- Interested in doing a school year abroad in France?
- What is an international school in France?
- Who can attend international schools in France?
- Is housing offered in international schools in France?
- What are the benefits of attending an international school in France?
- Choosing an international school in France: a multifactorial decision for your family
Interested in doing a school year abroad in France?
A range of opportunities exist for you to attend high school in France.
If you are looking for a full immersion into the French language and school system, the best option for you is to do a high school exchange in a French Collège (middle school, not College!) or Lycée (High School). You will study in French and attend a French secondary school curriculum. Look at a high school abroad organization to apply for such an exchange program.
If you are looking for an international exchange year abroad and would be interested in:
- meeting international students from many different countries,
- learn a new language,
- and fulfill your High School credits to obtain your High School diploma,
let's consider attending an international school in France. France not only welcomes international high school students in French public and private schools but may also welcome them in international schools in Paris and other big French cities.
Learn more about your options to make the best decision for your school year abroad in France.
What is an international school in France?
France welcomes every year numerous expatriate families looking for international education in France.
Where are the French international schools located?
Most of the international schools in France are located in the areas where those expat families settle: Paris city center, western suburbs of Paris, French Riviera, Lyon, or Bordeaux for example. A few international schools are located in smaller towns or even in the countryside, where they can offer a huge campus and numerous facilities.
Which secondary school diploma do those schools prepare for?
Those schools usually teach in English, like the British or American schools in Paris, or a different language, like Spanish (Liceo Español Luis Buñuel) or German (Internationale Deutsche Schule) for example.
Some teach the International Baccalaureate (IB), while others prepare students for the American High School diploma in France or even the British A-Level diploma (British school in Paris).
Some schools, like Lycée International de St Germain en Laye, even offer students to complete the French Baccalaureate together with a national diploma, like the German Abitur or the Spanish Bachillerato. Those are quite demanding study paths, as students need a high language and academic level in two school systems! This school cannot consider exchange students for just a semester or a school year.
Who can attend international schools in France?
High Schools in France welcoming international students offer continuity in education to students coming from different countries; these students may have attended an English-speaking school in another country or may sometimes have attended a local school. These schools have the necessary experience, support, faculty, and processes to welcome students with different backgrounds.
Those international schools usually welcome:
- children of expatriate families;
- French children interested in international education;
- or exchange students coming for a semester or a school year.
Is housing offered in international schools in France?
Some (most actually) of those schools are "local" international schools: they welcome day students; families live near the international school. This is for example the case of most of the international schools in Paris city center, or Lyon and Bordeaux. Those schools do not offer any housing options to students. They cannot welcome exchange students who would need to be hosted in a host family or a boarding house.
Few schools in France can welcome international students in need of housing facilities, like homestays or boarding houses. Boarding schools for example are not as developed as in the UK or Switzerland for example. While France offers a large network of private French boarding schools, there are rather very few international boarding schools in France.
What are the benefits of attending an international school in France?
If you choose to attend an international school during your school year abroad in France, you will no doubt benefit from:
- Internationally recognized curricula and diplomas, such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), the British A-Level or the American High School diploma ;
- International student body: schools welcome students from many different countries and are used to a very diverse student body. Notre-Dame International High School welcomes more than 20 citizenships, the International School of Paris more than 65!
- Multilingual environment: while you attend an international school, you will not only listen to English, but you will also be exposed to several foreign languages. You will also learn French as a Foreign language as most of the schools offer French instruction.
- International skills development: you will meet with so many cultures and learn about so many countries! International teachers are used to working with international cultures, and with students with various opinions and backgrounds, making classes very enriching.
- International teachers: teachers teaching in international schools in France usually have experience teaching abroad; they are very qualified and experienced in international education. You benefit from diverse teaching methodology and a global mindset.
Choosing an international school in France: a multifactorial decision for your family
Choosing an international school in France for your school year in France is both a rewarding and challenging decision! You need to explore the various types of international schools on offer, select the school system you wish to attend, and the language you wish to use in class.
If you do not have any housing opportunities in Paris or another big city in France, consider attending ani nternational boarding school in France. The school will arrange housing for you, either with a French host family or more often at a boarding house. These boarding schools are also used to support families with French student visa applications but also manage health insurance and other administrative tasks. They have the necessary support processes in place to take care of international teens, including 24/7 emergency phone numbers. Those are important factors to consider when choosing a high school abroad program!
For personalized guidance, we advise you to contact an organization offering international students to attend boarding schools in Europe.