Quick answer: Are there bilingual schools in Tunis? Yes, but in different forms. American Cooperative School of Tunis and English International School of Tunis teach in English with French or Arabic as subjects, while René Descartes Ennasr and International School of Carthage follow the French programme. Fees run roughly TND 8,000 to 90,000 a year, with some schools billing in foreign currency.
Last reviewed: October 2026 by Emma from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Tunisia is already a multilingual country. Arabic is the official language, Tunisian Arabic is what you hear in the street, and French is widely used in administration and business. English has grown quickly among younger Tunisians. That makes the search for bilingual schools in Tunis a little different from many other cities: the question is rarely whether a school teaches more than one language, but which language carries the main teaching, and how seriously the others are taken.
In this guide we explain what "bilingual" really means on the ground in Tunis, which types of school you will meet, how to judge a language programme when you visit, and five schools with very different language models. We are honest where it matters: true 50/50 English and French schools are scarce, so most families choose a school with one main language and strong support in a second.
Tunis for expat families: where the schools are
Expatriate families come to Tunis for diplomatic postings, development agencies, international organisations, offshore services and North African regional roles. Most settle in the northern suburbs that stretch from the Lac area towards the coast. La Marsa, Gammarth and Sidi Bou Saïd are popular for their sea air and cafés, Carthage offers quieter residential streets near the archaeological sites, and Les Berges du Lac has modern flats and offices close to the city centre.
The main school clusters follow the same pattern. La Marsa and Gammarth hold several English-medium schools, Carthage and Ain Zaghouan host large French-programme campuses, and La Soukra, Ariana, Ennasr and the Charguia business district to the north and north-west of the city have both British and French options. L'Aouina, between the Lac and the airport, sits roughly in the middle. Distances are modest, often 5 to 15 km, but the La Marsa road and the routes around the Lac slow down sharply at school run times. Living within 20 minutes of school is a realistic goal if you choose housing after you choose the school.
What "bilingual" means in Tunis
In practice, you will find three models. Knowing which one you want saves a lot of time:
- English-medium international schools with French and Arabic programmes: English is the language of instruction, with French and Arabic taught as subjects, sometimes at several levels. American Cooperative School of Tunis, English International School of Tunis and British International School of Tunis follow this model.
- French-programme schools with strong English and Arabic: French is the main language and the school follows the French national curriculum, with reinforced English and an Arabic section or Arabic classes. René Descartes Ennasr and International School of Carthage belong here.
- Schools listing several teaching languages: CIS International School of Tunis lists English, Arabic and French as instructional languages and aligns its curriculum with Cambridge Primary and Secondary. Ask exactly how teaching time is split by subject and by age.
Tunisian state schools teach mainly in Arabic in the early years, with French becoming more prominent for maths and sciences later on. They are rarely a practical route for newly arrived children who speak neither language.
Five schools and their language models
American Cooperative School of Tunis
American Cooperative School of Tunis (ACST) has served international and Tunisian students for 60 years from its campus in the Cité Taieb M'hiri area of L'Aouina. It is accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges and authorised to offer the IB Diploma Programme. Teaching is in English, staffed by international and Tunisian teachers, and the school lists an educational psychologist among its support services. Tip: ACST suits families who want an English-medium American education with a clear route to the IB Diploma, so ask how French and Arabic are offered at each grade level and whether beginners and native speakers are taught in separate groups.
Groupe Scolaire René Descartes (Ennasr)
René Descartes Ennasr, in the Ennasr district of Ariana, is part of the René Descartes Group founded in 1994 and is accredited by the AEFE from Petite Section to Terminale. French is the main language of instruction, English is reinforced from CP to CM2 through the PARLE programme, and an Arabic International Section runs from CP to 3ème. German and Spanish are available as further languages in secondary. Tip: this is the closest thing in Tunis to a structured French and Arabic bilingual pathway, which makes it a strong fit for French-speaking or Arabic-speaking families who plan to stay several years.
English International School of Tunis
English International School of Tunis (EIST) opened in September 2021 on the Gammarth road in La Marsa, in a refurbished building of around 10,000 m². It follows the British curriculum from Nursery (age 3) through EYFS, Cambridge Primary and Cambridge Lower Secondary to IGCSE in Year 11, with English as the language of instruction and dedicated language teaching rooms. It belongs to the René Descartes Group. Tip: because it currently runs to age 16, families with teenagers should ask about routes for the final two years before enrolling.
CIS International School of Tunis
CIS International School of Tunis (CIST) is based on Rue des Usines in Charguia 1 and aligns its curriculum with Cambridge Primary and Secondary. Its profile lists English, Arabic and French as instructional languages, and it describes lessons planned around individual needs and learning styles. Tip: ask for a sample weekly timetable for your child's age so you can see how many hours are taught in each language, since that is the real test of a trilingual claim.
International School of Carthage
International School of Carthage (ISC), in Les Jardins de Carthage at Ain Zaghouan, is a private school partnered with the AEFE network that follows the official French national programmes from Petite Section to Terminale. It has over 2,500 students and lists French and English among its teaching languages, with linguistic plurality part of its school project. Tip: its size means a wide range of options, but children with little French will need intensive support at first, so ask what help is available in the first year.
Fees and currency
The Tunisian dinar (TND) is a non-convertible currency that cannot legally be taken in or out of Tunisia, so international schools often bill expatriate families in foreign currency or require transfers through local accounts. Profiles do not publish fees, so treat the ranges below as indicative:
- French-programme schools: roughly TND 8,000 to 20,000 a year (about EUR 2,300 to 5,900), with higher rates at some schools for non-Tunisian families.
- British and Cambridge schools: roughly TND 15,000 to 40,000 a year (about EUR 4,400 to 11,800), rising with age.
- American and IB Diploma programme: roughly TND 45,000 to 90,000 a year (about USD 15,000 to 30,000), often invoiced in US dollars or euros.
Common extras include:
- Registration or application fee: usually one-off and non-refundable.
- Enrolment deposit or capital fee: charged at some English-medium schools on first entry.
- Transport: bus services across the northern suburbs, priced by zone.
- Meals and after-school clubs: René Descartes Ennasr, for example, lists catering, transport, after-school workshops and a daycare service.
- Uniforms, books and devices.
- Exam fees: IGCSE, IB Diploma or French Baccalauréat registration in the final years.
How to judge a bilingual programme in Tunis
Ask for hours, not labels. A school that says it is bilingual should be able to tell you how many hours a week are taught in each language at your child's age, and which subjects are taught in which language. If maths and science are always in one language, the second language is a subject, not a medium of instruction. Both can work well, but they lead to different outcomes.
Match the language to your exit plan. Families heading next to an English-speaking system or to universities in the UK or North America usually do best with an English-medium school and French or Arabic as a strong second language. Families who expect to move to France, Belgium or another AEFE school abroad gain from the French programme's continuity, since an AEFE-accredited school follows the same curriculum as schools in France.
Check support for newcomers. Ask what happens in the first term for a child who arrives with no French, no Arabic or limited English. Good schools describe a specific plan: small group lessons, a buddy system and regular progress checks. Also ask how Arabic is taught to non-native speakers, since some schools separate heritage speakers from beginners and others do not.
Compare schools in Tunis
To see how these and other schools compare on curriculum, languages and location, look at our ranking of the best international schools in Tunis and visit at least two schools with different language models before you decide.
More guides to schools in Tunis
Frequently asked questions
Is there an English and French bilingual school in Tunis?
True 50/50 English and French schools are scarce in Tunis. Most families choose an English-medium school with French as a subject, or a French-programme school with reinforced English. René Descartes Ennasr, for instance, strengthens English from CP to CM2 through its PARLE programme and runs an Arabic International Section from CP to 3ème.
Do international schools in Tunis teach Arabic?
Most do, though the depth varies. French-programme schools usually include Arabic, and René Descartes Ennasr offers an Arabic International Section. CIS International School of Tunis lists Arabic as a teaching language alongside English and French. English-medium schools tend to offer Arabic as a subject, so ask whether beginners and native speakers are taught separately.
Can my child join a French school in Tunis without speaking French?
It is possible at a young age, but harder later. In nursery and the first primary years, many children pick up French within a year with support. From around age eight, AEFE schools such as International School of Carthage may expect a working level of French, so ask about intensive classes or consider an English-medium school first.