Education and schools for expats in France | KOCH Moving Logistics

Moving to France presents families with many challenges, especially when it comes to their children's education. The French education system differs from the German school system in many ways – above all through its strong centralisation, early school enrolment from the age of three, and the great importance of the national school leaving certificate, the Baccalauréat. School, one of the oldest institutions in the world, is governed in France by a centralised system managed by the Ministry of Education. Overall, the public education system in France is divided into 17 academic regions, 26 academies in metropolitan France and five academies in the overseas territories, which are responsible for the public education service. In this article, we take a look at the French education system, the best international schools in Paris, Lyon, Toulouse and Nice, as well as the various options for younger children, so that you can emigrate to France well‑informed and prepared.

For families moving to France, international schools offer an excellent opportunity to provide their children with a familiar education with English‑medium instruction. France has a wide selection of international schools, especially in the large cities and metropolitan areas. International schools in France follow either an English (IGCSE, A‑Levels), American (High School Diploma, AP), International Baccalaureate (IB) or French curriculum (with enhanced English content). In addition, there are German overseas schools that teach according to German curricula and offer a familiar start for German‑speaking families.

The Paris region offers the highest density of international schools in France – more than fifty schools have at least one English‑speaking section. Expat families can choose between four categories: full‑fledged international schools (IB, British or American curriculum), bilingual schools (French‑English), public schools with international sections (very affordable), and embassy schools (e.g., the German, British or American school). The International School of Paris (ISP) is considered one of the most renowned IB world schools in the city and offers the full IB continuum from kindergarten to diploma. Annual school fees range from about €24,800 to €37,900 depending on grade level.

One of the oldest and best‑known international schools is the American School of Paris (ASP) in Saint‑Cloud, which offers students from pre‑school to grade 12 both the US High School Diploma and the IB Diploma. ASP is one of the more expensive premium schools; annual fees for primary school are between €24,000 and €30,000, for secondary school between €27,000 and €34,000.

The Bilingual International School of Paris (BIS Paris), as a bilingual private school, offers the French national curriculum with strong English instruction in a balanced language ratio. Fees are in the mid‑range of about €14,000 to €22,000 per year. Also centrally located in Paris is ICS Paris, an IB World School offering the PYP, MYP and IB Diploma Programme from ages three to 18. The Ermitage International School in Maisons‑Laffitte, a suburb west of Paris, is one of the most diverse international schools in the country: it teaches students from over 80 nations and offers both the French Baccalauréat and the IB Diploma.

German‑speaking families will find an excellent network of recognised German overseas schools in France. The International German School Paris (iDSP) in Saint‑Cloud is the only German overseas school in Paris. It is operated by the German School Association of Paris and financed by the Federal Foreign Office via the German Embassy. The iDSP looks after children from kindergarten (Villa Kunterbunt) to the Abitur (secondary level) and offers a tailor‑made German curriculum that enables students to obtain both the German Abitur and the German‑French double diploma (AbiBac). Annual school fees are between about €9,945 and €11,799. The iDSP is an all‑day school with care until 6:30 pm and its own bus service with two lines that collects students from the Paris suburbs and the 16th arrondissement. It offers "German as a second language" for multilingual children, which makes the transition considerably easier.

The German School Toulouse (DST) in the south of France is another excellent German overseas school recognised and funded by the Federal Foreign Office. It offers kindergarten, primary school and secondary school according to German curricula. Together with the International School of Toulouse (IST), the DST forms the so‑called Eurocampus, where German and international teaching are united under one roof. This close integration offers families the opportunity to choose between the German educational pathway and the international IB curriculum.

High‑quality international schools are also available outside the capital region. In Lyon, which has developed into an attractive centre for expat families, there are several IB schools and bilingual institutions. These include the Cité Scolaire Internationale de Lyon (with international sections for several languages) and the International School of Lyon, which offers both bilingual teaching and the IB Diploma. In the region around Nice on the Côte d'Azur, also a popular destination for international skilled workers, the International School of Nice (ISN) and ICS Côte d'Azur are established institutions. ICS Côte d'Azur teaches children from two to eleven years in French and English and charges annual fees between about €12,480 and €16,692.

The French education system is known for its strong state centralism, its academic excellence and its clear chronological structure. Compulsory schooling in France applies to all children aged three to sixteen. Teaching takes place either in public schools (écoles publiques), which are under state supervision and free of charge, or in private schools. Public schools are secular (laïque) – an important feature of the French education system. Private schools are divided into those with a contract (under state supervision, largely state‑funded) and those without a contract (completely private, with their own curricula). The basic structure is divided into three successive levels:

 

– Pre‑school (École maternelle, 3–6 years): Almost all French children of this age attend école maternelle. It is divided into three cycles (petite section, moyenne section, grande section) and serves social, linguistic and cognitive development. Since 2019, attendance has been compulsory from age three.

– Primary school (École élémentaire, 6–11 years): Five years of primary education. The grade levels are called CP, CE1, CE2, CM1, CM2. In addition to teaching basic cultural skills, the école élémentaire prepares pupils for the transition to secondary school.

– Lower secondary school (Collège, 11–15 years): A four‑year phase (6ème, 5ème, 4ème, 3ème) that all pupils complete together. At the end, the national Brevet (Diplôme National du Brevet) is obtained, which enables the transition to the Lycée.

– Upper secondary school (Lycée, 15–18 years): A three‑year phase (Seconde, Première, Terminale). At the end is the national Baccalauréat (Bac) – the central school‑leaving examination required for university admission. The Bac exists in three main streams: Bac général, Bac technologique and the work‑oriented Bac professionnel. A major advantage is that the French Bac is also recognised for admission to German universities.

 

Particularly noteworthy is the possibility of attending international sections (sections internationales) at public schools. Here, pupils receive additional instruction in their mother tongue. Fees are minimal (around €800 to €2,000 per year). However, places are in high demand, and an entrance examination is required. About 12% of secondary school pupils use a boarding school (internat); boarding fees are generally less than €2,000 per year.

Compared to Germany, some differences are particularly noticeable:

 

– EARLIER ENROLMENT AND COMPULSORY PRE‑SCHOOL: Compulsory schooling in France begins at age three (German standard age: six). Furthermore, pre‑school (école maternelle) is an integral, fixed part of the state school system – in Germany, kindergarten is not part of compulsory education.

 

– LONGER COMMON PRIMARY SCHOOL PERIOD: Primary school lasts five years (up to age eleven), while in Germany it is generally four years. Lower secondary school (collège) is attended by all pupils together and is not separated by performance as in Germany.

 

– CENTRALISED CURRICULUM, MORE STATE INFLUENCE: The curriculum is centrally prescribed by the national Ministry of Education; schools are strongly secular (laïque). In Germany, the federal states have extensive autonomy over curricula.

 

– LANGUAGE DIFFERENCES: While in Germany English is the first foreign language in primary school, in France the first foreign language is generally introduced in grade 6 (collège), depending on the region and school type. In international sections, the mother tongue can be strongly promoted early on.

 

– REPEATING A SCHOOL YEAR (REDOUBLEMENT): In France, repeating a school year (redoublement) is permitted in certain situations (e.g., insufficient language skills) – in Germany this is rather uncommon.

The école maternelle is the heart of early childhood education in France. It is a pedagogically guided part of the school where children are introduced playfully to initial learning content. Almost all French children attend the maternelle – it is considered the first level of the school system. The maternelle is divided into three age levels: petite section (3–4 years), moyenne section (4–5 years) and grande section (5–6 years). There, children learn first social rules, expand their vocabulary and are prepared for entry into primary school. The école maternelle, like primary and secondary schools, is free of charge.

For children under three years, there is the "crèches" system (municipal or private day‑care centres). The crèches are not free; parental contributions depend on household income and are generally between about €300 and €900 per month. For families with young children moving to France, the maternelle is a major advantage: it offers free, full‑day care with an educational mandate – significant relief for working parents. Registration for the maternelle is done via the local municipal administration (Mairie) between February and April of the year in which the child turns three. For those new to the municipality, direct enrolment is possible.

Moving to France requires careful planning of the school transition. It is important to find out about the various options early on – depending on the region and the individual needs of your family. KOCH Moving Logistics is at your side to make the transition to the French educational landscape for your children a positive experience.