Two career educators, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Kabbaz, founded the school in 1964. To put this in historical perspective, in 1964 Lyndon Johnson had just stepped into the shoes of the assassinated John F. Kennedy as the president of the United States, the Beatles performed for the first time in America on the Ed Sullivan show, Martin Luther King was awarded the Nobel Prize, and Goldfinger with a very young Sean Connery playing James Bond was featured in movie theatres. During this time of social change, the school's founders saw a tremendous need for a classical institution of learning in California that welcomed all children from all cultures around the world. Due to a law that prohibited teaching in California in a language other than English, the opening of the school was delayed for a year as Mr. and Mrs. Kabbaz hired consultants and attorneys to lobby for a change in the education code in Sacramento. This historical change in the law not only paved the way for the opening of Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles but also many other multilingual, international schools and programs.
The school officially opened in 1965 with no outside financial help. The first campus was located on Doheny Drive in Beverly Hills. In a few short years, the school was moved to the present location of the main campus at 3261 Overland Ave in 1967. The school quickly became well known for its quality of education, its devotion to the needs of students as individuals, and its "open arms" policy for pupils from all walks of life. The uniform with its classical and timeless style was established during the first year and has remained the same since.
In those many and exciting years, the school expanded to five campuses including two preschool and kindergarten campuses, a lower elementary campus, an elementary campus, and a secondary school campus currently housing the Middle School and High School. In 2000 the modern performing arts theatre, Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz, opened at the Century City Campus with professional quality facilities. In September of 2009, the much anticipated new Raymond and Esther Kabbaz High School opened providing the school with a much needed gymnasium as well as spacious classrooms, various state of the art learning areas, and a well-equipped cafeteria.
Sadly, Le Lycée's community lost the Founders of the school during the last decade. However, their values and passion have been passed on in the fundamental structure of the school. Many of the people they trusted and worked with over the years are still active in the school. The most notable is Clara-Lisa Kabbaz who has been associated with the school from the beginning (as a kindergarten student) and now serves as the President of the Board and continues in her parents' work of providing a unique and outstanding educational experience.
Alain Anselme, the school's Director, has been with the school since 1975 and continues to bring his expertise in French education and his wisdom to a leadership role. This veteran administrator balances the traditional values of the school with the demands that modern society places on the educational needs of the students.
In the future, much will change, but the values and standards of Le Lycée Français de Los Angeles will remain the same. It will always remain the top French school in Los Angeles with an exemplary English college prep program.