“We are not a pure language school,” said Olivier Guilhem, founder of Gustave Eiffel Academy. “We use language as a tool to support a well-rounded education.“

The new school, based in the Disston Heights neighborhood, immerses students in the French curriculum daily, but also teaches Florida standards and the Spanish language. Through their intentionally-crafted curriculum, Eiffel Academy hopes to “nurture global citizens who move easily between langues et culture. 

“We want children to not only speak, but think in multiple languages,” Guilhem said. “It allows them to embrace their native language while developing awareness and understanding for other languages and cultures. In the process, they develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills and the other foundational areas of education.”

Guilhem and his wife, Magali, founded the international school in the fall of 2023, because there were no other French immersion middle schools like it in the Tampa Bay Area. The pair have 45 years of combined experience working for the French Ministry of Education in AEFE Schools around the world. While they have taught and developed schools in five different countries, they always dreamt of opening their own school. 

“Through our work, we gained valuable cultural experiences,” said Guilhem. “We shaped our vision of what education should be for the future citizens of our world. We decided to bring this vision to life—a project we had been building for years. Our goal is to educate the next generation of global citizens, equipping them with the skills and mindset to positively shape a rapidly evolving, interconnected world.“ 

Although they started with a handful of students, in 2024, Eiffel Academy tripled their enrollment when they added elementary school grades 1 - 5. Families are particularly drawn to the school’s implementation of a curriculum that maintains traditional French standards but also keeps their students aligned with Florida educational requirements. International students also benefit from a guided transition into the U.S. education system. 

Eiffel Academy’s aim is to give parents options. Students can choose to continue their education through middle school, eventually taking their brevet diploma, or they can easily return to the American system fluent ih a new language.

“Finding a school with language immersion was the main goal for our kids' education, said Tara Deubel, a parent at Eiffel Academy. “But we also wanted to ensure that they are on track in other subjects and can smoothly transition to an American school afterward. Eiffel Academy provides a great balance. With small classes, music and arts, and creative and caring teachers, it has everything we were looking for!”