How the French system works in Paris
The French national curriculum is delivered in Paris through three structurally different routes that foreign families need to understand before applying. The first is the standard sectoral state route: every child resident in a Paris arrondissement is entitled to a place in the local maternelle, elementaire, college and lycee, with no fees and no test, regardless of nationality. The second is the private under-contract sector, often Catholic in origin, which delivers the same national programme with the same Bac at the end, charges modest fees and selects on places rather than aptitude. The third is the independent bilingual sector, which layers an English language stream over the national programme, charges full international fees and runs its own admissions.
For families with school-age children moving to Paris, the decision usually pivots on language readiness and how long the posting will run. Children arriving with conversational French slot easily into the state or contracted private route. Children with no French face a steeper start, and the Centre Academique pour la Scolarisation des eleves allophones (CASNAV) provides additional French as a Foreign Language support inside state schools in their first year. Where a family expects to leave within four years, the bilingual route or a section internationale within a lycee is usually a safer choice because it preserves an exit pathway to UK, US or Dutch universities.
One feature that surprises many families: Paris academies use a national admissions algorithm called Affelnet to allocate places at year of college and lycee entry. The system weights residential proximity, sibling links and academic record, and the appeal route is narrow. Plan the school question before signing the rental contract, not after.
Fees, state and private
French curriculum schooling in Paris splits across three rough fee tiers. State lycees and ecoles publiques charge nothing for tuition; canteen, trip and material charges total around EUR 500 to EUR 1,200 a year. Private schools under contract (sous contrat), including the well-known Catholic networks like Stanislas, Saint Louis de Gonzague and Ecole Alsacienne, sit between EUR 1,500 and EUR 4,500 annually. The bilingual independent sector, including Ecole Jeannine Manuel, EaB, EIB Monceau, EIB Etoile and EIB Lamartine, runs EUR 12,000 to EUR 26,000 a year, with senior years at the top of the range. For a full break-down of fees across all Paris school types see our Paris fees guide.
Not sure which French curriculum route fits your family?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three Paris options across the state, private contracted and bilingual routes based on your child's age, French level and budget.
Illustrative example schools
The schools below illustrate the breadth of French curriculum provision in Paris. They are not ranked.
Lycee International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye in Yvelines is the flagship state lycee for the French curriculum plus international sections, with 14 language sections running the Baccalaureat Francais International. Entry is by sectional assessment from age 6 onwards and the cohort is genuinely international.
Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel in the 15th arrondissement delivers the national programme in parallel with an English stream from CP through to terminale, and remains one of the most academically selective routes in the city.
EIB Monceau in the 8th, with sister sites Etoile and Lamartine, layers a structured English programme onto the French national curriculum from maternelle upward, popular with expat families settling in the western arrondissements.
Lycee Henri IV in the Latin Quarter and Lycee Janson de Sailly in the 16th are the two most prestigious state lycees in the city, both free at point of use, both extraordinarily competitive on entry beyond the catchment, and both feeding directly into the classes preparatoires.
Where French curriculum families live
The geography of French curriculum families in Paris is shaped by the sectoral allocation rule. The 5th and 6th arrondissements draw families targeting Henri IV and Louis-le-Grand catchments. The 15th and 16th host the bilingual independent cluster and offer access to Janson de Sailly and Ecole Jeannine Manuel. The 7th and 8th attract diplomatic and corporate families combining EIB schools with proximity to the Champ de Mars and Parc Monceau. In Yvelines, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Le Vesinet and Maisons-Laffitte are the dominant Lycee International catchments. Outside the boulevard peripherique, Neuilly-sur-Seine and Boulogne-Billancourt offer access to several private contracted Catholic networks at a fraction of bilingual sector fees.
Admissions calendar
Affelnet results for college entry land at the end of June, with no scope for appeal beyond technical errors. Lycee general allocations follow a similar June timeline. Private contracted schools open registration files between September and January for the following September; the bilingual independents close lists from October through to February of the preceding year. The Lycee International runs sectional assessment between October and January. For an in-year move, the state sectoral school is obliged to enrol provided you can show a Paris residence; the bilingual independents typically only have movement at end of CM2 and end of troisieme.
University outcomes from the French Bac
The French Baccalaureate is now scored on a 20-point scale and weighted heavily in Parcoursup, the French university admissions platform. Selective French programmes (Sciences Po, classes preparatoires, IEPs) typically require a Mention Tres Bien (16 plus) and strong specialist subjects. UK universities translate the Bac through standard conversion tables, with Russell Group conditional offers commonly set at 14 to 16. US universities accept the Bac as equivalent to a strong AP profile but expect SAT supplementation for top-tier admissions. Compare French curriculum schools side by side with our comparison tool, and see how the route stacks against the IB at our Paris IB hub.
Frequently asked questions
Can foreign children attend state French schools in Paris?
Yes. State schools in Paris are free and open to all children resident in the catchment, regardless of nationality, with no fees and no admission test for the standard sectoral route. Bilingual sections and the Option Internationale du Baccalaureat are competitive entry.
How much do French curriculum schools cost in Paris?
State lycees and ecoles are free apart from canteen and trip charges. Private French curriculum schools under contract with the state run EUR 1,500 to EUR 4,500 a year. Bilingual French and English independents range EUR 12,000 to EUR 26,000.
What is the Option Internationale du Baccalaureat?
The OIB, now called the Baccalaureat Francais International, layers an extra block of literature and history in a second language onto the standard French Baccalaureate. It is delivered at Lycee International Saint-Germain-en-Laye and a small group of partner lycees and is recognised by selective universities globally.
Will my child need French to start?
For state primary schools yes, although French as a Foreign Language support is provided in Paris CASNAV programmes for newly arrived children. Bilingual primaries accept non-French speakers up to about Year 2 and run intensive immersion to bring them up to grade.
Is the French Bac good for UK and US universities?
Yes. A French Baccalaureate Mention Tres Bien or Bien is widely accepted at Russell Group and Ivy League universities. UK conditional offers typically ask for a 14 to 16 average. US admissions weight the Bac highly but expect SAT or AP supplementation for the most selective schools.
