One school, the AEFE network
Lagos has one school delivering the French national curriculum: Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur de Lagos, located in Ikoyi. The school is a homologued member of the AEFE network, the Agence pour l'Enseignement Francais a l'Etranger, which means it follows the French Ministry of Education programmes exactly and a child's records transfer cleanly back into the French system on relocation. AEFE membership matters because it removes the risk of academic discontinuity for families who may move multiple times during their child's schooling.
Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur Lagos runs from maternelle (preschool) through college (lower secondary), finishing at the brevet examination at the end of Year 10. The school does not have a lycee (upper secondary) phase, which is the most important fact for families with children aged 14 and above. Senior cohort sizes across the school sit at around 25 to 30 students per year group, which is small even by AEFE West Africa standards.
The school is one of three AEFE-network schools in West Africa within easy reach of Lagos, alongside Lycee Francais de Cotonou in neighbouring Benin and the AEFE schools in Accra and Abidjan further west. Transfers between AEFE schools in the region are seamless, with school records, teacher references and behavioural notes following the child automatically. This is a meaningful piece of stability for francophone families on rotating West African postings.
Fees and AEFE bursaries
Annual tuition at Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur Lagos sits between approximately EUR 7,500 and EUR 11,500 a year depending on year group, with maternelle (preschool) the lowest tier and college (Year 7 to Year 10) the most expensive. A one-time entry fee of EUR 1,800 to EUR 2,400 is charged at enrolment, plus an annual technology and activity levy of around EUR 400. Lunch and transport are billed separately. Fees are denominated in euros and payable in naira at the day school rate.
French nationals may be eligible for AEFE bursaries through the French consulate in Lagos. These are means-tested and require an annual application with proof of income, with awards typically covering 20 to 80 percent of tuition. Non-French families pay full fees. Compared to the British and American international tiers in Lagos, Lycee Francais sits in the mid range on price but tends to offer the strongest currency stability because of its AEFE subsidy structure. See our Lagos fees guide for the loading mathematics or compare across cities in the fees comparison tool.
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The sixth form gap
Because Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur Lagos finishes at the brevet examination at the end of Year 10, French families must plan ahead for the lycee phase. The four common pathways are: transfer to Lycee Francais de Cotonou, the AEFE school in neighbouring Benin which has a full lycee phase including the baccalaureate; transfer to one of the better-resourced AEFE schools in Abidjan, Dakar or Accra; CNED, the French national distance learning option, sometimes combined with attendance at a non-French Lagos school for the social component; or boarding at a lycee in France, which the AEFE system can help arrange.
None of these is friction-free. Cotonou is logistically simple but limits parental visits to weekends. CNED requires a high degree of self-discipline and parental coordination. Boarding in France often suits the child academically but is the most expensive option and the most emotionally taxing. Many francophone families simply transition their child to one of the Lagos international IB or British schools at this point, accepting the curriculum change in exchange for staying in the city. Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur Lagos staff can advise on transition options during the Year 10 academic year.
Where francophone families live
French and francophone African families in Lagos cluster on the island. Ikoyi is the dominant choice because the school is there, on Glover Road, within walking distance of the French Embassy and the Alliance Francaise. Banana Island attracts the most senior French oil and gas executives, with school transport along the short route to Ikoyi. Victoria Island works for francophone diplomatic families and for the smaller community of Francophone African (Senegalese, Ivorian, Beninese) professionals working at the major banks and pharmaceutical companies.
The French community in Lagos is small, organised, and tightly networked around the school, the embassy and the Alliance Francaise cultural centre. New families typically integrate quickly through the parent association, which runs informal Saturday gatherings throughout the year. See our best areas guide for a fuller picture of Lagos neighbourhoods.
Admissions calendar
The Lagos school year at Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur runs from September to June, matching the French academic calendar. Applications for the September 2026 academic year opened in November 2025. The main admissions window closes by late March, with offers in April for confirmed September entry. Mid-year admissions are possible if capacity exists, which is more common at the maternelle level than in college years.
French immigration paperwork, French ID for French nationals, and apostilled academic records are required at enrolment. The school's admissions office runs a short language assessment for non-francophone applicants from CP (Year 2) upwards. AEFE bursary applications open in March of the preceding academic year and close in June. Apply 6 to 9 months ahead of your planned move where possible.
Frequently asked questions
How many French schools are there in Lagos?
Lagos has one school delivering the French national curriculum: Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur de Lagos in Ikoyi. The school is part of the AEFE network of French international schools and serves families from preschool through the brevet at age 15. There is no French sixth form in Lagos.
How much does Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur Lagos cost?
Annual tuition at Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur de Lagos sits at approximately EUR 7,500 to EUR 11,500 depending on year group, with a registration fee and a one-time entry fee on enrolment. French nationals may be eligible for AEFE bursaries through the French consulate.
Is Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur Lagos AEFE accredited?
Yes. Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur de Lagos is a homologued school in the AEFE network, meaning its programmes follow the French national curriculum and lead directly into the French education system on transfer. The accreditation is reviewed periodically by French Ministry of Education inspectors.
Where do French Lagos students go for sixth form?
Because Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur Lagos finishes at the brevet in Year 10, French families typically transfer their children for the lycee phase. Common destinations include the French school in Cotonou (Benin), CNED distance learning, French schools in West African capitals such as Abidjan and Accra, or boarding at French lycees in France.
Do non-French children attend Lycee Francais Lagos?
Yes. Lycee Francais Louis Pasteur Lagos admits children of any nationality, with around 35 percent of the student body holding nationalities other than French. Working knowledge of French is required for admission from CP (Year 2) onwards. Younger children in maternelle (preschool) may be admitted with limited French and supported through immersion.
