Why Attend École Saint-Landry Charter School

École Saint-Landry charter school is a Type 1 charter school located in Sunset, Louisiana. It is a French immersion elementary school, which means all courses will be taught in French, with the exception of the English Language Arts class. 

Charter schools are tuition-free public schools of choice that are independently run by a nonprofit community board and authorized by an elected board (either a local school board or the state board of elementary and secondary education). 

In the case of École Saint-Landry charter school, we are a Type 1 charter school, which means we were authorized (approved) by St. Landry Parish School Board. 

As a public charter school, we are responsible for every single dollar of our start-up costs, which include facility rental and renovation, student books and curriculum, furniture, administrative salaries, and more.  

For more information, see this site from the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools.

No, our school is tuition-free. There is a $20 annual materials fee per student, and students are responsible for purchasing their own uniform and some school supplies.

We currently have grades Kindergarten through 3rd grade. We are authorized to grow to 8th grade.

• 2021-2022: Kindergarten and 1st grade​.
• 2022-2023: Kindergarten through 2nd grade.
• 2023-2024: Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
• 2024-2025: Kindergarten through 4th grade.
• 2025-2026: Kindergarten through 5th grade.
• 2026-2027 - Kindergarten through 6th-grades.
• 2027-2028 - Kindergarten through 7th grades.
• 2028-2029 - Kindergarten through 8th grades.

École Saint-Landry is currently in the renovated former First Baptist Church at 671 Napoleon Avenue in Sunset. École Saint-Landry plans to move grades 3 and up into the historic Sunset High building, located at 223 Marie Street in Sunset around year 4 or 5. The lower elementary grades will permanently be located at the campus at 671 Napoleon Avenue in Sunset. 

The biggest difference is that we are a French immersion school, not an English-speaking school that offers a French immersion pathway. We will have completely bilingual staff, and all courses (including PE and art) are taught in French. The only exception is English Language Arts, which is, of course, taught in English as well as SEL (Social Emotional Learning), which is taught once a week. 

Additionally, there is over 50 years of data that supports the success of a French immersion education. 

• ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: French immersion students consistently achieve higher results on standardized tests than their non-immersion peers, regardless of socio-economic status. Immersion students typically develop greater cognitive flexibility, demonstrating increased attention control, better memory, and superior problem-solving skills as well as an enhanced understanding of their primary language. 
• HERITAGE: Immersion pathways are an essential element in the restoration and development of Louisiana’s primary heritage language; they provide access to further educational, economic, international, cultural, and professional opportunities in French that valorize all Louisianans in their linguistic and cultural identity. 
• GLOBAL COMPETENCY: Immersion students are more aware of and generally show more positive attitudes towards other cultures and an appreciation of other people. 
• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Immersion students often are exposed to languages that are represented in today’s global economy, better preparing them for life beyond the classroom. (Language Immersion in Louisiana)

You can also refer to this list of benefits of immersion that was published by an immersion school in Canada. 

You may also find interest in this article on French immersion in Louisiana that was published in the New York Times or this article on our school that was published by Tele-Louisiane in 2023. 

Not at all. Students will learn to speak French in the immersion setting each day. Starting in 2nd grade or later, any student wanting to attend our school must know some French already and must attend an immersion summer camp. ​Contact the school for more information. 

Absolutely not, but if parents are interested in learning French, we can point them in the right direction. Future plans include French workshops for parents and community outreach with French speakers. 

École Saint-Landry accepts students of all abilities. École Saint-Landry does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, national origin, disability or gender in its educational programs and activities (including employment and application for employment), and it is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of gender by Title IX (20 USC 168) and on the basis of disability by Section 504 (42 USC 794).

As per state charter law, if we have more applicants than spots available, we must have a lottery to fill the spots available. Only students who live in St. Landry Parish are eligible to apply for the lottery. If you live out of the district, contact us directly to see how you may go about asking for a waiver for your child. 

Following the same requirements as St. Landry Parish, kindergarten students must be 5 years old by September 30. Please contact the school district to find out more information about exceptions given to this requirement. 

Average class size is 20 students.

École Saint-Landry provides transportation from anywhere in St. Landry Parish via satellite stops, and no student will have to travel further than 5 miles from home to catch his/her bus. Transportation is not provided to students who live within 1 mile of the school.

You can send an email to info@ecolestlandry.org or send a direct message on our Facebook page. If you’d like to talk to a member of our team, you can call the school at 337-510-3022.