Ecole Claire Fontaine is an Art, Language and Nature school serving local & international children ages 2 - 6+.
Three garden campuses are nestled in the heart of Venice near the Pacific Ocean.
ECF faculty speak their native languages only, including French, English and Spanish.
The children spend joyful days immersed in music, the art of nature, outdoors in the garden, discovering new ways to co-create with friends.
Since 1989 Ecole Claire Fontaine has combined the best values of American and French cultures for the benefit of children. Dedicated chefs prepare organic European-Mediterranean meals daily with produce fresh from the local farmers markets, deepening children's connection to the earth & the origins of their food.
At Ecole Claire Fontaine the innate wisdom of children is honored and their happiness is paramount.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- School Type: School with Special Program Emphasis
- Grades: Nursery/Preschool-1
- Enrollment: 100 students
- Application Deadline: Feb. 15 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
School Overview
School Type
School Membership(s)School Assoc.
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades Nursery/Preschool-1
Year Founded
1989
Summer School Offered
Yes
Summer Program Details
School Calendar
Student Body
Total Students
100 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
36%
State avg.: 51%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
30 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
3:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
50%
Classroom Dress Code
Casual
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Feb. 15 / rolling
Tuition Notes
Flexible Full Time & Part time schedules available. Meals Included. Please inquire.
Summer Program Cost Notes
Flexible Full Time & Part time schedules available. Meals Included. Please inquire.
School Notes
- Preschool-PreK-Kindergarten-TK/1 + After School Elementary Program
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ecoleclairefontaine/
- Ecole Claire Fontaine is a member of the American Association of Teachers of French
- At Ecole Claire Fontaine we nurture the innate wisdom of children. Together children and faculty discover the oceans and cosmos, taking cues from the remarkable connectivity that vibrates through all things. Living in art and nature, ECF infuses a creative spirit into our emergent curriculum that morphs annually with the interests of the children.Our students exercise their strategic thinking through chess, our botanical nature and science lab, astronomy, mathematics, oceanography and toy building. Imaginations and fine motor skills are stretched by painting and embroidery. Spiritual and emotional centers are exercised, along with gross motor skills, through meditation and yoga. The senses are bathed in the sounds of choir, piano and harp, and the smells of simmering jam and sauting aromatics. With nutrition a focal point, our chefs lovingly prepare organic meals on a daily basis, while classes in experimental flavors awaken taste buds. We communicate through the languages of French, English and Spanish to deepen our dialogue and neurological capacities. Using their native language only, teachers speak to the children using the OPOL Method One Person, One Language. Intrinsic to the pedagogy of Ecole Claire Fontaine is ensconcing the children in the beauty and importance of the elements of nature, and their remarkable place amongst it all. Exploring, imagining and playing in the garden are part of every child`s day. Teachers are ready to assist and guide, while also honoring the inherent capacity of children to discover new ways of co-existing with their friends. With an international family and teacher base, we learn from, and are sensitive to, cultures other than our own, particularly that of the culture of children. We remain creative, curious, flexible and teachable, remembering that when we elevate ourselves, we inspire those around us to do the same. We communicate in the positive, inventing what we want the world to be. Our days expand experiences and minds beyond the heights of the usual expectations of childhood capacities, as we play and study, placing paramount importance upon happiness. The joy found in discovery at Ecole Claire Fontaine is opening hearts and minds, and parting the curtains to an extraordinary life.
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Ecole Claire Fontaine offer a summer program?
Yes, Ecole Claire Fontaine offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
When is the application deadline for Ecole Claire Fontaine?
The application deadline for Ecole Claire Fontaine is Feb. 15 / rolling (applications are due on Feb. 15 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
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The nearest high school and elementary school to Ecole Claire Fontaine is Acton Academy Venice Beach (1.0 miles away)
The nearest preschool is SmartStart Developmental Learning Center (1.2 miles away)
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