Founded in 1998, The International School of Charlottesville, formerly known as La petite école, offers French and Spanish language immersion programs in a multi- age class environment for children from preschool through kindergarten (ages 2 ¾ to 6 years). We also offer a Toddler Program for children ages 2 to 3, which introduces foreign language to toddlers through age- appropriate activities such as songs, games, stories and artwork. Previous exposure to a foreign language is not necessary for any of these programs.

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School Philosophy The International School of Charlottesville (ISC) offers a comprehensive and stimulating early childhood education within a foreign language environment. The language center in the brain undergoes the greatest development in the first years of life, so exposing a child to a second language at an early age broadens cognitive ability in later years. Learning in a second language also develops and heightens multicultural awareness.

Click PLAY below to listen to Anne Burroughs in a radio interview about the International School.

At ISC, the new language is not introduced as a separate subject but is an intrinsic part of the environment. In the preschool immersion program the teachers communicate with the children almost entirely in the target language. As the children work and play in this new environment, the target language gradually becomes their preferred means of communication at school.