Quick answer: How do you choose an international school in Tunis? Decide on the curriculum first (American with IB Diploma, British Cambridge or French AEFE), then on the suburb you will live in. The American Cooperative School of Tunis in Laouina, the English International School of Tunis in La Marsa and French schools in Carthage and Ariana are the main options, at roughly 10,000 to 90,000 dinars (TND) a year.
Last reviewed: October 2026 by David from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.
Tunis gives international families something many capitals of its size do not: a genuine choice of systems. Within a 25-minute drive you can find an American school with the IB Diploma, British schools following Cambridge programmes, large French schools linked to the AEFE network and smaller English-medium projects. That variety is the reason choosing an international school in Tunis takes some thought. The wrong match is rarely a bad school; it is usually a good school in the wrong system or the wrong suburb.
This guide sets out a decision framework for the city, then profiles five schools across different curricula and districts: La Goulette and Laouina, La Marsa, Carthage, Ariana and central Tunis. If you already know where you are heading, our fees and bilingual guides for Tunis cover budgets and language programmes in more detail.
Tunis for families: where people live and how the school run works
Families come to Tunis for diplomatic and development postings, regional offices of international companies, engineering and energy projects, and increasingly for remote work in a Mediterranean city with a lower cost of living than southern Europe. A sizeable group are Tunisian families returning from France, Canada or the Gulf who want their children to keep an international route open.
Geography explains a lot. Central Tunis sits on the western shore of the Lake of Tunis, with the medina and the downtown grid around Avenue Habib Bourguiba. To the north east, across the lake, lie La Goulette, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, La Marsa and Gammarth. The archaeological site of Carthage has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979; the TGM light railway links central Tunis with La Goulette, Carthage and La Marsa, the northern suburbs where many expat families live. North of the city, Ariana, Ennasr and La Soukra form a newer residential belt with larger villas and growing traffic, while Les Berges du Lac offers modern apartments and offices close to the lake.
Commutes are manageable if you live near the school and frustrating if you do not. The coastal road between La Goulette and La Marsa is quick outside peak times, but the routes linking the northern suburbs with Ariana and La Soukra can clog in the morning. As a rule, choose the school first, then rent within 15 minutes of it.
Curricula available in Tunis
- American with IB Diploma: the American Cooperative School of Tunis runs an American programme to Grade 10, then the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11 and 12, and is accredited by the Middle States Association.
- British and Cambridge: the English International School of Tunis follows the British National Curriculum from EYFS through Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary to IGCSE. The British International School of Tunis in La Soukra uses the UK National Curriculum for ages 3 to 19, and CIS International School of Tunis and International Maarif Schools follow Cambridge programmes.
- French national programme: Groupe Scolaire René Descartes in Ennasr is accredited (homologué) by the AEFE from Petite Section to Terminale, and the International School of Carthage is an AEFE partner school following French National Education programmes.
- Classical English-based education: Carthage Classical Academy offers a classical English-based model with an emphasis on French and Arabic.
Five schools to shortlist, area by area
American Cooperative School of Tunis (La Goulette, Laouina)
ACST has served international and Tunisian students for around 60 years from its campus in Cité Taieb M'hiri, Laouina. It is organised into an Elementary School, starting with a play-based preschool for 3 and 4 year olds (PK1 and PK2, with a half-day option for PK1), and a Secondary School with Middle School (Grades 6 to 8) and High School (Grades 9 to 12). English is the language of instruction, with EAL support for students whose home language is different, and Arabic, French and German are on the language list.
Who it fits: families who move every few years between American or IB schools, and teenagers who need a recognised diploma for universities in North America, the UK or Europe. Note that elementary placement is based on age on 1 September, which can move a child up or down a year compared with a British or French school.
English International School of Tunis (La Marsa)
EIST opened in September 2021 on the Gammarth road in La Marsa, in a fully refurbished building of around 10,000 m². It takes children from Nursery (age 3) to Year 11 (age 16), moving from EYFS through Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary to IGCSE, with a science laboratory, library, art and music rooms and a sports hall. It belongs to the René Descartes Group.
Who it fits: British and Commonwealth families living in La Marsa, Gammarth or Sidi Bou Said. The school currently stops at Year 11, so families with a 15 year old should plan now for A levels or an IB Diploma elsewhere.
International School of Carthage (Carthage, Ain Zaghouan)
ISC is a private AEFE partner school following French National Education programmes from Petite Section to Terminale. Its profile reports more than 2,500 students, and it lists French and English as languages of instruction. The campus is at Les Jardins de Carthage in Ain Zaghouan, on the inland side of the northern suburbs.
Who it fits: francophone families and Tunisian families heading for French higher education. With a school of this size, ask how classes are grouped and how new arrivals from non-French systems are supported with French.
Groupe Scolaire René Descartes (Ennasr, Ariana)
René Descartes Ennasr is part of a group founded in 1994 and is AEFE accredited from Petite Section to Terminale. French is the main language of instruction, English is reinforced from primary through the PARLE programme, an Arabic International Section runs from CP to 3ème, and German and Spanish are offered in secondary. Catering and school transport are available.
Who it fits: families living in Ariana, Ennasr or La Soukra who want the French Baccalauréat with strong Arabic. The school bus matters here, because the drive from the coastal suburbs can be slow at peak times.
Carthage Classical Academy (central Tunis)
CCA grew out of a group of parents who met in May 2013 wanting a classical English-based education with an emphasis on French and Arabic. They formed a Tunisian association with expatriate founders, and the Ministry of Education approved the academy as an international primary school in August 2015. It sits on Avenue Tahar Ben Achour in the city.
Who it fits: primary-age children in families living in the city rather than the coast, and parents drawn to a classical approach in a smaller, parent-founded community. Ask which stages run this year and where pupils go next.
Fees in Tunisian dinars
Only ACST gives an indicative band on its profile, so treat these as rough estimates and request each school's current fee schedule. With the dollar at roughly 3 dinars:
- French AEFE schools: roughly 8,000 to 25,000 TND a year (about USD 2,700 to 8,300), rising from maternelle to lycée.
- British and Cambridge schools: roughly 15,000 to 40,000 TND a year (about USD 5,000 to 13,000), with IGCSE years at the top.
- American school with IB: roughly 35,000 to 90,000 TND a year (about USD 12,000 to 30,000), often quoted in US dollars.
Extras that change the total:
- Application and registration fees, usually non-refundable.
- Capital or development levy and a place deposit.
- Transport, which is often worth paying for in Ariana and La Soukra.
- Meals, uniforms, sports kit and trips.
- Exam fees for IGCSE, the IB Diploma or the French Baccalauréat.
- Devices and learning materials.
Practical advice for making the decision
Match the curriculum to the exit, not the arrival. Ask where your child will be at 16 and 18. A French Baccalauréat route suits families heading to France or Belgium, IGCSE and A levels suit the UK and Commonwealth, and the IB Diploma travels well everywhere. Switching systems in Tunis mid-secondary is possible but costly in lost time.
Choose your neighbourhood second, and close to the school. Visit at 7.30 am on a school day and time the drive. Families in La Marsa and Gammarth tend to look at schools on the coastal side, while those in Ariana and La Soukra often prefer schools in that belt.
Be honest about language. Arabic and French are everywhere in daily life. An English-medium school with strong French and Arabic can give a child confidence outside school, while a French school will be a steep climb for a teenager with no French.
Compare the ranking
For a wider view of every school we list in the city, see our ranking of Best international schools in Tunis, then book visits to the two or three that best match your curriculum and your commute.
More guides to schools in Tunis
Frequently asked questions
Which international schools in Tunis offer the IB Diploma?
The American Cooperative School of Tunis in Laouina is authorised to offer the IB Diploma Programme, which students take in Grades 11 and 12 after following the American programme to Grade 10. Most other international schools in Tunis follow British, Cambridge or French programmes, so families who need the IB should apply to ACST early.
Where do expat families live in Tunis for school?
Many live in the northern suburbs of La Marsa, Gammarth, Sidi Bou Said, Carthage and La Goulette, which the TGM light railway connects with central Tunis. Others choose Ariana, Ennasr or La Soukra for larger houses. Picking a home within about 15 minutes of the school makes the daily run far easier.
Is there a British school in Tunis that goes up to A levels?
The English International School of Tunis in La Marsa currently runs from Nursery to Year 11, ending with Cambridge IGCSE. The British International School of Tunis in La Soukra describes its UK National Curriculum as covering ages 3 to 19. Ask each school which sixth form courses are confirmed for the coming year.