering oral comprehension, written comprehension, oral expression, and written expression.
• Middle School Option Individualized curriculum for grades 6-8 using CNED distance learning materials combined with French educational requirements, particularly suited for expatriates and French military families. Grades 7-8 coming soon.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children become fluent speakers in 2-3 years, write equally well in French and English in 5-7 years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and supporting.

• AEFE (Agence pour l'enseignement français à l'étranger)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial accreditation network for French schools abroad. FASTB is homologué through AEFE and French Ministry of Education, connecting the school to a prestigious network of 400 international schools.
• Mission Laïque Française (MLF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRenowned organization managing French schools abroad with 55,000+ students in 41 countries. FASTB operates in close partnership with MLF for bilingual education delivery.
• Association of French Schools in North America (AFSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 53 French schools in US and Canada. FASTB is an active member, all accredited by French Ministry of National Education.
• International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFASTB is an IB World School candidate, pursuing authorization for Primary Years Programme (PYP). Member of Florida Association of IB World Schools (FLIBS).
• France Éducation InternationalcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial DELF/DALF testing center designation. FASTB administers French language proficiency exams on-site for A1 through C2 levels.
• Step Up For StudentsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlorida scholarship program administrator for Tax Credit and Family Empowerment Scholarships. Helps families in grades K and up with tuition costs.
• AAA ScholarshipsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFlorida scholarship administrator for Tax Credit and Family Empowerment Scholarships for K-12 students.
• Florida Department of EducationmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorState approval for accepting Gardiner, McKay, Hope, and VPK scholarships. FASTB is an approved provider for Florida scholarships.
• Music & Me, LLCcoreTechnology or IntegrationLocal early childhood music specialist offering award-winning Music Together program to all FASTB students. Provides research-based, non-formal music classes with take-home materials.
• Maine Suzuki Association / Suzuki StringscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for on-site Suzuki instrumental lessons in piano, violin, and classical guitar. Uses Dr. Suzuki's 'Mother Tongue Approach' methodology.
• FACTS Tuition Management CompanycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIndustry-leading tuition payment plan provider offering interest-free payment plans, financial aid assessment, and online account management for families.
• SeesawsupportingTechnology or IntegrationDigital communication platform used for daily parent communication, sharing student work, and progress updates throughout the school year.
• CNED (Centre national d'enseignement à distance)supportingTechnology or IntegrationFrench public institution under French Ministry of Education oversight providing distance learning materials for middle school program option.
• ArtsoniasupportingTechnology or IntegrationOnline art museum platform for sharing student artwork with friends and family, supplemented by yearly school art walk (Le Musée des Beaux-Arts).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Lycée Français de New York: Long-established, large French school accredited by AEFE serving the NYC metro. Compares to FASTB on accreditation (AEFE homologué), French curriculum, and target families (expat/diplomatic), but at materially larger scale and longer track record.
• Shorecrest Preparatory School: Independent private K-12 school located in St. Petersburg, FL, just blocks from FASTB's campus. Competes for the same local family demographic and tuition tier, but offers a traditional college-preparatory curriculum rather than bilingual immersion.
• Tampa Preparatory School: Highly regarded independent 6-12 school in Tampa. Comparable on premium pricing and selective admissions for Tampa Bay families, though its grade range and traditional curriculum differ from FASTB's EC-6 immersion focus.
• Berkeley Preparatory School: Premium independent private K-12 school in Tampa — the leading local competitor for high-income families seeking private K-12 education in Tampa Bay. Comparable on premium positioning, private K-12 grade span, and tuition tier (~$20K+), though not in the bilingual immersion niche.
• French American International School (San Francisco): Independent French-American school offering IB programs in tandem with French curriculum — essentially the national gold-standard model FASTB aspires to replicate. Comparable mission and target families but significantly larger.

Emerging players

• International School of Tampa Bay: Local Tampa Bay area international school providing alternative bilingual/multilingual educational options. Comparable in geography and partially in target families (families seeking international pedagogy), but distinct in language focus.

Direct peers

• Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans: A non-profit French immersion school serving the Gulf Coast region. Operates under AEFE homologué status and serves similar expatriate, military, and bilingual-seeking families, competing for a portion of the same regional French-immersion demand.
• L'École Française du Maine: Founded and run by the same LeBihan family, this earlier French immersion school in Maine is FASTB's sister school. Same curricular model (French Ministry programs, IB PYP, AEFE network) and same founders, making it the closest comparable operating entity.
• Lycée Français de l'Orlando: A French AEFE-network school in central Florida, providing similar French immersion K-12 education to families in another Florida metro. Direct geographic and program comparable for Florida families choosing between French immersion options.

Others

• Alliance Française de St. Petersburg: Local French cultural and language center that offers adult classes and French cultural programming — overlapping with FASTB's adult education and DELF exam preparation offerings. Complementary service provider rather than direct school competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFrenchAmericanSchoolofTampaBay
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-french-american-school-of-tampa-bay
• Instagraminstagram.com/frenchamericanschooltampabay

Compliance11 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 The French American School of Tampa Bay