The French school in Jakarta
French curriculum provision in Jakarta runs through a single anchor institution, the Lycee Francais Louis-Charles Damais, often abbreviated to LFI Jakarta. The school sits in Cilandak in South Jakarta and serves the French-speaking expatriate community across the wider metropolitan area, from Pondok Indah and Kemang through to the Senayan and Sudirman apartment belts. It is the only school in the city delivering the full French national curriculum, accredited by the Agence pour l'enseignement francais a l'etranger, the AEFE.
The AEFE network operates 580 schools in 138 countries. LFI Jakarta is one of three AEFE schools in Indonesia, alongside LFI Bali and LFI Surabaya. The Jakarta campus delivers the full Maternelle through Terminale pathway, taking children from age three through to the French Baccalaureate at age 18. Cohort sizes are modest by international school standards, with total enrolment under 700 pupils across the three sections. Class sizes typically sit at 18 to 22 in primary and a little lower in lycee.
If you are weighing French alongside other curricula, our Jakarta IB hub, our British curriculum hub and our American curriculum hub set out the alternatives. The French route is the right call for families on French civil service postings, French corporate assignments or returning French nationals, but it can box children into a French-only academic identity. Most families weigh up the IB Diploma as an alternative for the senior years.
Fees and funding
French school fees in Jakarta are notably lower than the wider international school market because the AEFE network subsidises a meaningful share of the cost. Tuition for non-scholarship pupils sits in the USD 8,000 to USD 15,000 range across the maternelle, primaire and college years, rising slightly for lycee. French nationals can apply for the AEFE bourse scolaire scheme, which provides means-tested funding to French families abroad and can cover most or all of the fees for qualifying households.
Total cost is closer to headline tuition than at the larger international schools because there are no Cambridge or AP examination fees and capital levies are smaller. Transport runs at USD 1,500 to USD 2,500 a year, with most families using the school bus network across Cilandak, Pondok Indah, Kemang and the central apartment belts. Our Jakarta fees guide walks through the loading mathematics in detail. Our fees comparison tool shows tuition by year group across cities.
Choosing between LFI and an English-medium alternative?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three options based on your child's year group, your home area in Jakarta, your budget and your preferred language of instruction.
Curriculum and pathway
LFI Jakarta delivers the French national curriculum from age three through to the Baccalaureate at age 18. Maternelle covers the first three years and prioritises spoken French, fine motor skills and social development. Primaire takes children from CP through to CM2, building the core literacy and numeracy that the French system frontloads. College runs from sixieme to troisieme, equivalent to Years 7 to 10 in the British system. Lycee covers seconde, premiere and terminale, ending with the Baccalaureate examination across a chosen specialism track.
English is taught throughout as a second language and most pupils reach a strong B2 to C1 level by Terminale. Some families layer additional English tuition or the Cambridge International English certifications to keep the door open to UK or US universities. The Baccalaureate is well-recognised internationally, including by UK universities through UCAS conversion tables, by Australian universities through ATAR conversion and by US universities through standard transcript review.
The school also runs sport, arts and music clubs after the school day. Indonesia-specific elements like Bahasa Indonesia lessons and field trips to Borobudur, Yogyakarta and Bali are woven through the geography and culture programme. Indonesian religious instruction and Pancasila are required under the Satuan Pendidikan Kerjasama framework and are delivered as standalone modules.
Where French families live
French families in Jakarta cluster around three zones. Cilandak, immediately around the school, is the most convenient option. Walking-distance villas are limited but a 10 minute drive covers most options. Pondok Indah, the historic American villa belt, hosts a smaller French community willing to take the 20 to 30 minute drive in for the leafy streets and shopping mall amenities. Kemang, the bohemian expat scene, attracts younger French families who prefer cafes, galleries and walkability, and accept a 25 to 40 minute school run depending on traffic.
Traffic is the most underrated factor in school choice for French families because the school sits south of the main commute lines. Most LFI families end up in Cilandak within their first year. The school bus network covers the wider villa belt and the central apartment districts. Our cost calculator bundles school transport, fees and housing into a single total relocation budget.
Admissions calendar
The Jakarta French academic year runs from late July to mid June, in line with the wider Indonesian international school calendar rather than the French September to July rhythm. Applications for the August 2026 academic year opened from October 2025. The maternelle and CP intakes are oversubscribed in most years, with families on the AEFE network often arriving from postings elsewhere and bringing strong priority. Middle and lycee intakes typically have more flexibility.
If your family is on a French government or AEFE-affiliated posting, the embassy education office can help fast-track admissions and confirm bourse scolaire eligibility. For private French families or French-speaking non-French nationals, apply 6 to 9 months before your desired start. Mid-year transfers are accepted on a rolling basis subject to year group availability.
Frequently asked questions
How many French schools are there in Jakarta?
Jakarta has one French curriculum school, the Lycee Francais Louis-Charles Damais in Cilandak, accredited by the Agence pour l'enseignement francais a l'etranger. It delivers the full Maternelle through Terminale pathway, ending with the French Baccalaureate.
How much does the French school in Jakarta cost?
Tuition for non-scholarship pupils sits in the USD 8,000 to USD 15,000 range across the maternelle, primaire and college years, rising slightly for lycee. The AEFE bourse scolaire scheme can subsidise most or all of the fees for qualifying French families.
Is the French Baccalaureate accepted by UK and US universities?
Yes. The French Baccalaureate is recognised by UK universities through UCAS tariff conversion, by Australian universities through ATAR conversion and by US universities through standard transcript review. Most Jakarta LFI graduates apply to French, UK, Australian or US universities.
Can non-French families enrol at the Jakarta French school?
Yes. The Lycee Francais Louis-Charles Damais admits children from any nationality, subject to a French language assessment. Non-French speakers are typically only admitted at maternelle and primary, where the school can integrate them through immersion. From college onwards, established French proficiency is required.
Where do French families live in Jakarta?
Most French families in Jakarta live in Cilandak immediately around the school, in Pondok Indah for the leafy expat villa belt or in Kemang for the more bohemian expat scene. The school bus network covers the wider area including Senayan, Sudirman and Pondok Labu.
