Paris is one of the most rewarding postings in Europe for international families, but the school decision is rarely simple. The city offers full English-medium international schools, bilingual French-English programmes, the official French baccalaureate, and several niche options that combine three languages. The right choice depends on how long you plan to stay, the languages spoken at home, and where you live in or around the périphérique. This 2026 guide walks through the main options and how to choose with confidence.
Curricula available in and around Paris
Most expat families in Paris choose between four broad pathways. The IB Diploma, offered by several international schools, is the most internationally portable choice and lines up well with universities anywhere in Europe and beyond. The British curriculum leading to IGCSE and A-Levels is offered at a smaller number of schools and suits families heading back to the UK. The American programme, with Advanced Placement and a US high school diploma, attracts families from North America. The French baccalaureate, taught in French with a stronger English option in selected schools, becomes interesting for families staying long term.
Several schools also offer the French sections internationales programme inside the public system. This is a high-quality, low-cost option for families who already speak French and are willing to commit to a French-medium experience with reinforced English.
Top international schools in Paris
ICS Paris
ICS Paris sits in the 7th arrondissement, close to the Eiffel Tower, and delivers the full IB continuum from PYP through MYP and the Diploma. Class sizes are small and the school is known for a strong personalised learning approach. ICS Paris is a strong choice for families who want a true IB pathway in central Paris rather than the suburbs.
American School of Paris
Founded in 1946 and based in Saint-Cloud just west of Paris, the American School of Paris offers a US curriculum with Advanced Placement courses and the IB Diploma in the senior years. The campus is large by Paris standards, with strong sports facilities, and the school works particularly well for families on a US-anchored career track.
École Jeannine Manuel
École Jeannine Manuel is one of the most respected bilingual schools in Europe, offering a genuinely fifty-fifty French-English programme that leads to the French baccalaureate or the IB Diploma. The school is academically demanding and admissions are competitive, but for families who want their children to come out of Paris truly bilingual, it is hard to beat.
Lab School Paris
Lab School Paris is a smaller, project-based bilingual school in the 11th arrondissement. It runs a mixed-age, Reggio-inspired primary programme with a clear focus on inquiry, creativity and personalised learning. It suits families looking for an alternative pedagogy without leaving the bilingual French-English world.
Fees and what to budget
Paris fees vary much more than Dubai or Singapore because some schools sit inside the French private contracted system and others are fully private and international. As a 2026 reference, expect annual tuition of EUR 8,000 to 12,000 for sections internationales inside the French system, EUR 14,000 to 22,000 for bilingual private schools such as École Jeannine Manuel, and EUR 25,000 to 38,000 for fully international schools such as ICS Paris and the American School of Paris.
On top of tuition, plan for an application or assessment fee of around EUR 200 to 500, an enrolment fee at private schools, lunches, after-school activities, transport if you choose a school in the suburbs, and trips. The French sections internationales option is by far the most affordable but admissions are tight and rely on a French language assessment.
Where to live to make the school work
Location matters in Paris because of the strong link between transport and school choice. ICS Paris and the central international schools work well from the 6th, 7th, 8th and 16th arrondissements. The American School of Paris in Saint-Cloud and the British School of Paris in Croissy-sur-Seine are easier to reach from the western suburbs of Neuilly, Boulogne and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. École Jeannine Manuel is well placed for families in the 15th, 16th and 7th arrondissements.
If both parents work in central Paris, an international school near La Défense or in central Paris is usually a better fit than one in a more distant suburb. If you have a posting that allows working from home, a leafy western suburb close to a forested park can be a strong family choice.
Practical tips for the application process
Start the conversation early. The most competitive schools in Paris open applications in October or November for the following September, and waiting lists for popular year groups are long. Aim to submit your application by January or February if you want a real chance at a first-choice school for the August intake.
Visit on a normal school day. Open days are useful for the brochure tour, but a regular weekday visit gives a much better feel for class sizes, energy in the corridors, and how the language pathway actually works. Ask to sit in on a French or English language lesson and to meet the head of year.
Plan around the language pathway. Many bilingual schools require a working level of French for direct entry above Year 5 or Year 6. If your child is older and arriving with no French, an international school with structured French as a Foreign Language is usually the better starting point, with a possible move into a bilingual programme after a year or two.
Compare the full Paris market
To benchmark fees, curricula and reviews across the wider French market, browse the directory at International School Advisor: Best Schools in France. The 2026 listing groups schools by curriculum and shows which are bilingual, which are fully international, and which sit inside the French contracted system.
Frequently asked questions
Do international schools in Paris teach in English?
The fully international schools deliver the bulk of teaching in English, with structured French as a second language. Bilingual schools split teaching roughly equally between English and French. Sections internationales inside the French public system teach mainly in French with reinforced English.
Is the French baccalaureate respected outside France?
Yes. The French baccalaureate is recognised by universities across Europe, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada. The IB Diploma still tends to be the more universally recognised option for highly mobile families.
How competitive is admission to the top international schools in Paris?
Very competitive at popular entry points such as Year 1, Year 7 and Year 12. Less popular years often have availability throughout the year. Apply early, expect an assessment, and have a backup school in mind.