If you’re planning a move to Paris, then one of the international schools in Paris, or one of those offering the same curriculum as your home country, may be the best choice for your children.
These could be ideal if your plans include an eventual return to the US or another English-speaking country. That way your child can re-enter school at home without losing credit.
Depending on your length of stay and how you feel about your child’s adaptability, you may, of course, wish to enter your child into the French education system.
Here, we’ll focus, though, on some of the popular international and bilingual schools Paris has to offer expatriates living in the French capital.
There’s a wide range of international and bilingual schools in Paris. Some of these run under the French system. Others combine the French and international systems. Others run under country-specific curriculums.
There are also international schools for German, Italian, Russian and Spanish students.
Buying an Apartment With Access to School
You’ll need to consider travel times for your children from your home and you may wish to choose to buy your new French home in an arrondissement (district) that is convenient for access to your preferred school.
Alternatively, look for an apartment on the same Metro or bus line as the school. Older children in Paris often ride the Metro or take a bus to school on their own.
International Schools in Paris
These tend to be either:
Monolingual schools which follow the home country syllabus and where teaching is entirely in English.
Bilingual schools that follow an adapted international curriculum based on either or both the French and English education systems and where teaching is in both English and French. These often offer the International Baccalaureate (IB).
The Paris-based organisation ELSA (English Language Schools Association of France) is a good resource for up-to-date information for anyone seeking schooling in English in France. They have produced a list of the full choice of ELSA member schools in Paris.
International Schools in Paris for the US Curriculum
The American School of Paris (ASP) was founded in 1946. This is a co-educational, independent school of more than 800 international students in Kindergarten through Grade 12. ASP offers the American High School Diploma, Advanced Placement and the International Baccalaureate. It’s based in Saint Cloud in the western suburbs of Paris. Address: 41 rue Pasteur, 92210 Saint-Cloud.
Marymount International School, Paris, is the oldest international school in the Paris region. An English-speaking international school, Marymount serves students from Pre-K to Eighth Grade and offers an internationally accredited US curriculum to students aged 3–14. It is located in a suburb adjacent to Paris. Address: 72 Boulevard de la Saussaye, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine.
The Lennen Bilingual School, Franco American School of Paris, accepts children from two years old to grade 5 or CM2. The school follows a bilingual dual language approach to teaching in French and English. Address: 176 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris.
Notre Dame International High School, Paris, provides bilingual, college preparatory education to students from around the world. It offers an American-styled high school curriculum taught in English to students in Grades 9-12, which leads to an American high school diploma. It is in a Parisian suburb. Address: 106 Grande Rue, 78480 Verneuil-sur-Seine.
American Section of Lycee International de St. Germain-en-Laye is a private American program within the French public system for students in pre-K right through to 12th grade. It offers a combined American and French curriculum in one of France’s top public schools, Lycée International. All students follow the French national curriculum for 80% of the time and spend the other 20% in their national section. Special French immersion classes, Français Spécial, allow non-French speakers to integrate the Lycée, up to and including 10th grade. It is located in one of the western suburbs. Address: 2 bis rue du Fer à Cheval 78100 St. Germain-en-Laye .
International Schools in Paris with an International Curriculum
The International School of Paris is a co-ed elementary and secondary day school. The language of instruction is English but all children receive lessons in French language, history and culture. The school curriculum leads towards the Cambridge University IGCSE exams. All students take courses leading to the International Baccalaureate. Most of the students here have parents working for international organizations – UNESCO, OECD, embassies or multinational companies. It’s based in the 16th arrondissement. Address: 6 rue Beethoven, 756016 Paris.
École Jeannine Manuel is an elite private day school in central Paris known for its rigorous bilingual (French and English) curriculum. It takes children from pre-K through to 18. Classes are in both English and French. An associated UNESCO school, École Jeannine Manuel is also part of the French national education system. The high school prepares students for the French Baccalaureate, the French Baccalaureate with Option Internationale, or the International Baccalaureate. Notable parents include former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, actress Sophia Loren and singers Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin. Address: 70, rue du Théâtre, 75015 Paris.
Lycée International Honoré de Balzac is the only free international state school in central Paris and specializes in helping non-French speakers enter the French public school system. It offers classes from 6th grade to 12th grade and has over 2,000 students with half in international sections. Students follow the standard French curriculum plus classes in their own language. This public school offers five international sections: British, Spanish, German, Arabic, Portuguese and Italian. Address: 118 boulevard Bessières, 75017 Paris.
International Schools in Paris for the British Curriculum
The British School in Paris offers an academic program based on the National Curriculum for England and Wales for students aged 3 to 18. This was the first school in France, from 2012, to issue all pupils from Reception Year to university-bound Year 13 with iPad digital tablets. It is located in a suburb of Paris. Address: 38 quai de l’Escluse, 78290 Croissy-sur-Seine.
Kingsworth International School offers an internationally-recognized program for children aged 11 to 18. The school delivers a wide range of subjects appropriate to any International school, including all the core subjects from Year 7, 8 and 9 (Key Stage 3 of the British curriculum) and a varied choice at International GCSE and International A Level. Address: 56 Rue de Passy, 75016 Paris.
British Section of Lycée International de St. Germain-en-Laye The lycée ranks among France’s top public schools and is considered to be the country’s best public international school. The curriculum is divided between French staff, teaching subjects to French national standards, and foreign teachers – employed in one of the system’s 12 national sections. (See further details on the American section above). The British Section educates children from age three to 18. With over 800 pupils on roll on the Lycée International site and in the partner schools, it is the largest of the national sections. Children who speak little or no French benefit from an intensive course in French. The programme leads to IGCSE exams and the International Option of the French Baccalaureate. Address: 2bis, Rue du Fer-à-Cheval, 78105 Saint-Germain-en-Laye.
Although students are mostly accepted to schools throughout the year, you’re strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to have the best chance to obtain the school of your choice. For some schools, the application process starts as early as January for the school year start in September.
56Paris Property Management and its extensive network of relocation professionals are happy to make applying for the school of your choice a straightforward and hassle-free process. For more information, please contact us.