International Schools in Paris for English-Speaking Families

The English-speaking landscape in Paris

Paris has hosted English-speaking schools for over a century, longer than most other continental European capitals, and the market has matured into four distinct tiers. The American School of Paris in Saint Cloud and the British School of Paris in Croissy sur Seine anchor the historic anglophone tradition, both sited on green out of town campuses west of the city. The International School of Paris in the 16th arrondissement is the city's principal full IB school. The Ecole Internationale Bilingue, Marymount International School and a small group of bilingual schools sit in the central city. The French public system offers free or low fee English instruction through the sections internationales, which are the most underused option for relocating families.

For an English-speaking family arriving in Paris, the practical universe is around fifteen schools across the four tiers. Cohort sizes range from sixty pupils per year at the smaller bilingual schools to over two hundred at the American School of Paris. Each school has a distinct identity, a distinct geographic footprint, and a distinct admissions rhythm. The cleanest first move is to settle on the curriculum question (American, British, IB, French with English support) before screening on the individual school.

The American School of Paris

The American School of Paris (ASP) is the largest and best known English-speaking school in the Paris region. Founded in 1946 to serve the post war American community, it sits on a thirteen acre wooded campus in Saint Cloud, fifteen minutes by car west of central Paris. ASP runs the American high school diploma alongside the IB Diploma at sixth form, with Advanced Placement courses available across the senior school. The student body is internationally mixed, with around half the cohort holding US passports and the remainder spread across more than fifty nationalities.

Senior school cohorts at ASP hold around one hundred and forty pupils per year. The IB Diploma average tracks 33 to 36 points, with the top quartile of leavers placing into the Ivy League, the top US liberal arts colleges, Russell Group universities and a steady tail of Canadian, Australian and European destinations. The school is particularly strong on visual and performing arts, with a dedicated arts and theatre block built in the past decade.

ASP suits families on a clear North American university pathway, families who value a US style high school experience (yearbook, varsity sport, a homecoming dance), and families based west of the city. For the longer view of the ASP versus alternatives question, see our American School of Paris versus International School of Paris comparison.

The British School of Paris

The British School of Paris (BSP) sits in Croissy sur Seine, twenty five minutes by car west of central Paris. The school was founded in 1954 and operates the English National Curriculum through to IGCSE and A Level, with a strong tradition of Russell Group and Oxbridge university destinations. Senior school cohorts hold around eighty pupils per year, with class sizes typically capped at twenty two.

BSP outcomes at A Level are competitive with the better day independent schools in the UK. Recent leaver destinations include Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London, the London School of Economics, University College London, and the wider Russell Group, alongside a steady tail of US Ivy League and top liberal arts destinations. The school runs a small but active sport programme on its twelve acre campus, with strong rowing and rugby provision.

BSP suits families on a clear UK university pathway, families who value a smaller, more traditional school setting, and families based west of the city along the RER A axis. For families weighing the broader curriculum read, our British curriculum guide sets out the structural picture.

IB and pan European schools

The International School of Paris (ISP) is the city's principal pure IB school. It sits across three campuses in the 16th arrondissement, instructs primarily in English, and offers the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programmes. Cohort sizes are smaller than at ASP, with around fifty to seventy pupils per IB Diploma year, and the cohort average sits in the 33 to 35 point range. ISP suits families who want a central Paris location, a smaller scale community and a globally portable curriculum.

Marymount International School in Neuilly sur Seine is a Catholic IB school serving pupils up to age thirteen. Beyond Marymount, families typically transition to ASP, ISP, BSP or to a Paris sections internationales placement. The European School of Paris in Courbevoie, run under the European Schools network for EU institution children, offers multilingual instruction and the European Baccalaureate at sixth form. Entry to the European School is restricted to qualifying EU institution families.

Bilingual schools and sections internationales

The bilingual schools of Paris occupy a distinctive middle space between full English instruction and the French national system. The Ecole Internationale Bilingue (EIB) operates several campuses across the 16th, 7th and Monceau areas of central Paris, with instruction split between French and English from early years through to the French Baccalaureate and the OIB (Option Internationale du Baccalaureat). The Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel is one of the strongest academic schools in France and combines a French Baccalaureate framework with deep English instruction and an IB option.

The French public sections internationales are the most underused entry point for English-speaking families. The Lycee International in Saint Germain en Laye, the Cite Scolaire Honore de Balzac in the 17th, the Lycee Camille See in the 15th and the Lycee Lucie Aubrac in Pantin all run English sections at low or zero tuition cost, with admission by language proficiency assessment. The trade is the workload (French Baccalaureate and English section coursework run in parallel), but the academic outcomes and the cost profile are unmatched. For more, see our cheapest international schools in Paris guide.

Fees and the true annual cost

Published tuition at the leading English-speaking schools in Paris sits between EUR 22,000 and EUR 36,000 per year for senior school. The American School of Paris, the British School of Paris, the International School of Paris and Marymount sit at the top of that range. Registration fees, capital levies, lunches and trips add EUR 2,000 to EUR 5,000 per year on top. Bilingual schools (EIB, Jeannine Manuel) sit at EUR 12,000 to EUR 22,000 per year. Sections internationales at French public schools are free or charge nominal section fees of EUR 600 to EUR 1,200 per year.

The single biggest hidden line item is the registration and capital fee. Most leading schools charge a one off entry fee of EUR 2,000 to EUR 6,000, payable on confirmation of place. This is not refunded on departure. Lunch costs run EUR 1,500 to EUR 2,800 per year. School bus, where used, runs EUR 1,800 to EUR 3,500 per year. The all in 2026 figure for a family with two children at the top tier sits between EUR 50,000 and EUR 80,000 per year.

For the full Paris fee breakdown, see Paris international school fees. The site wide fees explorer compares schools across the city.

Neighbourhoods and commute

The English-speaking school cluster sits in two principal belts. The western suburbs (Saint Cloud, Croissy, Saint Germain en Laye, Garches, Marnes la Coquette) host ASP, BSP and the Lycee International. Most expat families with children at these schools live in Saint Cloud, Marnes la Coquette, Garches or along the RER A axis through Le Vesinet. The central belt (16th, 17th, 7th, Neuilly) hosts ISP, Marymount, EIB and Jeannine Manuel. Most families with children at these schools live in the 16th, 7th, 8th, or in Neuilly sur Seine.

The decision between west and central often comes down to commute and lifestyle preference rather than school quality. The western corridor offers space, greenery and quieter family life. The central corridor offers everyday access to Paris itself. The RER A connects the two corridors in twenty to thirty minutes, but the school run rarely uses the RER, so the family essentially chooses one side of the city. For more on the residential question, our moving to Paris with kids piece covers the broader picture.

Admissions windows and waitlists

The Paris academic year runs September to June, in line with most northern hemisphere systems. Main admissions windows open in October for the following September intake, with the most popular year groups (early years, Year 6 to Year 8, Year 12 IB entry) often closed by January or February. Mid year arrivals are possible at most schools outside the highest demand year groups, with a softer transition window in March and April for families landing in time for the summer term.

The American School of Paris and the British School of Paris hold waitlists in the most popular year groups but turn over places year on year as families move on. ISP, Marymount and the bilingual schools maintain shorter waitlists. The sections internationales operate on a separate admissions cycle through the French Education Nationale, with assessment dates clustered in March and April. For the wider timeline view, see our admissions timing by city guide.

FAQ

Which is the best international school in Paris for English-speaking families?
There is no single best school. The American School of Paris in Saint Cloud, the International School of Paris in the 16th, the British School of Paris in Croissy sur Seine and the Ecole Internationale Bilingue in the 16th are the four schools most regularly named on expat shortlists, each with a distinct identity and admissions profile.

How much do English-speaking international schools in Paris cost?
Tuition at the leading English-speaking schools in Paris typically runs EUR 22,000 to EUR 36,000 per year for senior school. Registration, capital fees, lunches and trips push the all in figure to EUR 25,000 to EUR 42,000 per child per year. Bilingual schools sit lower at EUR 12,000 to EUR 22,000 per year.

Are there free or low fee options for English-speaking families in Paris?
Yes. The French public school system offers free schooling through to age 18, with English sections at selected international schools such as the Lycee International in Saint Germain en Laye, the Cite Scolaire Honore de Balzac in the 17th, and several other public schools with sections internationales. Entry to the English section is by language and academic assessment.

Do English-speaking schools accept mid year arrivals?
Most do, particularly outside the most selective year groups. ASP, ISP and BSP regularly admit mid year transfers. Bilingual schools are more constrained because of class size and language alignment. The French sections internationales operate on a single annual admissions cycle in March and April.

Do children need French to attend an English-speaking school in Paris?
No. Instruction at ASP, BSP and ISP is in English. French is taught as a subject at multiple levels including absolute beginner. Most pupils acquire functional French within twelve to eighteen months through school and through immersion in the city, but no French is required for entry to the English first tier.

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