LAFAYETTE, La. — The Pre-K French Immersion Program at Myrtle Place Elementary School will remain open for the 2025-2026 school year, following community advocacy and parental support after initial plans for its closure.
Earlier this year, the Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) announced a district-wide restructuring that included closing several schools and programs. Among those slated for discontinuation was Myrtle Place’s popular Pre-K French Immersion Program, sparking concern among parents and community members.
“We are just so excited that it is available for the public,” said Blair Broussard, a parent with one child currently enrolled in the program and plans to register two more children in the coming years.
Despite a late announcement regarding enrollment, the program still has openings. Broussard reported that 7 to 10 spots remain available in the 40-seat program. “That’s very encouraging, and hopefully, we can develop a waitlist. That would mean we have so much demand we could open up another section,” she said.
Concerns were raised earlier this year about how the timing of the announcement might impact parents’ ability to plan for their children’s education in the fall. Some families chose private schools, which require registration fees upfront, unlike the LPSS program.
The Pre-K French Immersion Program charges a monthly tuition of $603, which includes all school supplies. “The contract runs from September to May, and all of the school’s supplies are included in the monthly tuition, so parents of Pre-K students do not have to pay for school supplies,” Broussard explained.
LPSS officials noted that applications for the program opened at the end of April. “Seats are limited, and applications are processed in the order received, completed, and eligible. The program will operate as Tuition Only, and Pathway Priority will not be guaranteed for Kindergarten at Myrtle Place for the 2026-27 school year,” the district stated.
Although the timing led to the loss of some students to competing programs, Broussard remains optimistic. “Those parents who truly understand how wonderful a world language immersion education is, specifically at Myrtle Place—those parents didn’t even hesitate and came back,” she said.
Parents interested in enrolling their children can find more information through the school district’s official channels.