the tours language school

Institut de Touraine

Every year the Institut de Touraine teaches French language and culture to more than 2000 students from around the world, and of all ages and levels...

Why choose the Institut de Touraine?

Would you like to learn French for work, study or pleasure in a renowned school in France? Prepare for a qualification such as the DELF or DALF? Immerse yourself in a vibrant city near Paris?

Intensive course

• Improve your general French in a balanced way
• Complement the program to meet your objectives and your difficulties, to design a track that fits your needs and interests.

Standard course

• Improve your general French in a balanced way (alternating between oral and writing skills)
• Morning classes from Monday to Friday, with afternoons free to discover Touraine at your own pace.

Combi course

• Improve rapidly your general French
• Combine group lessons with private tuitions, for a program that fits needs and objectives

L'Institut de Touraine

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Studying in Tours

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French school in France

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French Immersion in France for Adults

Looking to improve your French as an older learner — or study it for the very first time — but concerned about landing at a large institution filled with much younger students and a high school vibe?

Welcome to CLÉ A French educational boutique founded in 1985 providing small-group language instruction to adults from around the world, ages 25 and up (18 is the minimum), for like-minded learning and social/cultural activities!

_Entrust Your Experience to a Welcoming and Professional Boutique School

Since opening our centre more than 35 years ago, we have offered quality teaching and a warm welcome. It’s what we’re known for and take great pride in! Four French ministries have recognized our approach with the highest marks and the “French Foreign Language” Label of Quality. Additionally, thanks to excellent online reviews from our students, CLÉ has also been named the “Best French Language School in France” for 2019.

“You’re making the effort to come and learn our language, we therefore take care to ensure you have the best stay possible with personal attention.”

_Adult French Courses Taught by a Dedicated and Professional Team

While we know that everyone who comes to CLÉ has an interest in improving their French, we also realize that everyone arrives with their own motivations. Some are focused specifically on the work of study; others seek to mix it up with a reasonable measure of play. In either case, there’s a place for you here! We do our part by providing a focused learning environment — along with a good measure of fun — while also endorsing your social/cultural exploration. Get involved in as much or as little as you like! (We hope this always includes finishing your homework, but we won’t hold it against you if you don’t.) As adults we know we’re in charge of own decisions; the experience we get is often the one we create. Whatever your journey, it’s all here for the taking. It’s part of what makes CLÉ unique.

Priority is given to oral skills as this is most often what students who come to CLÉ are interested in developing — for travel, education, and business purposes — or just for fun! Whatever your motivation, we’re here to accommodate at the group level or one-on-one. If you’re curious about a focus of study that you don’t see offered, please ask us.

When your day at CLÉ is done, you will leave the school and find yourself in one of the most beautiful squares in the historic centre of Tours. Students can continue their conversations on the terraces of many nearby bars and restaurants, or during the optional after-class activities/excursions that are presented each week.

Whether you’re at CLÉ specifically to study or to mix it up with extracurricular activities, there’s something here for everyone — do exactly what you’d like. A school for adults where there experience is yours for the taking! It’s all part of what makes CLÉ unique.

Any Reason’s a Good Reason to Learn French

• Simply for the love (or curiosity) of it
• To advance your education or professional career
• To prepare for competency exams such as DELF or DALF

Complete French Immersion: Courses à la Carte

• Small group classes (Maximum 7 students!)
• Private classes (Tailored to your personal needs/goals!)
• Combined small group and private classes (Cover all your bases!)
• Private online classes (Learn with us from anywhere!)
• Profession-focused learning (Medical, business, and beyond!)

Live an Authentic Experience!

Enjoy the charm of tours.

A historical and cultural city with a human dimension, where our students immediately feel at ease. Tours is conveniently located in the heart of the Loire Valley, 1 hour and 15 minutes from Paris by train.

Explore the Heart of the Loire Valley, “The Garden of France”

Châteaux, gardens, vineyards, and more—take advantage of your free time to discover this incredible area, officially designated as a UNESCO World Heritage destination! Learn about all it has to offer:

Tours and the Loire Valley

Live the French life

Choose the accommodation that suits you best: Stay with a local family (arranged by our team), rent a flat (AirBnB with ease), book a hotel — we’re happy to help you get everything lined up!

Your Accommodation in Tours

We’re Central to it All

Become one of the 10,000 international students who’ve trusted us since 1985.

Find out more about life at CLE on YouTube

CLE 2018 As an American student learning French in a university setting, I knew that the opportunity to travel and study in an immersion srtting would be indispensable. I decided to enroll for 2 weeks at the CLE in Tours, France— and it was the best choice I could have made! From the moment I arrived, the staff was welcoming and encouraging. In and out of class, the professors were dynamic, kind, and always willing to answer questions related to schoolwork or simply about fun things to do in and around Tours. In my case, it took the first week to find the appropriate level, so I would recommend to prospective students to consider a minimum of 3 weeks—though I think one month would be ideal. In class, we worked on a variety of grammar points and discussed a wide variety of usedul themes, which boosted my conversational ability in French. The emphasis on listening comprehension was greatly appreciated, and I recommend signing up for private lessons. In my provate lesson, I got a personalized plan of study, and felt that this was where I made the greatest progress. My time passed so quickly, and at the end of my 2 week stay, I wished so badly that I could have stayed another week or two! I’m looking forward to returning next summer, and this time for a bit longer.

Andrew, USA, 2018

CLE is the key to learning French I have just returned to New Zealand after 2 wonderful weeks at CLE in Tours and I will definitely go back. The teachers were excellent and the lessons were varied with fresh new material and a lot of opportunities for speaking and getting to know the other students with games etc. The school itself is very attractive and in a delightful part of town and my homestay was superb. I liked the way the classes could offer in -detail grammar to students who needed written French for their job and also give plenty of oral practice to people like me for my work as a tour guide. There were some nice social activities suggested as well to meet other students and it was great to mix so many interesting people from all over the world.

Louise, New Zealand, 2018

The course far exceeded my expectations! I recently attended a two-week course at the CLE in Tours and just loved my time there. There was a test on the first morning that ensured that I was placed with other students who were of a similar level. All the teachers were full of vitality and had obviously done a lot of preparation for each class. There was a mixture of written and oral work and we covered lots of different topics during the week. Although the students were all motivated to learn, you could choose whether to do the homework or not. Most importantly, the lessons were fun and we had lots of laughs in all of our lessons. Morning coffee was taken as a group which helped people to get to know each other and many of the students met up and had lunch together. In addition to the afternoon lessons and visits, there were groups that met for dinner and other social or sightseeing activities. The school had a wonderful atmosphere. Almost everyone was really enthusiastic to improve their skills and even on these social gatherings, they continued to speak in French. Being 67, I assumed that I would be the oldest person on the course, but to my surprise, there were people of all ages - all enjoying their time at the CLE. I would recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their written or spoken French. I can understand why people return year after year!

Zoe 2019, Australia,

An excellent French school for group or private lessons I recently completed 2 weeks of French education at CLE. I opted for a private instructor to focus on my individual language learning goals. While more expensive than the group classes, it suited my needs. I wanted to devote half of my time to the study of French phonetics at a deeper level. In advance of my arrival, I communicated with the school in some detail regarding how I wished the curriculum to be structured (e.g., how much time I wanted to spend on phonetics vs. grammar vs. cultural studies). The school staff and my teacher took great care to ensure that my educational objectives were met. I got exactly what I asked for and the quality of the instruction exceeded my expectations! I heard the same sort of feedback from students who were enrolled in the group classes. I would highly recommend CLE for anyone who is looking to level up their French.

Corey, USA, 2019

If as an adult, you have wanted to learn or improve your French, and have never heard of CLE, now you have, and you are in for a real treat! One of the very best experiences of my life (and this is not hyperbole!) is the time I spent taking French lessons at this wonderful school in Tours, France. This is an accredited, high quality institution with excellent teachers, where students learn French in an effective and fun environment. Also, it is a small institution, which creates a real feeling of community. CLE first evaluated my level of French knowledge, and then offered me some course options at my level. The warm and friendly staff always made me feel welcome, and CLE came to feel like a kind of "second home" to me. In addition, the school, in this beautiful area of France, offers excursions that students can sign up for if they wish, and during which they can get to know each other and the staff socially. I cannot recommend this school highly enough!

Donna, USA, 2020

Immersive French Language Experience A lovely school! If you're looking for an immersive French experience to improve your French language skills, look no further! I was only able to spend a week (and wish I had the time to stay longer), but I had a fantastic experience. Even after such a short period of time, I felt much more confident speaking French and noticed that my oral comprehension also greatly improved. Would love to come back in the future! The school also arranges for students to stay with a host family if they wish. I got on really well with my host mother, and we had lovely chats each evening about our lives and current events in France and the world over a home cooked dinner (a great way to sample French culinary culture) . I highly recommend CLE anyone looking for a quality and cost effective method to improve their French language abilities!

Bronwen, USA, 2020

Online learning Fantastic way to brush up my French over the summer break. Having previously been fortunate enough to experience CLE first hand in Tours as a student (which I would also thoroughly recommend), I was paired back up with my previous tutor who could target my numerous grammar weaknesses. Interesting homework activities and great feed back. I'll be heading back to work more confident with my French, having learnt (and relearnt) grammar lessons and hopefully having corrected my most frequent errors! Thank you Isabelle, my tutor Anne-Sophie and the whole CLE team.

Hannah, England, 2020

I highly recommend CLE in Tours and its online classes. Homework and individual lessons are tailored to my needs, making learning fun, trustworthy and effective. All CLE instructors are amazing and extremely competent. The price is the best value for money. I really like the online format.

Andrey, USA, 2020

The best of the best! I have just returned from a fantastic week of private lessons at CLE. This was my third visit to CLE and I have loved it every time. Isabelle and her team of talented teachers offer an experience which combines exceptional teaching with cultural and other activities which enable students to meet, practise their emerging French language skills and immerse themselves in the French way of life. I was fortunate to stay this time with a local host arranged by CLE and, as I have observed with other students at CLE, Isabelle did an excellent job in matching me with a welcoming host who made me feel at home in Tours. The added dimension of speaking French outside of school hours provided a real boost to my French learning. I have always been very impressed by the standard of teaching at CLE and my teacher this week, David, was truly exceptional. As I require French for my job in Australia, there were some specific things I needed to work on. David tailored my lessons to address all these requirements, while making sure that the lessons were interesting, fun and always delivered with both professionalism and humour. I cannot recommend him, and CLE in general, highly enough! I have, in the past, visited two other highly rated French "immersion" language schools in France. As the fact that I keep returning to CLE shows, I think what CLE offers is by far the best of them all. Thank you as always to everyone at CLE and I hope to return soon!

Liz, Australia, 2020

We are really enjoying the on-line class we are taking as a couple.  The teachers at Cle are fantastic – professional but also convivial.  We are always amazed at how well they can hone in on our specific needs in just an hour of on-line conversation.  With this skill they are able to tailor exercises and techniques to meet our needs through preparatory and evaluative videos each week.  This results in an efficient all-around learning experience that strengthens our pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and written and oral expression– all while having a great time.  And we have the joy of visiting France every week!

John and Anamaria, USA, 2020

I highly recommend my school in Tours that is now doing online classes. The price is great and the teachers are fabulous. So much fun. Just finished an oral comprehension on champagne! I am doing this three days a week. One hour of video chatting and a couple of hours of homework each day. I have to say, the homework does not feel like homework. It is so engaging and fun. Check it out.

Sarah Nash, USA, 2024

students maximum by class

Average length of stay

45 years old

Average age

years in business

Treat yourself to the experience of a lifetime — there’s no better moment than now!

Touch base with any questions (big, small, even awkward) you may have..

Or, step up to the plate to secure your spot. Just say “CLÉ” and book today!

• 7-9, place de Châteauneuf 37000 TOURS
• +33 (0)247 64 06 19
• [email protected]

bestmusicofalltime

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• All Songs Listed Here in Alphabetical Order with Easy Links!
• All Genres Matter

Tours – Language School (1979)

I’ve been working my way through Gary Crowley’s excellent “Punk and New Wave” CD boxset this morning and happily stumbled upon this ludicrously catchy and obscure power pop gem from Poole in Dorset. A fixture on the John Peel show during 1979, it is rumoured that the great man described Tours ‘ “Language School” as his second favourite single of all time after “Teenage Kicks” by The Undertones .

Tours entire recorded output consists of only two 7″ singles but there is no doubt the band deserve their place in the pantheon of thebestmusicofalltime ! Never mind the width, feel the quality.

Hoping to buy the vinyl on Discogs at some point … at the moment 351 people own this single but 1,535 want it …. could be pricey!

The original single version then a live version taken from a recent reunion apparently.

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I used to sell the Tours single in my old record shop in Bournemouth back in the day. Armadillo Records was big on indie singles and Tours were a local band, honing their skills with regular gigs at The Brewers Arms in Poole. Excellent live act. The single sold around 13,000 copies, pretty good for independent distribution. Virgin then signed them but did nothing to promote the band.

The reformed “one off” gig was a splendid affair and the turn out was exceptional for an area known for a lethargic attitude to any gigs unless MOR and take place in a cosy seated venue. This one was upstairs at a Poole Quay boozer. I did the disco on the night and it was like being transported back in time but in a good way.

Songwriters Ronnie Mayor and Richard Mazda went their separate ways after the original band imploded. Ronnie had another brush with music fame and fortune when a later band had a Radio 1 Breakfast Show “Record of the week” However, he was scuppered again by record company incompetence when they failed to get the single into shops in time to capitalise from the record’s exposure nationwide.

Richard Mazda ended up in the USA and became a record producer, working with The Fall and The Birthday Party amongst others. It was a delight to see the orginal band together, if only for one night. They were pretty good too considering the time that had passed and the minimal rehearsal time. (Version 2 above)

Thanks for posting, a very worthy addition to your excellent blog site.

Like Liked by 1 person

Wow, what a great story! Thank you.

A pleasure, nice to be able to give something back as I derive much enjoyment from your own output. Not saying I like all of the records that appear but there are plenty that are up there amongst my favourites.

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13-year-old girl allegedly mobbed by parents, beaten by student in caught-on-video altercation at ny high school.

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A 13-year-old Montessori student was mobbed by a group of parents as they egged on a classmate beating the teen — a horrifying incident caught on video last week outside the Yonkers school, legal papers claim.

Now the teenager’s mother, Alenna Merritt, has pulled her daughter out of Yonkers Montessori Academy and filed a legal notice of claim alerting the city of Yonkers that she plans to sue for $40 million over the alleged negligent supervision.

“I felt confused and scared — they kept yelling in my face,” the teen told The Post during a phone interview with her, her mother and lawyer. “When I got attacked, I was feeling alone and scared because nobody was there to help me.”

Merritt’s daughter, whose name is being withheld at the family’s request and will be referred to by her initials, E.W., was swarmed by four parents and a grandparent of other students on the baseball field on school grounds at the pre-K-12 Montessori at 7:20 a.m. April 18, according to the mother, the claim and video footage from three phones.

The family’s lawyer, Mark Shirian, said it appeared from the video that the group was looking for E.W.’s friend for some reason and because the pal wasn’t there, it was a guilt-by-association situation, and they went after E.W. instead.

The parents can be heard in the footage yelling and swearing at E.W. before another student rushes her and starts slapping and pummeling her while the parents look on and E.W. attempts to defend herself by slapping back.

E.W. “was left unsupervised” and “violently assaulted on the premises of Yonkers Montessori Academy by students and parents and relatives of current students, during school hours,” according to the notice of claim filed Thursday with the city of Yonkers.

The teen “was viciously assaulted, beaten, and as a result has sustained severe physical, emotional, and psychological injuries,” reads the document, the legal precursor to filing a lawsuit against a municipal agency.

Merritt, 42, of Yonkers told The Post that she is pressing charges against the adults involved, also.

She said that after reviewing cell-phone videos with the cops, who were called to school that day, the police were able to see that some of the adults also attacked her daughter and have issued a warrant for the arrest of at least one of them.

A joint rep for the Yonkers Police Department and Yonkers Public Schools confirmed that police issued an arrest warrant for Nancy Rosa, 55, on charges of third-degree assault, second-degree harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Rosa does not work for the schools, the representative said.

The investigation is ongoing, the rep said, declining to comment on whether further arrests could be expected.

Merritt said that when she got the call from her daughter around 7:30 a.m. that day, shortly after sending her off to school on the bus, she was “horrified” that this could have happened to her kid.

“I had my child screaming on the phone, screaming that she was hit … and I couldn’t even fathom it,” said Merritt, an executive director at a daycare center.

Merritt said her daughter is now receiving schooling remotely from a tutor — in a program provided by the Yonkers Montessori Academy — for the last roughly 40 days of the school year, since the mom said she wouldn’t dream of returning E.W. to the school, fearing for her safety.

E.W. has already been accepted to a private all-girls catholic school for the next school year.

Merritt filed a prior notice of claim against the same school in January alleging that staff sexually harassed E.W. by asking her to pull her bra and shake her breasts — believing she was hiding a vape on her person, the claim papers show.

Merritt said that with this second incident, she thought, “Here we go again.

“We have children who are not being supervised and not being protected,” Merritt told The Post. “I’m not going to put her in harm’s way and put her in the lion’s den every day.”

Merritt and her lawyer Shirian said they wonder if school security and staffers intentionally did not intervene in last week’s fight in retaliation for the pending claim against the school.

Shirian said Merritt and her daughter are “rightfully traumatized by this ordeal” and called for the school to swiftly implement “decisive action to rectify this situation and to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

“This egregious failure to ensure the safety of students is utterly unacceptable,” Shirian told The Post.

The lawyer said his clients may consider bringing legal action against the parents involved as well, but likely not until after the criminal investigation and any resulting criminal cases are over.

The latest notice of claim alleges negligent supervision, negligent hiring, negligent infliction of emotional distress and other related accusations against Yonkers, the Yonkers Board of Education and Yonkers Montessori Academy.

The older notice of claim names many of the same defendants.

Rosa and a rep for the city, Yonkers BOE and the Montessori school did not return Post requests for comment.

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Poway Unified honors three Classified School Employees of the Year

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Three Poway Unified School District employees who go above and beyond their required job duties have been named the district’s Classified School Employees of the Year.

The honorees are Lamis Abousalem, an English language learner instructional assistant at Bernardo Heights Middle School in Rancho Bernardo; Agustin “Steve” Esteban, a custodian at Morning Creek Elementary School in Sabre Springs; and Eva Peters, an administrative assistant for Learning Support Services who works at the school district office.

“The selection of the district Classified School Employees of the Year is based on job performance, dedication to the community, and contributions to Poway Unified School District,” states a press release announcing the awards that were given out on Monday, March 11.

The three classified employees advanced to a county-level Classified Employee of the Year competition sponsored by the San Diego County Office of Education. One of them, Abousalem, was named one of three 2024-25 County Classified School Employee of the Year along with two others and will be able to compete as a 2024 California State Classified Employee of the Year.

“Lamis Abousalem has been a pillar of Bernardo Heights’ English Learner program for the last eight years,” county Office of Education officials said. “She provides unconditional love and emotional support for her students. She cares deeply for them and is beloved by students and their families.”

The California Department of Education plans to host an awards event in late May as part of Classified School Employee Week.

Abousalem said she was “happy and thrilled” to receive the district-level award.

“It’s a great honor,” she said. “It was really a great surprise.”

Abousalem, 47, said she helps support English language learners academically and emotionally — some who are shy and don’t speak any English when they arrive and others who have learned basic English in their native countries.

“I have students from all over the world,” she said. “I try to connect them with other students who speak their language so they can communicate and feel there is someone they can talk to. It’s tough in the beginning. I make sure they feel safe and let them know I care about them and try to support them in any way possible.”

Abousalem helps students in their classes with tasks such as printing assignments in their own language or using Google translate. Other times she pulls students out of class to help them with homework assignments.

“Sometimes the students just come in to share their lives with me,” she said. “They feel like they need someone they can talk to without feeling judged.”

Abousalem, who came to the United States from Egypt 20 years ago after marrying a U.S. citizen, said she can relate to the students. Her native language is Arabic, but she received training in Egypt that acclimated her to living in a foreign country.

She got an international degree at the Rajac International High School in Egypt in 1995 and a bachelor’s in business administration with an emphasis on international affairs at the Helwan University in Egypt in 1999. Then she worked a few years in the consulate’s office at the American Embassy in Egypt.

The mother of two children who has volunteered in Poway Unified schools and for Girl Scout Troop 2085 in Rancho Bernardo was hired for her job at Bernardo Heights eight years ago. Since then she has received many compliments about the English language program. One parent from Thailand even moved locally based on the good reputation of the Bernardo Heights EL program, she said.

“I try to give them confidence that they are on the right track and can reach their full potential,” Abousalem said.

Esteban, a Morning Creek custodian, began working as a substitute custodian and groundskeeper for Poway Unified in 2015, shortly after moving to the United States from the Philippines in September 2014.

The 55-year-old Rancho Penasquitos resident said he moved because job prospects were scarce in his homeland and he saw an opportunity to be able to earn more money. He sends some of his income home to help his wife, Celeste Esteban, and older sister, Merlie Esteban, he said.

In January 2021, Esteban was hired as a full-time custodian at Morning Creek.

In addition to helping Lead Custodian Christopher Lynch keep the campus clean and tidy, Esteban takes the initiative to collect used books that would otherwise be thrown away and sends them to schools in the Philippines.

Morning Creek Principal Sheryl Fleming said Esteban also helped launch the green waste program on campus that has involved students in sorting liquid waste, recycling waste, food waste and trash since January.

Fleming said Esteban is a go-getter who doesn’t wait for someone to ask him to do the myriad tasks that arise daily around campus.

“He could be sitting around waiting for a phone call, but instead he is out actively doing things,” Fleming said, adding that Esteban’s positive, can-do attitude made an impression on his colleagues, who nominated him for the award.

“Everyone is impressed with the quality of his work,” she said. “He takes pride in his work, which makes a difference for the teachers and staff. They know they can rely on him to get it done right.”

Esteban received a bachelor’s of science degree in criminology from the Angeles University Foundation in the Philippines in 1992. He worked as a police officer there from 1998 to 2011 but gave up the profession when he moved to the U.S. because he said he didn’t meet the requirement to be a U.S. citizen. He said he misses police work but enjoys being a custodian as an older worker.

He said he was surprised and speechless when he was told he had won a Classified Employee of the Year award.

“That’s an unforgettable experience in my life,” he said. “I’m very happy that this is my school. I love the teachers, the staff and the kids. When I clean their room, they’re happy, and when they’re happy, I’m happy. I tell them you are my second family and my second home.”

Peters earned her award for her work as an administrative assistant in Learning Support Services at the district office for the past two and a half years.

The 62-year-old Rancho Bernardo resident said she had been a school administrative specialist at Westview High School since October 2006 before she requested a transfer in 2021 to be able to work with her boss, Learning Support Services Director Mercedes Hubschmitt, and to support the Youth in Transition and Caring Connections programs.

“I feel we need more focus on those students for them to be successful,” Peters said. “The school district is identifying more students as being underserved.”

The programs help support those who need additional assistance, from social-emotional support for students to getting resources for parents through donations or grants so they can buy necessities such as blankets and eyeglasses.

Some of Peters’ administrative duties include making sure data is accurate, budgets align and formatting is seamless.

“We have various reports that we have to complete and have to do in accordance with the law such as the Education Code,” she said.

Peters enlisted in the Navy in 1980 after graduating from high school. She spent 24 years in the military, achieving the rank of electronics technician senior chief before leaving in 2004. She took online classes through the University of Phoenix while still enlisted, and graduated with a bachelor’s in business administration in spring 2004.

“I was completely not expecting this,” she said of the award. “It’s kind of a privilege to know that I’m respected as much as I am. It’s a great team I work with, so to be recognized makes me feel more a part of everything.”

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A+ Real Estate: See How Much It Costs To Buy a Home in the Nation’s Top 10 School Districts

If you’re a parent hitting the house-hunting trail, you’re probably concerned with more than just square footage and whether the kitchen has been recently updated. School districts are often of paramount importance and, in fact, being in a top district can sometimes make—or break—a sale.

“Schools are one of the most important considerations for parents of school-age children,” says Realtor.com® Chief Economist  Danielle Hale . “In many places, the location of your home determines the school your child will attend.”

But living in a top school district doesn’t need to break the bank . U.S. News & World Report released its ranking of the best public high schools of 2024 this week. We figured out how much it will cost to buy a home in these cities. While some of these places have seven-figure price tags, buyers can find homes for under $200,000 in at least one of these cities.

(Note: We looked at the cities where these top 10 public high schools are located, which might include multiple school districts.)

However, living near most of these schools doesn’t guarantee a spot in them. Students will have to apply to be accepted into most of the schools on the list.

“Homebuyers are willing to give up home features like a garage, a large backyard, even a bedroom in order to get into a preferred school district,” says Hale. “There’s a price premium for top school districts.”

“Parents want what’s best for their kids, and they’re willing to sacrifice or pay extra to get it,” she says.

The best high schools, which are ranked on college readiness, state assessments, and graduation rates among other factors, span the country.

“The U.S. News’ Best High Schools rankings is a helpful starting point for parents who want to understand their school’s academic performance,” says a U.S. News & World Report spokesperson. “It’s up to families to make the decision on which different schools and systems fit their needs.”

So how much will it cost to live near one of these top schools?

1. BASIS Peoria

(Realtor.com)

City: Peoria, AZ Median home list price in March: $585,000

2. Signature School

City: Evansville, IN Median home list price: $189,900

3. Tesla STEM High School

City: Redmond, WA Median home list price: $1,349,950

4. Julia R. Masterman Secondary School

City: Philadelphia, PA Median home list price: $265,000

5. Payton College Preparatory High School

City: Chicago, IL Median home list price: $395,000

6. The School for the Talented and Gifted

City: Dallas, TX Median home list price: $460,000

7. Academic Magnet High School

City: North Charleston, SC Median home list price: $335,000

8. International Academy

City: Bloomfield Hills, MI Median home list price: $849,450

9. Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology

City: Lawrenceville, GA Median home list price: $429,900

10. Riverside Stem Academy

City: Riverside, CA Median home list price: $699,945

Clare Trapasso is the executive news editor of Realtor.com. She was previously a reporter for the Associated Press, the New York Daily News, and a Financial Times publication. She also taught journalism courses at several New York City colleges. Email [email protected].

Twitter Follow @claretrap

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Parents against introduction of non-DLP class in Melaka schools

Sunday, 28 Apr 2024

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School to reveal DLP appeal results on April 25

Over 2,500 schools in malaysia involved in dual language programme, parents question dlp selection criteria in school.

MELAKA: A group of parents are against the introduction of a non-Dual Language Programme (DLP) class in a dozen schools where the programme has been implemented here.

The group, comprising chairmen of the schools' parent-teacher associations (PTA), said this was an "unwarranted" move to introduce a non-DLP class in the affected schools.

The group, represented by Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin, said parents had voiced dissatisfaction after principals of the 12 schools received a circular from the state Education Department on March 19 to set up a non-DLP class at each school.

"There was no demand for non-DLP classes at any of these 12 schools but the circular was still issued about a week after the school session started.

"Furthermore, all the schools with ongoing DLP programmes have recorded targetted achievements in (the) Bahasa Melayu (subject)," he said during a press conference at a restaurant on Jalan Parameswara here on Sunday (April 28).

Mak also said there were no proper educational materials provided to these schools to conduct non-DLP classes.

"Many parents are not keen to send their kids to non-DLP classes. Hence, teachers would be forced to pick students to fill the classes," he said.

Mak said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek should provide a comprehensive explanation on why non-DLP classes are being introduced.

He said parent-teacher associations of affected schools will send a memorandum to the state Education Department on the issue in a bid to safeguard the interests of students.

"We will hold a peaceful demonstration at the Education Minister's office in Putrajaya as a last resort," he added.

In November 2023, the Education Minister directed participating schools to introduce at least one non-DLP class.

The minister said there were students in DLP schools who lacked basic proficiency in Malay and their mother tongue.

Tags / Keywords: Dual Language Programme , DLP , Parent-teacher Association , PTA , Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education , Magpie , Education Ministry , Bahasa Melayu

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April 22, 2024 - Protests at Columbia and other schools escalate

Matt Egan, Alicia Wallace and Chandelis Duster

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology says it is 'determining next steps'

From CNN's Jillian Sykes

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued a statement Monday regarding tents on its campus.

"MIT officials are aware of the tents, and are determining next steps with a focus on ensuring campus is physically safe and fully functioning. MIT Police were on scene throughout the night and will continue to be present."

Robert Kraft says he is willing to support The Kraft Center at the university

From CNN's Chandelis Duster

Robert Kraft, billionaire owner of the NFL’s New England Patriots and backer of Columbia University, on Monday said he is still willing to support The Kraft Center at the school that supports Jewish students, calling it “a haven of safety.”

Kraft, an alumnus of the university, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on “The Lead” that he loves the school and “we have to have accountability.”

“There are both professors and students within the university who say things that I think cross the line and there should be accountability. I believe in free speech. Say whatever you want but pay the consequences. And don't have your face covered. I don't think that should be allowed,” he said.  

“I can’t believe in New York City at Columbia University Jewish students are afraid to go to classes in the United States of America in 2024. It’s amazing to me and horrible,” Kraft also said.

Asked where he drew the line at Columbia University regarding both pro-Palestine and pro-Israel protests and what he finds objectionable, he said “there is a lack of education on the situation” happening in the Middle East. 

“I’m concerned about America and what’s going on in this country. And to keep it open and free for all people of all backgrounds to do as they wish,” he said.

Asked if he has confidence in Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik, he said he thinks she is “very well intentioned” and said “we have to look at what goes on with faculty.”

Columbia faculty stage walk-out in solidarity with students

From CNN's John Towfighi

Hundreds of people gathered on Low Plaza Monday afternoon as Columbia University faculty delivered speeches in support of the student protesters who were suspended and arrested Thursday.

Faculty who spoke denounced university president Minouche Shafik’s decision to authorize the New York Police Department to remove protesters from campus and demanded all legal and disciplinary charges be dismissed and expunged from students' records.

Faculty held signs that read, “Hands off our students,” and “End student suspensions now.” Some faculty donned their academic regalia and wore sashes that read, “We support students.”

Speeches were met with cheers and claps from the crowd, as well as chants for Shafik to resign.

Christopher Brown, a professor of history, said, “I’m here because I am so concerned about what is happening at this university, with where we are now and with where we are going. Thursday April 18, 2024, will be remembered as a shameful day in Columbia history.”

“The president’s decision to send riot police to pick up peaceful protesters on our campus was unprecedented, unjustified, disproportionate, divisive and dangerous,” Brown said.

US Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose daughter Isra Hirsi was among the protesters arrested Thursday , posted on X that while she’s glad to see faculty demonstrate in solidarity with students, she wants the protests to focus on Gaza.

"On Thursday, Columbia arrested and suspended its students who were peacefully protesting and have now ignited a nationwide Gaza Solidarity movement. This is more than the students hoped for and I am glad to see this type of solidarity. But to be clear, this about the genocide in Gaza and the attention has to remain on that," Omar wrote.

NYC Mayor condemns "vile" and "disgusting" rhetoric at college campuses

From CNN's Alicia Wallace

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Monday condemned “vile” and “disgusting” rhetoric being used at campuses such as Columbia University, where students are holding protests over the Israel-Hamas War.

Adams told CNN’s Jake Tapper that he supports First Amendment rights but said law enforcement officials are on the ready if any of that speech goes too far or if there’s an imminent threat to people or property.

"That is one of the fundamental rights we hold dear as Americans: The right to protest," Adams said on CNN's "The Lead." "What we have seen playing out on many of our college campuses, and particularly Columbia University, is hate. We’re seeing vile language being used."

Adams noted that he can feel the "duality of this moment" and how the events of the past six months are weighing heavily on Jewish and Palestinian New Yorkers. He added that the police escorts of Jewish students through campus were reminiscent of the Army soldiers who escorted nine Black students into a high school in Little Rock, Arkansas, nearly 67 years ago.

"There is no place for hate in this city," he said.

New York Police Department officers have a “large presence” surrounding Columbia but have remained off the campus grounds at the request of the school’s administration, NYPD deputy commissioners said earlier on Monday.

Adams told Tapper that the NYPD’s commissioner of legal matter is monitoring the protests for any speech that violates law. Additionally, police officers will take "appropriate action" and go on private property if there’s an "imminent threat."

Protesters gather at The New School in New York City

From CNN's Elisabeth Buchwald

Protesters have gathered at The New School, located near the Chelsea area of the New York City borough of Manhattan.

An encampment of four tents was set up in the lobby of the building that houses auditoriums, a cafeteria and a library. Roughly 75 students, and other people who have The New School IDs, gathered inside the building.

"Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not stop, we will not rest," was repeatedly chanted. 

Outside the building, protesters from the school, as well as outsiders, joined in chants from the sidewalk.

There is a stark difference between the inside and outside of Columbia University's campus

From CNN's Ramishah Maruf

There’s a stark difference between the inside of Columbia University's campus and the outside, where there are protesters gathered on the street. 

The encampment is only open to those affiliated with campus. Only those with a Columbia ID can enter the campus gates. Inside the encampment, programs include teach-ins, poetry readings and film screenings. Some students are quietly finishing assignments, while others are painting posters.

Elsewhere around campus, students are eating and completing assignments. Many students take graduation pictures at this time, and some are in graduation gowns walking down Broadway. Risers are set up for an upcoming commencement ceremony.

Other students are holding large American flags underneath Butler Library.

But the students can still hear the tension that is taking place yards away at the university gates. There is a gathering of pro-Palestinian protesters, who in the early afternoon were chanting “I believe that we will win” and “Long Live the Intifada.” There was a smaller group of pro-Israeli protesters, who chanted back “Down with Hamas” and “Victory to Israel.” A line of New York Police officers were monitoring the street.

What it's like inside the Columbia University encampment

The inside of the encampment is quiet – most of the noise comes from protestors outside the gates of Columbia University's campus, who are chanting “I believe that we will win” and “Long live the Intifada."

It was a sunny day on campus, and in one corner, students were painting posters. One person strummed a stringed instrument, and other students are reading books or on their laptops finishing assignments. Others have donated provisions, ranging from a table of snacks to hygiene products. There was also a pile of blankets.

“We’ve just been trying to keep students mobilized and keep pushing for divestment,” Dalia, a first-year student at Columbia College, told CNN. “We are a very mobilized student body and a very unified student body. Hundreds of people have been in and out of the encampment.”

CNN agreed not to publish her surname due to safety concerns.

She said the students at the campus “refuse to be complicit in the genocide, the apartheid, and the occupation of Palestine.”

There are strict community guidelines for the encampment. One rule says not to share names or details of anyone met in camp, and asking for permission before photographing or taking video.

The encampment is filled with dozens and dozens of tents, from students to neighboring Barnard College staff. Today’s encampment program included an Earth Day performance, poetry reading and a Dabka lesson, a traditional dance from the Arab region. Prior program events included dance performances from different cultures.

Democratic House members tour Columbia campus

Democratic Reps. Jared Moskowitz of Florida, Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, Dan Goldman of New York and Kathy Manning of North Carolina, who are all Jewish, spoke at a news conference Monday after touring Columbia University’s campus. 

"We saw it firsthand as we walked past the encampments on the university's main lawn full of protesters spewing incendiary antisemitic hate and vitriol. Many aren't even Columbia students I've been told. Their campaign of intimidation is sickening and shocking and as the White House said yesterday, ‘echoes the rhetoric of Hamas terrorists,'" Gottheimer said. 

He also criticized Columbia University leadership, saying, “toothless combinations from administrators aren't going to stop the anarchy we’re seeing.”

“The only way to do it is with deeds, not words,” Gottheimer said. “Colleges have a legal obligation under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to provide students, including Jews and Muslims, a school environment free from discrimination and harassment based on race color or national origin. Yet just feet from here, Jewish students are being verbally and even physically assaulted.”

Gottheimer continued, “To the administrators of Columbia and beyond, here are our demands: Stop the double talk and start acting now. Discipline harassers, restore civility on this campus, encourage peaceful constructive dialogue.”

He also gave a message for students: “While the leadership of Columbia may be failing you, we will not. We will do everything in our power to keep you safe and do everything in Washington we can to make sure that you feel welcome at this university or any university across the United States of America. And Columbia University, if they don't follow through, will pay the price.”

Goldman said he was "encouraged" the Columbia University president issued guidelines about additional security, calling it a "very important first step" and criticized what is happening on campus.

"That is unacceptable for a university, that is unacceptable for an academic institution. There is no question that everyone has a First Amendment right to speak out in this country and that must be preserved," Goldman said. "But a university and all universities have an obligation to maintain the safety and security of their students from all backgrounds."

Manning said university leadership should "do more to keep Jewish students safe and to re-establish an atmosphere in which all students can learn, study and participate safely in campus life."

"Columbia must also move forward with its promised efforts to teach its students and its faculty about the nature and history and dangers of antisemitism. It must ensure that Columbia professors are not encouraging and spreading antisemitism," Manning said.

"I call on the US Department of Education and the US Department of Justice to work with the White House to ensure that all universities take steps necessary to keep Jewish students and faculty safe. I also call on Congress to enact legislation to implement the steps outlined in the US national strategy to counter antisemitism, to address the scourge of antisemitism which is a threat to the foundations of our democracy," she said.

President Joe Biden condemns antisemitism on campus

From CNN's Kevin Liptak

President Joe Biden decried antisemitic protests around college campuses Monday and said his administration was working to combat anti-Jewish hatred.

"I condemn the antisemitic protests, that’s why I’ve set up a program to deal with that," Biden said when questioned about the events at Columbia University in New York.

"I also condemn those who don’t understand what’s going on with the Palestinians," he said, without expanding upon what he meant.

Biden was speaking after an Earth Day event in Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia.

When asked whether Columbia's president should resign, Biden appeared to mishear: "I didn’t know that. I'll have to find out more," he said.

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