The Elementary School

The “Primaire” or elementary school is a 6-year journey to prepare each child for academic excellenc

Our private elementary school is organized in three-year cycles. Indeed, in France, primary school is composed of two three-year cycles (2 and 3):

They begin with CP (1st Grade), CE1 (2nd Grade), CE2 (3rd Grade).

These first three grades make up Cycle 2.

They are then followed by CM1 (4th Grade), CM2 (5th Grade) and 6ème (6th Grade).

These last three grades make up Cycle 3.

The main objective of CP (1st Grade) is to ensure students have mastered reading and writing as these are the key skills used in every other field of study. The French system generally avoids multiple choice questions, even in 1st Grade, so a student must be able to read a question, understand it and answer it, sometimes with a full sentence.

CE1 and CE2 (2nd and 3rd Grades) The program is made up of grammar, spelling, vocabulary and math but also focuses on helping students explore the world, including through art and music. A foreign language is added (in our case, English).

CM1 and CM2 (4th and 5th Grades) introduce scientific content, technology, history/geography and art history.

6ème (6th Grade) is an essential transition year before secondary school when all topics are recapped and additional complexity is introduced.

This ensures that they are prepared for middle school.

More details

The curriculum

The elementary program at LPEC is taught by native French speakers, except for english language arts, which are being taught by an English native-speaker.

The curriculum is composed of the following learning subjects:

French Language Arts (cycle 2 & 3)
English Language Arts (cycle 2 & 3)
Mathematics (cycle 2 & 3)
Musical education (cycle 2 & 3)
Physical education (cycle 2 & 3)
Civics (cycle 2 & 3)
Question the World (cycle 2)
Art history (cycle 3)
History & Geography (cycle 3)
Fine Arts (cycle 3)

Evaluation process

At LA PETITE ÉCOLE DE CHICAGO, we evaluate the acquired skills of each student. A report card is issues twice a year.

Parents are invited twice a year to a private meeting with their child’s teacher to speak about their child's progress and answer questions they may have.

A typical day at LPEC in Elementary school

Here is an example of a typical day in elementary school:

8:15 to 8:30: Children arrive at the school
8:35 to 8:45: Rituals
8:45 to 11:00: French Language activities (reading, grammar, phonology, vocabulary, writing...)
11:00 to 12:00 PM: Mathematics (numeration, geometry, measurements)
12:00 to 1:30 PM: Lunch and free time