Rochambeau

What Rochambeau does

Rochambeau (legally "Lycée Rochambeau Inc."), founded in 1955, is a nonprofit French International School operating two campuses in Bethesda, Maryland: the Maplewood Campus for preschool through 5th grade and the Forest Road Campus for grades 6 through 12. It is the only school in the Washington DC metropolitan area accredited by the French Ministry of Education and serves approximately 1,178 students (2022-23 enrollment) representing 80+ nationalities and 55 languages, with a 10-year enrollment average of 1,056 and roughly 250 new student intakes annually. The faculty and staff directory lists 228 total constituents, supporting a student-to-faculty ratio consistent with a small, premium independent school.

The school delivers the French national curriculum from age 2 (TPS) through Terminale (12th grade) under the AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad) network, with three credential pathways for graduating students: the French Baccalauréat (including BFI bilingual/trilingual international options), the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, and a Dual Diploma combining the French Baccalauréat with the American High School Diploma. Supporting programs include the Passeport Avenir career exploration track (grades 9-12), the RochamBIO environmental initiative with its RochamBees beekeeping project, university counseling with documented placements at Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Johns Hopkins, NYU, UC Berkeley, and UCLA, and a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (sponsored by the U.S. Department of State) that recruits international teachers for up to three-year assignments.

Rochambeau generates revenue primarily through recurring annual tuition billed across multiple grade tiers from preschool through high school, supplemented by a Rochambeau Excellence Fund (Annual Fund donation campaign), fees from auxiliary programs (before/after-school care, school-break and summer camps), and annual special-event fundraising (Gala, Spring Fair, International Food Festival). The school's digital infrastructure runs on the Finalsite platform, with Mailchimp for email communications, ADP Workforce Now for recruitment, and social presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on Parent Association (PAR) referrals, student ambassador programs, parent-to-prospect chats, open houses, and targeted back-to-school information sessions rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Rochambeau

Legal name

Lycée Rochambeau Inc.

Website

https://rochambeau.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rochambeau is a nonprofit French International School in Bethesda, MD, serving over 1,100 students from 80+ nationalities. Founded in 1955 and accredited by the French Ministry of Education, it delivers bilingual education from preschool through 12th grade with French Baccalauréat, IB, and Dual Diploma pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 International Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAJABAG

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

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

SECONDARYEDAIAHAC

Overseas Summer School Programs (Secondary)

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/Overseas Secondary School Programs (Boarding, Exchange, Summer)

SECONDARYEDACADAG

Bilingual & Language-Immersion Early Learning Academies

Education/Early Childhood Education/Early Learning Academies & Montessori/Reggio/Steiner Programs

Keywords

• French international education
• Bilingual K-12 school
• Preschool through high school
• College preparatory programs
• Private independent school

Headquarters

HQ city

Bethesda

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Primary revenue from tuition payments for students age 2 through 12th grade. The school offers tuition across multiple grade levels from preschool through high school. Financial aid is available to qualifying families. The school publishes detailed tuition and fee information on its admissions pages.
2. Rochambeau Excellence Fund (Annual Fund): Annual fundraising campaign supporting the school's operating budget, facilities improvements, and educational programs. Donors are encouraged to contribute annually to support student experiences.
3. Auxiliary Programs: Revenue from before/after school programs, school break camps, and summer camps. These enrichment programs provide extended care and educational activities for students outside regular school hours.
4. Gala and Special Events: Annual gala events generate fundraising revenue through ticket sales, auction items, and donations. The 2026 Gala and various school events serve as community fundraising activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Rochambeau is a private nonprofit French international school offering continuous bilingual education from preschool (age 2) through 12th grade on two campuses in Bethesda, Maryland. The school delivers the French national curriculum accredited by the French Ministry of Education since 1955, with multiple credential pathways including the French Baccalauréat (with BFI bilingual/trilingual options), the American High School Diploma, and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. Auxiliary offerings include summer camps, after-school enrichment, university counseling, and the RochamBIO environmental program.

Product overview

Rochambeau, the French International School, is a comprehensive educational institution offering a single unified academic program built on the world-renowned French national curriculum, accredited by the French Ministry of Education since 1955. The school provides a continuous educational pathway from preschool (age 2) through 12th grade, organized into distinct programs: Maternelle (French preschool), Elementary School, Middle School, and High School. Students can pursue multiple credential pathways including the French Baccalauréat (with BFI bilingual/trilingual options), the American High School Diploma (Dual Diploma), and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. The school operates two campuses—Maplewood (Primary, ages 2 to grade 5) and Forest Road (Secondary, grades 6-12)—and complements its core academic programs with auxiliary offerings including Summer Camps, Extracurricular Programs, the RochamBIO environmental initiative, University Counseling, and the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program for international teachers. The institution serves over 1,100 students representing 80+ nationalities and 55 languages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maternelle (French Preschool) French early childhood education program for children age 2 through Kindergarten (TPS to GS), introducing French language immersion and the French educational approach from an early age.
• Elementary School Program French immersion elementary education from CP/1st grade through CM2/5th grade, following the French national curriculum with emphasis on multilingual development and academic excellence.
• Middle School Program French and American curriculum for grades 6-9 (6e to 3e), preparing students for the Diplôme National du Brevet (DNB) examinations and continuing secondary education.
• High School Program Comprehensive secondary education for grades 10-12 (Seconde to Terminale) culminating in the French Baccalauréat and/or IB Diploma, with university counseling support.
• French Baccalauréat Program Comprehensive French secondary education program leading to the French Baccalauréat diploma, with bilingual (BFI) and trilingual international options. Students can pursue either the general or technological baccalauréat tracks.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program IB Diploma Programme authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization, offering a globally recognized pre-university curriculum for students in grades 11-12.
• Dual Diploma Program Combined program allowing students to earn both the French Baccalauréat and the American High School Diploma simultaneously, providing graduates with credentials recognized in both France and the United States.
• Summer Camps French immersion summer camp programs for children featuring weekly themed activities, cultural exploration, field trips, and hands-on learning experiences.
• Extracurricular Programs and Clubs After-school enrichment activities including sports, arts, music, academic clubs, and student-led organizations such as the RochamBIO environmental program and webradio.
• University Counseling Comprehensive college and university advisory services including application guidance, testing preparation, dual enrollment partnerships, and support for applications to institutions in France, USA, Canada, UK, and worldwide.
• Language Immersion Curriculum French immersion curriculum supplemented by World Languages instruction including English, Spanish, German, and Arabic, creating a multilingual learning environment.
• J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Department of State-sponsored program enabling international teachers to teach at Rochambeau for up to three years, with cross-cultural activity requirements and visa sponsorship.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1178 students enrolled 2022-23 with 250 new students annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1955Rochambeau is part of the AEFE network, the global network of French schools abroad managed by the French Ministry of Education. This partnership ensures curriculum alignment with French national standards, access to teacher training resources, and recognition of French credentials worldwide.
• MLF (Mission Laique Francaise)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLF Delegation partnership connecting Rochambeau to the Mission Laique Francaise network of French educational institutions worldwide. MLF promotes French language and culture through education internationally.
• International Baccalaureate (IB) OrganizationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRochambeau is an authorized IB World School offering the IB Diploma Programme. This partnership provides students with an additional pathway to higher education alongside the French Baccalauréat option.
• AIMS (Association of Independent Maryland & Washington DC Schools)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership in AIMS provides access to professional development, peer networking, and academic resources for independent schools in the Maryland and DC region.
• French Ministry of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial accreditation by the French Ministry of Education since 1955. This regulatory partnership ensures curriculum approval, credential recognition, and connection to the French national education system.
• Josiah Henson MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent exhibit 'Footsteps Toward Freedom: Honoring Local Lives' created by 8th grade SIA English students became part of the museum's permanent collection, displayed through September 2026.
• Parent Association of Rochambeau (PAR)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent parent organization supporting school community through events, volunteer coordination, and family engagement activities.
• Bonjour Books DCminorOthersLocal retailer partnership for sale of summer reading materials (Cahiers de vacances) to support French language maintenance during summer breaks.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sidwell Friends School: Elite private K-12 school in Washington DC widely regarded as one of the region's top college-prep schools. Competes for the same affluent, college-aspirational DC families, particularly those prioritizing US university placement.
• Georgetown Day School: Independent PK-12 school in Washington DC known for progressive education and strong college placement. Competes with Rochambeau for DC-area families prioritizing premium private education with rigorous college outcomes.

Regional players

• Lycée Français de la Silicon Valley: AEFE-accredited French international school in the San Francisco Bay Area serving preschool through high school with the French Baccalauréat. Comparable peer operating under the same regulatory framework but in a different US geography.
• French International School of Portland: AEFE-network French immersion school in Portland, Oregon offering preschool through middle school with French curriculum. Comparable peer operating the same accredited French program model in a different regional market.

Direct peers

• Lycée Français de Chicago: AEFE-affiliated French international school in Chicago offering French curriculum from preschool through high school with French Baccalauréat. Closely comparable peer sharing the same regulatory accreditation model and curriculum pathway.
• Lycée Français de New York: AEFE-accredited French international school in New York City serving preschool through high school with French Baccalauréat and IB options. Most directly comparable peer as a fellow AEFE-network school offering the same diploma pathways to a similar expat/affluent family base.
• Washington International School: Independent international school in Washington DC offering IB programs and multilingual education from preschool through grade 12. Direct geographic competitor serving overlapping international and bilingual family segments in the DC metro area.
• German International School Washington D.C. International school in the DC metro area offering German curriculum and German International Abitur alongside IB programs. Direct regional competitor for multilingual/international families seeking foreign-curriculum education.
• British International School of Washington: International school in the DC area offering British curriculum and IB programs to preschool through high school students. Direct competitor for international families seeking premium foreign-curriculum education in the DC metro.

Others

• AEFE (Agence pour l'Enseignement Français à l'Étranger): The French government agency overseeing the global network of French-accredited schools. Rather than a direct competitor, AEFE is the regulatory ecosystem and partner organization that defines Rochambeau's accreditation framework and curriculum standards.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCUISr_zwQj4Iitq_oRdLgug
• Facebookfacebook.com/Rochambeau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/lycee-rochambeau-french-international-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/rochambeaufrenchschool

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 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 Rochambeau