Cette école a depuis acquis une réputation prestigieuse

Question

Here depuis serves as an adverb? Can I use the present l'indicatif to construct the sentence? Thanks.

Céline Pickard · Accepted Answer

Bonjour Blaise,
In French, you will be using "depuis + [duration/date]" with Le Présent as per the following pattern:
Présent + depuis + [duration/date]

Je parle depuis 45 minutes. = I've been speaking for 45 minutes.
Nous attendons depuis une heure. = We've been waiting for an hour.

https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/how-you-use-depuis-since-for-with-le-present-and-not-le-passe-compose-prepositions-of-time
However, in the sentence from the exercise, you cannot use Le Présent because the action (acquiring a reputation) started in the past and is still happening into the present. Using Le Présent would imply that the reputation is still being in the process of being acquired. Also, when you wish to express "someone/something] has since [done] [something]" in French, the expression must be "[quelqu'un/quelque chose] + avoir + depuis + [fait] [quelque chose]":

Marc a depuis réussi son examen. = Marc has since passed his exam.
Le criminel a depuis été relâché. = The criminal has since been released.

I hope this is helpful.
Bonne journée !