San Diego French-American School (SDFAS) in La Jolla recently announced its achievement in winning the “Palmes du Réseau d’Enseignement Français à l’Étranger” in the “Action Innovante” category (Innovative Action). This prestigious recognition was awarded during a ceremony held on March 13 at the Sorbonne amphitheater in Paris.

The “Palmes du Réseau d’Enseignement Français à l’Étranger” (EFE) is an annual award that honors outstanding contributions made by French-accredited schools around the world. Initiated by Samantha Cazebonne, Senator for French Citizens Living Abroad, and under the high patronage of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, these awards emphasize seven key themes: inclusion, the fight against discrimination, innovative action, cultural action, community engagement, school guidance, linguistic promotion, and engagement with host countries.  In total, 291 projects were submitted by 181 French-accredited schools from 79 countries.

SDFAS was honored to be selected for the “Innovative Action” category, among the 71 institutions that applied for this specific award. The school’s winning project, titled “Produire des fruits et des légumes à San Diego, Californie” (Producing Fruits and Vegetables in San Diego, California), reflects the school’s commitment to fostering sustainability, community engagement, and innovative practices in education. Ms. Isabelle David, Head of School at SDFAS, accepted the award on behalf of the school during the ceremony.

“We are incredibly honored to receive the Palmes du Réseau d’Enseignement Français à l’Étranger for Innovative Action,” said Isabelle David. “This award celebrates innovation, but above all, it highlights the engagement of our students, teachers, and entire educational community. Our project was conceived with the strong belief that education must continually evolve and innovate to better equip students for the challenges of tomorrow’s world. This recognition inspires us to pursue our mission with even greater boldness and creativity”.

The award recognizes SDFAS’s commitment to fostering innovative, hands-on educational initiatives that equip students to tackle today’s global challenges. The community garden and aquaponic farm projects, for which SDFAS received this distinction, directly address critical issues such as responsible water management and sustainable development. Through these initiatives, our students not only deepen their understanding of biodiversity, ecosystems, and the interconnectedness of all living things but also cultivate essential scientific, collaborative, and civic skills.

You can view the award announcement and video submission HERE. For more information about San Diego French-American School and its award-winning programs, visit www.sdfas.org.

About San Diego French-American School (SDFAS):
Founded in 1988, San Diego French-American School is an independent, co-educational bilingual school serving approximately 350 students, from 18 months old through eighth grade. One of over 50 French government (AEFE/MEN)-accredited international schools in the United States (and over 500 worldwide), the school also holds accreditation from the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).