How many international secondary schools in Geneva
Greater Geneva, defined here as the canton plus the Vaud commuter belt running west to Rolle and Villars, currently lists more than 20 international secondary schools. The IB Diploma is the dominant senior qualification, taught at roughly ten schools including both Ecolint campuses, College du Leman, Institut Le Rosey, Geneva English School, Saint George's at La Tour-de-Peilz and the smaller Institut Florimont. A Levels are offered at three British secondaries, including Geneva English School and the boarding-strong Aiglon College in Vaud. The French Baccalaureat is taught at the Lycée francais Charles de Gaulle and inside several bilingual secondaries. The American Diploma with AP courses runs at College du Leman and as a parallel stream at Institut Florimont. The Swiss federal Maturite sits alongside, taught at several private schools for families on long Swiss postings.
The cluster makes Geneva unusual at the European scale. No other city of this size offers five distinct sixth form qualifications. College du Leman is the only school in the world running the IB, French Bac and American Diploma under one roof. For families uncertain about university destination, Geneva offers more optionality than Zurich, Paris or London. For the wider picture see our Geneva city hub and the feeder route via the Geneva primary schools hub.
Fees and the Geneva tiers
Secondary day fees split into three bands. The entry tier, CHF 26,000 to CHF 30,000 a year, captures Geneva English School secondary and the smaller Vaud-side schools. The mid private tier, CHF 32,000 to CHF 38,000, covers College du Leman secondary, Institut Florimont secondaire and the Ecolint middle years. The premium tier, CHF 42,000 to CHF 49,000 a year, holds the senior phase at the International School of Geneva campuses, the IB Diploma at College du Leman and the headline day fee at Institut Florimont senior.
Boarding sits on a separate ladder. Institut Le Rosey in Rolle is the most expensive school in the world by published fees, with all-in costs around CHF 130,000 a year. Beau Soleil at Villars and Aiglon College sit between CHF 90,000 and CHF 115,000. La Chataigneraie boarding from Year 7 runs about CHF 75,000 to CHF 85,000. Capital fees of CHF 5,000 to CHF 15,000 apply at most premium day schools and at all boarding settings. Our Geneva fees guide walks through the full arithmetic, and the fees explorer filters by city and stage.
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Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Geneva secondaries based on your child's age, your budget, your preferred sixth form qualification and your university destination.
Illustrative example schools
The schools below are illustrative, not a ranking. Each holds a recognised senior qualification and has operated in Geneva for at least twenty years.
Ecolint La Grande Boissiere Secondary in Champel is the founding IB school worldwide and continues to set the city's senior benchmark. Diploma cohorts average above 37 points, well above the global IB average of 30.3. The student body is the most internationally diverse in Switzerland.
College du Leman Secondary in Versoix is the only school in the world running the IB Diploma, French Baccalaureat and American Diploma in parallel. It draws private banking and commodities families wanting a multilingual graduating profile.
Institut Le Rosey in Rolle is a boarding-only school with the highest published fees in the world. The senior phase is taught alternately in Rolle in spring and autumn and at the Gstaad winter campus, with the IB Diploma and French Baccalaureat both available.
Institut Florimont Secondaire in Petit-Lancy is the most traditional Catholic option, founded in 1905. It offers the French Baccalaureat and the IB Diploma alongside, and is a strong choice for families wanting a smaller senior cohort.
Ecolint La Chataigneraie Secondary in Founex serves the Vaud-side family base and is the largest boarding-with-day blended school in the canton, with boarding intake from Year 7 onward.
Where secondary families live in Geneva
Secondary families in Geneva concentrate around six recognisable corridors. Champel, Florissant and Eaux-Vives, the residential plateau south and east of the Old Town, host the largest share of families using La Grande Boissiere. Cologny and the right bank lakeside between the Jet d'Eau and Versoix carry private banking and commodities families using College du Leman and Geneva English School. Versoix, Genthod and Bellevue, the lakeside villages running north toward Lausanne, host families closer to the lakeside campuses. Vaud-side villages from Founex to Mont-sur-Rolle cover the La Chataigneraie and Le Rosey catchments. Petit-Lancy and the southern communes serve Institut Florimont. Annemasse and the French commuter belt supplies a growing share of UN, EPFL and corporate families taking advantage of cheaper French-side housing.
Sixth form choice often dictates the residential decision more than primary. Families locked into the IB cluster tend to stay near La Grande Boissiere, La Chataigneraie or College du Leman. Families on UK destination plans cluster around Genthod for Geneva English School. Boarding families place the child rather than the household. For the parallel curriculum routing see our Geneva British curriculum hub, the Geneva American curriculum hub and the Geneva French curriculum hub.
Admissions calendar and sixth form choices
Applications for September 2026 entry opened at most Geneva secondaries between October 2025 and January 2026. The tier 1 schools, both Ecolint campuses, College du Leman and Institut Le Rosey, close their main Year 7 and Diploma Programme intake by mid-February. Assessment days run through March. Offers land in April with deposit and capital fee deadlines two weeks later. La Grande Boissiere holds the longest senior waiting list in the city, particularly for Year 12 entry.
Mid-year transfers up to Year 10 are usually achievable within four to six weeks at the larger schools, though premium feeder places after January 2026 are scarce. Diploma Programme transfers after October of Year 12 are difficult because subject choices and internal assessments are locked. UN family postings often arrive mid-cycle, so Geneva schools are unusually experienced at fast onboarding. For the editorial pick of the strongest senior cohorts see our best international schools in Geneva guide, and use the Geneva cost calculator to size the total annual budget before committing.
Frequently asked questions
How many international secondary schools are in Geneva?
Greater Geneva, including the Vaud commuter belt, has more than 20 international secondary schools in 2026. The IB Diploma is the dominant sixth form qualification, offered at around 10 schools. A Levels are offered at three British secondaries. French Bac is taught at the Lycée francais Charles de Gaulle and within several bilingual secondaries. The American Diploma is available at College du Leman and Institut Florimont.
What sixth form qualifications can students take in Geneva?
Geneva is unusual in offering five distinct sixth form qualifications inside a single city. These are the IB Diploma, A Levels, the French Baccalaureat, the American Diploma with AP courses, and the Swiss federal Maturite. College du Leman is the only school in the world to offer the IB, French Bac and American Diploma in parallel under one roof.
How much do international secondary schools in Geneva cost?
Secondary day fees in Geneva run from about CHF 26,000 a year at Geneva English School to roughly CHF 49,000 at the Ecolint senior phase and College du Leman IB Diploma. Boarding at Institut Le Rosey reaches around CHF 130,000 all-in. Capital fees of CHF 5,000 to CHF 15,000 apply at most premium day schools.
Can students transfer into Geneva secondary mid-year?
Yes for Years 7 to 10 in most cases. Year 11 transfers are difficult because students are entering IGCSE or pre-IB examinations. Transfers after October of the first IB Diploma year are usually advised against because subject choices and internal assessments are already locked. Geneva schools have strong UN family liaison and can often place mid-year arrivals within two to four weeks.
Which Geneva secondary schools offer boarding?
Ecolint La Chataigneraie at Founex, College du Leman in Versoix and Institut Le Rosey in Rolle all offer boarding from Year 7. La Chataigneraie and College du Leman keep boarding fees in the CHF 70,000 to CHF 90,000 range. Le Rosey is significantly more expensive, with all-in costs near CHF 130,000 per year. Beau Soleil at Villars in Vaud is a further option for the senior phase.
