The Best International Schools in Paris for Expat Families — A Practical Guide
For expat families moving to Paris, the school question is often the one that shapes everything else — which arrondissement to live in, which neighbourhoods to prioritise, and how far in advance the move needs to be planned. Paris has an excellent selection of international schools, but the landscape is varied and the admission processes can be competitive. Getting the right information early is the single most important thing families can do to avoid stress and ensure continuity for their children.
The International School Landscape in Paris
Paris offers a range of international school options covering different curricula, languages of instruction, and educational philosophies. The major categories are the American curriculum schools, the British curriculum schools, the International Baccalaureate schools, the bilingual French-English schools, and a handful of other national curriculum schools serving specific expatriate communities.
The choice between these is not just a question of curriculum preference. It is also a question of logistics — where the school is located relative to where you plan to live, and whether the school’s culture and community will be a good fit for your family’s life in Paris.
The American School of Paris
The American School of Paris, located in Saint-Cloud on the western edge of the city, is one of the most established international schools in France. It offers the American curriculum from pre-K through to Grade 12, with an IB Diploma option in the final two years. The school has a strong academic reputation and a well-developed extracurricular programme.
The Saint-Cloud location is a consideration for families planning to live in central Paris — it requires a commute, typically by bus service or by RER train. Families who prioritise the American curriculum and are willing to live in the western suburbs or to manage the commute from central Paris consistently rate it highly.
Admission is competitive at all levels. Applications should be submitted well in advance of the intended start date, and the school maintains a waitlist for popular year groups.
The British School of Paris
The British School of Paris operates two campuses — one in Croissy-sur-Seine and one in Wettolsheim (Alsace). For families relocating to Paris specifically, the Croissy campus is the relevant option. It follows the British National Curriculum from Reception through to Year 13, with GCSEs and A-Levels.
The school has a strong community feel and is particularly popular with British expat families and with families who anticipate returning to the UK educational system at some point. The Croissy campus is in the western suburbs, requiring similar logistics to the American School of Paris in terms of commute from central Paris arrondissements.
International Schools Within Paris — The IB and Bilingual Options
For families who want to avoid the suburban commute, there are several strong international school options within Paris itself.
The École Jeannine Manuel in the 15th arrondissement is one of the most respected bilingual schools in Europe — a French-English school that consistently ranks among the top schools in France by academic results. It offers a genuinely bilingual education from a young age and is popular with both French families and international families. Competition for places is intense and the waiting list can be long for all year groups.
The International School of Paris in the 16th arrondissement offers the full IB curriculum from Primary Years Programme through to the IB Diploma. Its location in the 16th makes it particularly convenient for families living in the 16th, 8th, or western Paris arrondissements. The school has a diverse international student body and a strong IB results track record.
The Marymount International School, also in the 16th, is a Catholic school offering the American curriculum with an IB Diploma option. It is smaller and more intimate than some of the other international schools and has a strong community culture.
As we outline in our guide to schools, neighborhoods and daily life for international families in Paris, the school choice and the neighbourhood choice are deeply interconnected decisions that are best made together.
The French Public System — An Option Worth Considering
Not every expat family defaults to an international school. Many families — particularly those staying in Paris for three years or more — choose to enrol their children in the French public school system. This can be an extraordinarily good experience for children who adapt well to language immersion, and the French public school system is genuinely excellent in quality in the premium arrondissements.
The practical challenge is the language barrier in the early months. Children who arrive without French will need significant support, and the adaptation period can be difficult. Schools in Paris do have CASNAV — centres for newly arrived children — that provide French language support, but the experience varies considerably between schools.
For families considering this route, the choice of arrondissement matters considerably. Schools in the 6th, 7th, and 16th arrondissements tend to have higher academic standards and more experience with international students than schools in some other parts of the city.
Practical Advice — The Timeline That Matters
The most common mistake expat families make regarding Paris schools is underestimating the lead time required. For the most popular international schools, applications for the following September need to be submitted by January or February at the latest — and for some year groups, families on waitlists may need to have applied a full year or more in advance.
For families whose move to Paris is confirmed, the school application process should begin the moment the decision is made — regardless of how far in the future the actual move is. For families who are still in the process of deciding whether to move, the school question is one of the factors that should inform the timeline and the specific location within Paris. Choosing your school first and your arrondissement second is a logic that many experienced Paris expats endorse. Living in France’s guide to the best places for expats covers how school access shapes neighbourhood decisions in detail.
What to Ask When Visiting Schools
Beyond the curriculum and the academic results, the questions that experienced expat families ask when visiting Paris schools tend to focus on the same themes. How does the school support newly arrived students who do not speak the language of instruction? What is the typical duration of stay for students at the school — how stable is the community? What are the school’s policies on university counselling and the transition to higher education? And what is the parent community like — is it an active and welcoming one for families who are new to Paris?
The answers to these questions tell you as much about whether a school is right for your family as the curriculum guide and the academic statistics.
If you are planning a family move to Paris and want guidance on how to match your school choice to your neighbourhood choice and your property search, that is exactly the kind of conversation we can help structure from the start. Contact SHOKO to begin.
Recommended Reads
Living in Paris as an Expat — Choosing Between the 7th, 8th and 16th — homefrance.eu
The First 30 Days After Moving to France — Expat Guide — homefrance.eu
How Middle Eastern Buyers Research Paris Real Estate — gtamarket.ca
Americans in Paris — The Quiet Expat Network Helping Newcomers Settle — buyeragentfrance.com