A snapshot overview of schools in Paris (and environs) that are considered (although not necessarily chosen) by English-speaking expat parents.
If there is no ribbon, pending or otherwise, it means we are aware of the school but have elected not to review it at this time. This could be for a number of reasons, but we continually update information and add or remove reviews as deemed appropriate.
Schools selected for full GSGI review are noted with 
next to their names. "Pending" means that we are planning to review that school.
By full GSGI review, we mean the school write-ups that are completely selected, researched, visited and written by our own editors. Our final write-ups take the good with the bad, warts and all, but we look for a preponderance of good before we drill down for in-depth details descend on the school for an exhaustive visit.
Expat-friendly schools in the Paris area abound. They may be international, bilingual, a mix of the two, or may even be French state schools offering special programmes for expat children. There is even a special set-up known as "Sections Internationales", French state school education with a partly English (or American) curriculum. The differences are fully explored in "Schooling on a Plate" (the educational overview article for Paris).
Schools in Paris reviewed by The Good Schools Guide International
American School of Paris (pending)
American High School Diploma/AP/IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; independent; private non-profit; 800 pupils
Located in the western suburb of St Cloud, ten kilometres from central Paris. Notable facilities all round but particularly for sport, music and drama. 50 per cent of families being American may account for the active PTA. Academics very sound and arts, sport and tech equally so. Governed by a board of trustees, composed of members of the school community and the head.
Anglophone Section of Fontainebleau (pending)
Adapted Curriculum/French National Curriculum/French Brevet/French Bac/ OIB (French Bac with international option)/IGCSEs; ages 6-18; co-ed; state-plus-private; 600 pupils
Section contained inside three separate local state schools, each catering to a particular age group and all situated on one extended campus in Fontainebleau, a western suburb of Paris. Providing a bilingual education for international and French students with 25 per cent of learning time in an English environment, the remainder in a French one. A truly international education.
British School of Paris
National Curriculum for England/GCSEs/A-Levels; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 800 pupils
France’s first British school, founded in post-war Paris and located in Croissy, a suburb in the western outskirts of the city. About 30 per cent of the families are British with the remainder coming from over 50 different nationalities. Recently, nearly 75 per cent of graduates gained places at UK universities, including Oxford and Russell Group members.
Click here to read our full review of the British School of Paris.
Centre Actif Bilingue de Fontainebleau (CAB) (pending)
Adapted curriculum based on French National Curriculum;; ages 2 ½ -11; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 175 pupils
A small nursery and primary school offering a specially constructed bilingual French-English programme ( French-German version available in nursery). Four age-based nursery groups, one first grade class and three classes in elementary. Nursery classes take an approach based on Montessori and they follow the French National Curriculum at elementary level with extensive additional English lessons.
The École Active Bilingue (pending)
A group of seven bilingual schools, spread around Paris, teaching nearly 3,000 pupils aged 3-18 from over 70 nationalities
The seven schools are:
- L’École EIB Monceau – 8th arrondissement – Preschool/Primary – French National Curriculum, English classes up to 25 per cent of curriculum (sous contrat)
- L’École EIB de la Jonchère – St Germain-en-Laye – Preschool/Primary – 50/50 classes in English/French
- L’École EIB Lamartine – 16th arrondissement – Preschool/Primary – French National Curriculum, foreign language programme (sous contrat)
- Le Collège EIB Monceau – 17th arrondissement – Middle School – French National Curriculum, foreign language programme (sous contrat)
- Lycée EIB Etoile – 17th arrondissement – High School – French National Curriculum, English classes up to 25 per cent of curriculum (sous contrat)
- The Victor Hugo School – 15th arrondissement – Preschool/Primary/Middle – Adapted English Curriculum, compulsory French
- The Victor Hugo School – 7th arrondissement – High School – IGCSEs/IB Diploma
Forest International School
Adapted National Curriculum for England/French National Curriculum; International Primary Curriculum (IPC)/International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) ; ages 2-15; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned
Small private school (sister school now open in North London) outside St Germain-en-Laye on the edge of the Marly forest, offering bilingual/French programmes to children from over 20 different nationalities. A reputation for excellent SEN support covering a wide range of needs but by no means only for children requiring additional help. Language instruction in English to small classes with high staff: student ratio.
Click here to read our full review of Forest International School.
Institut Notre Dame, St Germain-en-Laye (pending)
French National Curriculum/Bac/Brevet/Anglais Bilingue Programme/IGCSEs; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit ;sous-contrat; 2,130 pupils
Divided into primaire-maternelle and lycée on two campuses in St Germain-en-Laye to the west of Paris. Offers a Bilingual English section to French people who have lived in English-speaking countries or belong to a bicultural family. Strong Catholic ethos and serious attention paid to academics with very impressive results. The majority of graduates stay in France and do very well.
International School of Paris
PYP/MYP/IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day; independent; private non-profit; 747 pupils
Only school in central Paris (15 minutes’ walk to the Eiffel Tower) to offer all stages of the IB programme and also accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) and New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). English speaking, all-through school on two campuses in the 16th arrondissement catering to a truly global mix of nationalities. Fees are at the top end but parents remain enthusiastic.
Click here to read our full review of International School of Paris.
Lycee International de St Germain-en-Laye: American Section ( - pending)
Adapted curriculum/French Brevet/OIB (French Bac with international option); ages 3-18; co-ed; day; state; 700 pupils
American arm of huge public French school, structured to teach both French and foreign students. Far above average rates for the OIB with the percentage achieving top honours doubling in the past ten year period. On three campuses in St Germain on the western edge of Paris. Governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees elected by parents of current students.
Lycée International de St Germain-en-Laye: British Section
Adapted curriculum/IGCSEs/French Brevet/OIB (French Bac with international option); ages 3-18; co-ed; day; state; 850 pupils
Largest foreign section in vast public school on the western edge of the city which developed the international version of the French Bac. Combines the best of the French state sector teaching with an outstanding British element, similar to that of an elite UK grammar school. This could be described as the ultimate example of an international school.
Click here to read our full review of Lycee International de St Germaine-en-Laye: British Section.
Marymount International School, Paris (pending)
American Elementary (or Primary) Curriculum; ages 3-14; co-ed; day; independent; non-profit; 360 pupils
Member of a global network of 19 RSHM (Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary) schools in nine countries. Accredited by Council of International Schools (CIS) and Middle States Association (MSA). Small Catholic school in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a western suburb of the city whose pupils mainly move on to senior school at the international options in or around Paris.
These schools have been brought to our attention, but until we have more reports from parents, we are unable to consider reviewing them.
Sections Internationales (British) de Sevres
French National Curriculum/French Bac/ ages 3-18; co-ed; day; state
British and German sections hosted by eight French state schools (sous contrat) in Sèvres, a suburb in south-western Paris. French National Curriculum taught by schools’ own teachers with SIS teachers delivering the bilingual programmes, rotating round the schools on a weekly basis.
- Lycée Jean-Pierre Vernant (Sèvres) – High School – 2,000 pupils – Anglophone, Germanophone
- Collège de Sèvres (Sèvres) – Middle School – 1,020 pupils – Anglophone, Germanophone
- Collège Jean Moulin (Chaville) – Middle School - Anglophone
- Collège Gounod (Saint Cloud) – Middle School - Anglophone
- Collège Emile Verhaeren (Saint Cloud) – Middle School - Anglophone
- École primaire Gambetta A (Sèvres) – Preschool/ Primary – 316 pupils Anglophone, Germanophone
- École Croix Bosset (Sèvres) – Preschool/Primary – 155 pupils - Germanophone
- École Point du Jour (Boulogne) – Primary - Anglophone
Ecole Internationale Malherbe
Adapted Curriculum/French National Curriculum/National Curriculum of England/Montessori; ages 1 ½ -14; co-ed; day; independent; privately owned; 160 pupils
Two nursery schools, one in Le Vesinet and one in Le Pecq in the Yvelines district west of Paris. Primary and Middle School (opening in September 2019) in adjacent locations in Le Vesinet. Pre-school classes are Montessori based, exclusively taught in English. Primary classes follow English curriculum with two half days of French instruction and bilingual Middle School will have 70 per cent of instruction in English, the remainder in French.
Ermitage International School of France
French National Curriculum/OIB (French Bac with international option)/PYP candidate/MYP/IB Diploma; ages 3-18; co-ed; day and boarding; independent; private for profit ;1,100 pupils
Located on the western edge of Paris in Maisons Lafitte. Now a part of Round Square, a global association of 90 schools on five continents, which promotes international learning and exchange. Aiming for a fully bilingual French-English school, it was recently, licensed to teach MYP and now aiming for PYP status so that the IB programme can be followed by tinies to the late teens.
