Governor French Academy is a nonsectarian coeducational college-preparatory school for students in preschool (age 3) through grade 12. Governor French Academy seeks to perform three specific services to the parents of serious students:

  1. The finest preparation for college and advanced educational work
  2. Complete preparation for college testing procedures
  3. Professional and detailed assistance for parents in obtaining substantial college financial aid.

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GFA Fast Facts

Grade Levels: preschool (age 3) – grade 12

  • Lower School: preschool (age 3) – 8th grade
  • Upper School: 9th – 12th grade

Year Founded:  1983

Founder of School: Phillip Paeltz

Head of School: Kim Powers

Board President: Alassane Mbaye

Location: Belleville, IL

  • In the St. Louis Metro-East; 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis

Enrollment: 120

Faculty:  17

School Mascot: The Lionheart

School Colors: Hunter Green and Navy

 

Tuition and Fees (2022-2023):

  • $7,725.00 annual tuition
  • $350.00 Annual registration fee

Enrollment Deadlines:

  • Rolling admission with different price breaks for early enrollment

 

College Matriculation: over 96%.

All our graduates have continued to some form of post-high school education, whether a traditional college or university or a trade or technical school.  Graduates of past classes have been admitted to over one hundred institutions of higher learning, ranging from MIT, Notre Dame, Harvard, and Princeton to Johnson & Wales School of Culinary Arts and the Curtis Institute of Music.

 Language Instruction:

  • Spanish at all grade levels
  • French, German, and Latin upon request

Standardized Testing:

5-year ACT Average Composite Score:

  • Governor French Academy: 25.8
  • Illinois: 22.2
  • National: 20.8

 Iowa Test of Basic Skills:

  • Governor French Academy average grade equivalents run
    • 1.8 – 3.8 years above age level in reading
    • 1.1 – 3.8 years above age level in mathematics.

 Size of Campus: four buildings and a playground

  • Oliver C. Joseph Building: Theater, Art Gallery and Administration
  • Main Classroom Building
  • Kindergarten
  • Pre-Kindergarten
  • Jules Park playground
  • Athletics practices and games are held at St. Paul UCC’s gymnasium and nearby Hough Park

 

Arts Opportunities: Students study theatre and the visual arts through an array of courses and extracurricular activities

  • Art Club
  • Drama Troupe
  • All students in grades 7-12 participate in at least one drama production per year
  • Improvisation classes and workshops
  • STEAM class 

STEM Opportunities and Resources:

  • Monthly Family STEAM Nights
  • Annual school science fair grades 5-12
  • Yearly advancements to SIUE SERC, IJAS State Exposition
  • Upper school participation in IJSHS
  • Nearly annual advancements to ISEF
  • Nearly annual advancements to JSHS
  • Science Coach participation grades 6-12

 Clubs and Organizations:

  • 4-H
  • Academic Challenge (ACES) Team
  • Chess Club
  • Key Club
  • Girl Scouts
  • Math Team
  • Poetry Out Loud Team
  • Speech Team
  • Student Council
  • Spanish Club (grades 1 – 6)
  • World Language Club (grades 7 – 12)
  • Youth in Government (grades 7 – 12)

Community Service:

  • In-House Community Service program
  • Average of 3 Key Club 100-Hour Service Awards recipients annually
  • GFA upper school students volunteer regularly through
    • Belleville Main Street and Community Events
    • Annual GFA Back to School BBQ
    • Annual Winterfest
    • Blood Drives
    • Lower School Events

 Other Opportunities and Resources:

  • Parent-Teacher-Student Organization
  • College Counseling
  • Summer School
  • After-School Care
  • Global Learning
  • GFA Traditions

 Accreditation:

  • Accredited by Cognia (formerly AdvancED)
  • STEM Certified by Cognia (formerly AdvancED)
  • Recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education as a nongraded school

 

Associations:

  • Illinois Coalition of Non-Public Schools

 

Recognitions:

  • NICHE #17 of 55 Best Private K-12 schools in Illinois
    (#5 of 14 in St. Louis Area)
  • NICHE #40 of 140 Best Private High Schools in Illinois
    (#19 of 49 in St. Louis Area)
  • NICHE #23 of 223 Most Diverse Private High Schools in Illinois
    (#6 of 69 in St. Louis Area)
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Governor French Academy is an independent, nonprofit preschool-grade 12 college preparatory day school offering non-sectarian education, regardless of national origin, race or religion.