International Schools in Paris — The Attaché Desk

For information only. This guide is an editorial orientation resource. It does not constitute educational or admissions advice, and does not endorse any specific institution. School profiles, fees, and curricula change; always verify current information directly with each school and confirm your eligibility for any financial assistance through your mission or sending organisation.

Overview

Paris has one of the deepest international school markets in Europe, and the volume of choice is itself the first challenge. This guide sets out the curriculum families available, the established schools, what they cost, how admissions timing works, and the practical questions, including language, that matter most when shortlisting.

Paris as a school market

Paris has one of the deepest international school markets in Europe. The Île-de-France region hosts more than 60 schools offering foreign-system or bilingual programmes, from established IB campuses in the western suburbs to state lycées with international sections. For a diplomatic family expecting to stay two to four years and then move again, the choice of curriculum is the most consequential decision, more so than any individual school’s reputation.

Understanding the curricula

Five broad curriculum families are available in the Paris region. Each implies a different destination for qualifications and a different level of continuity if you move again.

International Baccalaureate (IB). Offered in three programmes: Primary Years (PYP, ages 3-12), Middle Years (MYP, 11-16), and Diploma (DP, 16-19). The IB Diploma is accepted by universities across the US, UK, Canada, Australia and increasingly across Europe. It is a strong choice for families expecting to move more than once who want a portable credential. The IB Organisation maintains a searchable directory of authorised schools.

British curriculum (IGCSE and A-Level). Follows the English National Curriculum, leading to International GCSEs and A-Levels. Suited primarily to families heading to UK universities. A-Level qualifications are well-regarded but their portability beyond the UK and Commonwealth is narrower than the IB.

American curriculum (US Diploma + Advanced Placement). Based on US standards from kindergarten to Grade 12, with SAT/ACT pathways and Advanced Placement courses for university credit. The natural choice for families on a rotation that will return to the United States.

Bilingual French-English. Independent schools delivering half the timetable in English and half in French, typically from Maternelle (age 3). Leads to the French Baccalauréat (with or without international option) or the IB Diploma. A good option for families planning a longer stay in France or with a particular interest in genuine French bilingualism.

French international sections (OIB). Some state lycées and a handful of private schools offer the Option Internationale du Baccalauréat, a bilingual French-international stream. Results are typically strong and fees are lower than independent international schools, but competition for places is high and the programme requires a solid level of French.

Established schools in the Paris region

The following schools are established names in the Paris international school market. Fees cited are from published 2026-27 schedules; confirm directly with each school before relying on these figures.

International School of Paris (ISP) 16th arrondissement. Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, Diploma) for ages 3-19. English is the main medium of instruction, with daily French and a second language from Grade 6. Accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), IB, and NEASC. The 16th location is central to the diplomatic residential cluster. isparis.edu

American School of Paris (ASP) Saint-Cloud (western suburbs). Kindergarten through Grade 12 on a five-hectare campus. Offers both the US curriculum with Advanced Placement and the IB Diploma. Around 760 students from over 63 nationalities. IB average score: 34.6 (2025), 100% pass rate. Tuition for 2026-27: EUR 25,000 (Early Childhood) to EUR 41,400 (Grades 9-12), plus a one-time capital assessment of EUR 12,200. asparis.fr

British School of Paris (BSP) Croissy-sur-Seine (western suburbs). England’s National Curriculum from Nursery through Year 13, leading to IGCSE and A-Levels. No IB route. 2025 results: 67% GCSE grades 9-7; 55% A-Level grades A or B. Fees 2026-27: EUR 20,684 (Nursery) to EUR 34,065 (Years 12-13), plus a EUR 8,000 non-refundable development fund on registration. The campus requires a car for most families, or the RER A and school bus. britishschoolofparis.fr

École Jeannine Manuel 15th arrondissement (and Lille). French-English bilingual from Maternelle, offering both the French Baccalauréat with international option (OIB) and the IB Diploma. Ranked first in France for IB results in 2025, with an average of 38.1 (global mean: 30.5). Selective admissions. jeanninemanuel.fr

Ermitage International School Maisons-Laffitte (20 minutes by RER A from Saint-Lazare). Full IB continuum for ages 3-18 on a park campus, around 1,500 students from 80 nationalities. IB average 34.0 (2025), ranked third in France. Fees are typically lower than the comparable Paris schools. ermitage.fr

ICS Paris (International Community School) 15th arrondissement. Full IB continuum (PYP, MYP, Diploma) and Edexcel IGCSE and A-Level pathways. Small urban campus; often cited for smooth onboarding of mid-year arrivals. icsparis.fr

Admissions timing

For most Paris international schools, the admissions window for September entry opens in October-December and closes by February-March. Demand is highest in years corresponding to IB Diploma entry (Year 12 / Grade 11) and certain primary year groups. Late applications are accepted but place availability is not guaranteed.

Documents typically required at application:

Last two years of school reports (with translation into English or French if required)
Reference from the current head teacher
Passport copies for the child
Up-to-date vaccination records
For secondary applicants: written samples in English and/or French
Proof of current or forthcoming posting (letter from mission or employer)

Schools typically run a family interview and a placement assessment, then issue a decision within two to three weeks. Accepting an offer usually requires a deposit to secure the place.

Fees: what to budget

Tuition fees for established Anglophone international schools in Paris run from approximately EUR 20,000 to EUR 41,000 per year depending on the school and year group. Add 8-15% for one-off enrolment fees, capital contributions, lunch, school bus, and examination entry fees.

State-funded bilingual sections in French public schools (lycées internationaux) carry no tuition but require a successful entrance examination and do not reserve places for diplomatic families outside the normal process.

Confirm whether your mission, sending government or international organisation provides any education allowance and which schools are included under that scheme before shortlisting.

Location and commute

School-practical zones for international families include the 7th and 15th arrondissements (close to ISP and ICS), Neuilly-sur-Seine and Levallois-Perret (bilingual cluster), and the western suburban corridor of Saint-Cloud, Marnes-la-Coquette and Vaucresson (for ASP). The Croissy-sur-Seine location of the British School of Paris works best for families based in the western suburbs.

Test the commute at peak hours before signing a lease.

French in the school system

The established Anglophone schools (ISP, ASP, BSP, Ermitage, ICS) accept children with no French at entry level and provide French as an additional language from the start; this is not a barrier to enrolment. The bilingual schools (École Jeannine Manuel and similar) and the French OIB sections are a different matter: a child entering at secondary level without an existing foundation in French will struggle to integrate into a programme that runs half or more of its timetable in the language. If your family has no French and is considering a bilingual or OIB option, factor in either additional language support before arrival or a delayed transition once the child has built up French through an Anglophone school first.

Official and reference sources

Last reviewed 25 June 2026.