Choosing a school is the number one decision for an expatriate family settling in Paris, and it is often the decision that structures all the others, including the property purchase. The neighbourhood, the budget, the type of apartment: everything flows from the school.
In fifteen years at Home Select, we have supported hundreds of international families through this sequence. Americans, British, Japanese, Brazilians, Indians: each community has its reference schools, its selection criteria, its parent networks. This guide maps out the international education offer in Paris to help you make an informed choice before you even begin looking for your apartment.
The education landscape: four options for expatriate families
Option 1: The major international schools
These are the establishments that follow an entirely English-language (or bilingual, English-dominant) programme: American, British or International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. Children can enter without speaking French and complete their entire schooling in English.
This is the preferred choice for families on short-term assignments (2-5 years) or those who want to guarantee educational continuity with their home country’s system.
Option 2: Bilingual private schools
French-medium establishments that incorporate significant English-language teaching, often 50/50 or 30/70 French-English. Children become bilingual while following the French programme (or a hybrid programme). Ideal for families settling long-term who want their children to master both languages.
Option 3: International sections in state schools
The Lycee International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye and several Parisian schools offer international sections (American, British, German, Japanese, etc.) within the French state system. Lessons are in French with dedicated hours in the section’s language. It is free, but highly selective.
Option 4: The standard French system
The French state school, quite simply. Free, of high quality, but demanding, and entirely in French. Realistic for children who already speak French or who arrive very young (nursery, first year of primary school).
The major international schools: establishment by establishment
American School of Paris (ASP)
Location: Saint-Cloud (92), not in Paris itself, but 15-20 minutes by car from the 16th arrondissement.
Programme: American curriculum from nursery to high school (PreK-Grade 12). Advanced Placement (AP) and American diploma. IB Diploma Programme option in the final year.
Language: teaching in English. Compulsory French lessons at all levels; students reach a good level of French by the end of their schooling.
Tuition fees: approximately 28,000 to 34,000 euros per year depending on the level. Initial enrolment fees around 5,000 euros.
Student body: approximately 800 students of 50 nationalities.
Admissions: applications accepted throughout the year, but places are limited. Admissions for September open in October-November of the preceding year. Application file, school reports, recommendation letters, interview.
Associated neighbourhoods: ASP families live mainly in the 16th arrondissement (Passy, Muette, Auteuil), in Neuilly-sur-Seine, in Saint-Cloud, in Boulogne-Billancourt, or in the western Hauts-de-Seine (Garches, Marnes-la-Coquette, Ville-d’Avray). The school bus service covers a wide area.
Best for: American or anglophone families on assignments of varying length, corporate executives who want an American curriculum recognised for a return to the United States or US university applications.
International School of Paris (ISP)
Location: 16th arrondissement (several campuses between Trocadero and Passy).
Programme: Full International Baccalaureate (IB): PYP (Primary Years), MYP (Middle Years) and DP (Diploma Programme). It is the only school in Paris offering the complete IB continuum.
Language: teaching in English. French as a Foreign Language programme for non-French speakers. French as a Mother Tongue programme for bilinguals.
Tuition fees: approximately 25,000 to 33,000 euros per year.
Student body: approximately 700 students of 70 nationalities, one of the most diverse schools in Paris.
Admissions: selective. Application file, school reports, recommendations, interview (in person or via video conference for overseas applicants). Nursery places are the most in demand.
Associated neighbourhoods: 16th arrondissement (immediate proximity), 7th arrondissement, Neuilly-sur-Seine. Many families of diplomats and international organisations.
Best for: international families who want a globally recognised curriculum (the IB is accepted by universities worldwide), families who do not yet know which country they will live in next.
British School of Paris (BSP)
Location: Croissy-sur-Seine (78), approximately 25 minutes west of Paris.
Programme: British curriculum (National Curriculum for England) from nursery through GCSE/A-Levels.
Language: teaching in English. Compulsory French lessons.
Tuition fees: approximately 18,000 to 28,000 euros per year.
Student body: approximately 600 students, majority British but increasingly international.
Associated neighbourhoods: BSP families live in the Yvelines (Le Vesinet, Chatou, Saint-Germain-en-Laye) or in the 16th-17th arrondissements of Paris. School bus service available.
Best for: British families, families planning a return to the UK or UK university applications.
Marymount International School
Location: Neuilly-sur-Seine (92).
Programme: American curriculum and IB Diploma Programme. Catholic school (but welcomes all faiths).
Language: teaching in English.
Tuition fees: approximately 25,000 to 30,000 euros per year.
Associated neighbourhoods: Neuilly-sur-Seine, Levallois-Perret, 16th and 17th arrondissements.
Best for: American and international families, often linked to NATO, the OECD or international organisations based in western Paris.
Lycee International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Location: Saint-Germain-en-Laye (78), 25 minutes on the RER A from Charles-de-Gaulle-Etoile.
Programme: French state system with 14 international sections (American, British, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, etc.). Students follow the French programme and sit the French baccalaureat with the Option Internationale (OIB), internationally recognised.
Language: teaching in French with 6 to 8 hours per week in the section language.
Tuition fees: free (state school). Only an annual contribution to the section association is required (a few hundred euros).
Student body: approximately 3,000 students, the largest international school in France.
Admissions: very selective. Language tests in the requested section plus French tests. Children must have a good level in both languages.
Associated neighbourhoods: Saint-Germain-en-Laye and surroundings (Le Pecq, Le Vesinet, Fourqueux, Mareil-Marly). Some families live in the 16th or 17th arrondissement and commute by RER.
Best for: bilingual families who want the best of both worlds: the rigorous French system and genuine international competence. An excellent choice for families settling in France long-term.
Jean Mascla’s advice: The Lycee International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is the best-kept secret of international education in France. Free, of exceptional academic standard, and with an alumni network that opens doors worldwide. The downside: you need to live in Saint-Germain or accept a daily commute. But Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a beautiful town, and property there is considerably more affordable than in Paris intra-muros.
Bilingual schools in Paris
For families who want to stay within Paris and prefer a bilingual education rather than a 100% English-language programme, several establishments stand out.
EIB (Ecole Internationale Bilingue), Globeducate Group
Several campuses in Paris: Etoile (17th), Monceau (8th), La Jonchere (Rueil-Malmaison), Grenelle (15th). French programme plus enhanced English teaching (30 to 50% of time in English depending on level). From nursery to high school. Fees: 8,000 to 15,000 euros/year.
EIB Etoile families live in the 16th, 17th and 8th arrondissements. It is the most popular bilingual school among international families based in western Paris.
Jeannine Manuel
One of the best secondary schools in France, quite simply. Two campuses: Paris 15th and Lille. French programme with a strong emphasis on bilingualism and international outlook. International section with OIB. Students are selected on their academic record; the academic standard is extremely high.
Fees: approximately 10,000 to 12,000 euros/year. Families live in the 15th, 7th, 6th and 14th arrondissements.
For families settling long-term who want their children to enter the best French and international universities, Jeannine Manuel is a first-rate choice.
Other notable bilingual schools
Ecole Active Bilingue (EAB): Several campuses in Paris (8th, 15th, 16th). French programme with English immersion. Nursery to middle school.
Bilingual Montessori schools: Several establishments in Paris (6th, 7th, 15th, 16th). Montessori programme in French and English. Mainly nursery and primary. Fees: 8,000 to 14,000 euros/year.
Ecole Bilingue Lamartine: 16th arrondissement. French programme with English-language teaching. Small, family-oriented school, much appreciated.
Beyond English: Japanese, German and other community schools
Paris also hosts international schools for other linguistic communities, often little known but excellent.
Ecole Japonaise de Paris (Saint-Cloud, 92): full Japanese programme, approximately 300 students. Japanese families live mainly in the 16th, in Neuilly and in Saint-Cloud. It is one of the best-organised communities: parent network, associations, Japanese shops (rue Sainte-Anne in the 1st-2nd).
Deutsche Schule Paris (Saint-Cloud, 92): German school, Abitur programme. German families are concentrated in the 16th and the western Hauts-de-Seine.
Lycee Espagnol Luis Bunuel (Neuilly-sur-Seine, 92): accredited Spanish programme, from nursery to high school.
International sections in Parisian state schools: beyond Saint-Germain-en-Laye, several Parisian secondary schools offer international sections, notably the College-Lycee Honore de Balzac (17th, British and German sections), the Lycee Camille See (15th, British section), and the College-Lycee Claude Monet (13th, Chinese section). These sections are state-run and free, but admissions are selective.
Nurseries and early years: start very early
For families with children under 3, the nursery question arises, and in Paris, it is an obstacle course, expatriate or not.
Municipal nurseries (free or near-free, fees calculated on income) have waiting lists of several months. Registration is done at the arrondissement city hall, ideally from the declaration of pregnancy. For an expatriate arriving in Paris with a baby, securing a place in a municipal nursery is extremely difficult.
Bilingual private nurseries offer an alternative: more places available, bilingual programme from the youngest age, but high fees (1,500 to 2,500 euros/month). Networks such as Les Petits Chaperons Rouges, People & Baby or Babilou offer French-English structures in several arrondissements.
Childminders (assistantes maternelles) and home nannies are also common options. The Pajemploi website administers the system. Many expatriate families opt for an English-speaking or bilingual nanny: expect 12 to 18 euros net per hour.
The impact on your property search
School choice redraws your property search map. Here are the most common configurations we see at Home Select.
ASP / BSP configuration: living in western Paris
If your children are at the American School (Saint-Cloud) or the British School (Croissy), your natural search area is the 16th arrondissement, Neuilly, Boulogne, Saint-Cloud, or the Yvelines (Le Vesinet, Chatou). The daily commute must stay under 30 minutes: that is the tolerance threshold for children and parents alike.
Indicative budget (4-bed, 80-100 sqm): 900,000 to 1,300,000 euros in the 16th; 700,000 to 1,000,000 euros in Neuilly or Boulogne; 500,000 to 800,000 euros in Saint-Cloud or the Yvelines.
ISP / EIB Etoile configuration: the 16th-17th-8th
ISP and EIB Etoile are in the 16th-17th. Families live within walking distance or a short metro ride. The 16th (Passy, Muette, Victor Hugo), the 17th (Ternes, Monceau) and the 8th (Monceau) are the natural neighbourhoods.
Indicative budget (4-bed, 80-100 sqm): 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 euros.
Jeannine Manuel configuration: the 15th and surroundings
The school is in the 15th, a stone’s throw from Tour Montparnasse. Families live in the 15th (Commerce, Grenelle), the 7th (Breteuil, Segur, more expensive), the 14th (Denfert, Montparnasse) or the 6th (Luxembourg, higher budget).
Indicative budget (4-bed, 80-100 sqm): 750,000 to 1,000,000 euros in the 15th; 1,000,000 to 1,400,000 euros in the 7th.
Lycee International configuration: Saint-Germain-en-Laye
The most radical choice: leaving Paris for a town with character. Saint-Germain-en-Laye offers significantly larger spaces: houses with gardens, bright spacious apartments, a charming historic town centre. The RER A puts central Paris 25 minutes away.
Indicative budget (4-bed/5-bed, 100-130 sqm or house): 500,000 to 900,000 euros.
Jean Mascla’s advice: Visit the school before buying the apartment. Make an appointment, meet the teaching team, attend an open day if possible. An apartment can be resold; a bad school experience for your children is harder to fix. And do not forget: admissions to international schools are selective and places are limited. Submit applications 6 to 12 months before your move.
Looking for an apartment near your children’s school? Tell us which school, what budget and what type of property: our 16 property hunters know the catchment area of every school by heart. Find your apartment near the school
Practical advice for admissions
Plan ahead. The best schools have waiting lists, especially for nursery and the first year of primary. Apply 6 to 12 months before the target start date, or even earlier for ASP and ISP.
Prepare a complete file. School reports from the past two years (translated into English or French depending on the school), recommendation letters from current teachers, application form, and often a language test.
Be flexible on the year group. Some schools offer to place a child in a year below their age group if the language level is insufficient. This is not a failure: it is an adaptation that produces better results in the medium term.
Visit in person if possible. Even though admissions are increasingly conducted remotely (video conference interview), an in-person visit always makes a better impression, and allows you to feel the atmosphere of the school.
Apply to several schools. Do not put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to two or three establishments to secure at least one place.
Key takeaways
The international education offer in Paris is rich but unevenly distributed geographically. The major international schools (ASP, ISP, BSP, Marymount) are concentrated in western Paris and the western inner suburbs. Bilingual schools (EIB, Jeannine Manuel, EAB) are better distributed within Paris intra-muros. The Lycee International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye is a state-sector option of excellence that deserves serious consideration.
School choice determines the neighbourhood. The neighbourhood determines the budget. The budget determines the type of property. It is this sequence, school, neighbourhood, budget, property, that we systematically follow with our expatriate families at Home Select. It is the method that produces the best results.
To complement this guide: our articles on the best neighbourhoods for expats and on the best arrondissement for families.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an international school cost in Paris?
Tuition fees vary considerably. Expect between 5,000 and 15,000 euros per year for bilingual private schools under contract. The major international schools (ASP, ISP, British School) charge between 20,000 and 35,000 euros per year. The Lycee International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a state school, is free (excluding ancillary fees). On top of tuition, there are often canteen fees (1,500-3,000 euros/year), extracurricular activities, supplies and school trips.
Should you choose the school before the neighbourhood when buying in Paris?
Yes, this is our strong recommendation for expatriate families. The school determines the neighbourhood, not the other way around. The daily school-to-home commute structures the entire family's life. Buying in the 11th when your children are at school in the 16th means imposing 45 minutes of transport morning and evening. At Home Select, we always start by identifying the school before targeting search neighbourhoods.
Can an expatriate family enrol in the French state school system?
Yes, and it is free. Every child residing in France has the right to enrol in their local state school. The French system is demanding but of high quality. The difficulty for expatriate children is the language barrier: without sufficient French, integration is challenging beyond the first year. UPE2A programmes (teaching units for newly arrived non-French-speaking students) exist in some schools to support the transition, but they are not available everywhere.
