Paris has the largest concentration of bilingual schools in continental Europe, and the variety can be confusing for newly arrived families. "Bilingual" in the French education system covers everything from a few extra hours of English in a state school, to a fully half-and-half French-English curriculum, to elite OIB sections in French lycées that lead to a Baccalauréat International option recognised by universities worldwide. This 2026 guide unpacks the options for bilingual schools in Paris and explains which path suits which kind of expat family.
Four bilingual models in Paris
The bilingual landscape sits in four layers. At the top, private bilingual schools (Ecole Jeannine Manuel, Bilingual International School of Paris, Lennen Bilingual School, EaB Paris) teach half the curriculum in English and half in French from age 3. Second, the state-funded sections internationales (about 50 Parisian lycées) integrate four to six hours of English-language history, literature and geography into the standard French curriculum. Third, OIB (Option Internationale du Baccalauréat) prepares for the dual French-English baccalaureate in the final three years. Fourth, fully English-medium international schools (ICS Paris, American School of Paris) where French is taught as a foreign language.
What "bilingual" actually delivers
A common surprise for expat families is that not all bilingual schools produce fully bilingual children. Schools that allocate 60-70 percent of instruction to the dominant language and 30-40 percent to the secondary language produce strong receptive bilinguals but only moderate active bilingualism. To produce full active bilingualism, the school needs at least 40 percent of teaching in each language from before age 7, with native-speaker teachers in both languages and consistent exposure outside school.
Top bilingual schools in Paris
Ecole Jeannine Manuel
Ecole Jeannine Manuel is the gold standard of bilingual French education in Paris. Founded in 1954, it teaches the French national curriculum bilingually and prepares students for the OIB. About half of graduates go to selective universities outside France. View school profile.
Bilingual International School of Paris (BISP)
BISP runs a fully bilingual programme from Petite Section to CM2 with strong attention to the cognitive science of language acquisition. View school profile.
Lennen Bilingual School
Lennen is a long-established bilingual primary school with two campuses in central Paris. Strong continuity through to the lycée network. View school profile.
ICS Paris
ICS Paris runs an IB continuum (PYP, MYP and Diploma) in English with French taught as a foreign language at all levels. Best fit for families on assignment who want full English-medium without losing French. View school profile.
American School of Paris (ASP)
ASP is a fully accredited American international school in Saint-Cloud, running PK through Grade 12 with the IB Diploma and AP options. French is mandatory and bilingual children can take advanced French. View school profile.
The OIB pathway in lycées
The OIB (Option Internationale du Baccalauréat) is a state-recognised bilingual programme delivered inside ordinary French lycées. Students take all the standard baccalauréat subjects in French, plus four to six hours per week of English literature and history-geography taught in English to British or American curriculum standards. The full diploma is the French Baccalauréat with OIB mention, which is well recognised by UK, US, Canadian and Australian universities. The OIB is much cheaper than private bilingual schools (tuition is free in state lycées) and arguably the strongest academic option for families who can navigate the French entry system.
Fees and costs in 2026
Private bilingual schools in Paris charge EUR 9,000 to EUR 18,000 per year, with the most established institutions at the top end. State lycée OIB sections are free of tuition (small parental contribution under EUR 400). Fully international English-medium schools sit in the EUR 18,000 to EUR 32,000 range, with ASP at the top. Beyond tuition, families should budget for the cantine (EUR 6 to EUR 9 per meal in private schools), books and supplies (EUR 200 to EUR 500), and the gouter and periscolaire extras.
Admissions: the rentrée calendar
Most private bilingual schools open applications in October-November for the following September. Assessments take place January-March; offers go out April-May. Section internationale and OIB applications follow the same calendar but require strong French-language proficiency at entry. Mid-year transfers are possible at the international schools but exceptional at private bilingual schools.
To compare every bilingual and international school in France with fees and parent reviews, see our 2026 ranking of the best schools in France.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the OIB recognised internationally
Yes. The OIB is the French Baccalauréat with an International Option and is well recognised by UK, US, Canadian and Australian universities, often considered alongside the IB Diploma in admissions evaluations.
Can my non-French-speaking child enter a bilingual school
It depends on the model. Private bilingual schools that teach half in English admit children with no prior French, especially in early years. Section internationale lycées require strong existing French.
What is the difference between bilingual and international
Bilingual schools deliver the French curriculum half in English, producing bilingual graduates who hold the OIB or French baccalauréat. International schools teach in English (or another foreign language) and lead to non-French qualifications (IB Diploma, A Levels, US high school diploma).