Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel, abbreviated EABJM, is the historic name under which Jeannine Manuel established her bilingual school in the 7th arrondissement in 1954. The institution still operates today as Ecole Jeannine Manuel, a non profit, co educational day school teaching a French and English bilingual curriculum to a multicultural community drawn from around 80 nationalities. It is one of the most established names in the Paris international schools market and a long standing first choice for internationally mobile and Franco British households who want their children fluent and literate in both languages.
This profile sets out the bilingual programme, the two upper school qualification routes, the fee band and the admissions calendar. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a prospectus.
Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Bilingual French and English; French baccalaureate with international option; International Baccalaureate Diploma |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Pre school to upper secondary (maternelle to terminale) |
| Founded | 1954, as Ecole Active Bilingue by Jeannine Manuel |
| Accreditation | French Ministry of Education contract; International Baccalaureate authorised; Council of International Schools and New England Association of Schools and Colleges member |
| Fee band | Upper mid tier (see Paris fees guide) |
| Campus area | Paris 7th and 15th arrondissements |
Curriculum and academics
Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel built its reputation on genuine bilingualism rather than English as a second language. From the early years pupils work across French and English every week, and the school layers a third language later in the programme. The aim Jeannine Manuel set out, to form whole and internationally aware individuals, still shapes a curriculum that combines French academic rigour with an English language stream taught to native standard. In the upper school families choose between the French baccalaureate with its international option and the International Baccalaureate Diploma, which lets each child follow the route that best fits their strengths and university plans. Parents weighing the choice can read our guides to the bilingual schools model and how it compares with single language systems.
The school became the first independent International Baccalaureate World School in France in 1980, and it holds International Baccalaureate authorisation alongside membership of the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. It operates under contract with the French Ministry of Education. These external recognitions, rather than any rating of our own, are the benchmarks parents can verify. Graduates progress to selective universities in France, the United Kingdom, the United States and across Europe. The current Ecole Jeannine Manuel network also runs campuses in Lille and London, which can suit families who expect to move again.
Not sure a bilingual school is the right fit?
Tell us your child's age, budget and language goals and we will shortlist Paris schools that match, free and independent.
Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel fees
Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel, under its current Ecole Jeannine Manuel name, sits in the upper mid part of the Paris market. Our Paris school fees guide places the EAB Bilingue group in the upper mid tier, which runs roughly 18,000 to 28,000 euros a year, below the premium internationals but above the smaller bilingual privates. As a non profit school, fee income is reinvested rather than returned to owners, and exact figures vary by year group.
Budget for the costs that sit above headline tuition. Expect a one time inscription or enrolment charge, the near compulsory cantine for school lunch, examination entry fees in the International Baccalaureate or French baccalaureate years, and the usual outlay on books, materials and trips. Paris extras typically add between 12 and 18 per cent to the advertised tuition, so a parent should plan the total cost of place rather than the headline figure alone.
Admissions and intake
Admission to Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel is selective and demand is high, particularly at the main entry points of pre school and the start of secondary. The school runs a September to June French academic year and assesses applicants on prior school reports, age appropriate testing and, in the bilingual streams, evidence that a child can access or quickly reach the required level in both French and English. Applications are made online and require recent reports, passport documentation and, for transfers, a leaving record.
Because places at popular year groups fill early, families relocating to Paris are advised to apply as soon as the published window opens rather than waiting for a confirmed move. Mid year entry is possible at some year groups subject to space, but the most over subscribed points reward early application.
Location and who goes there
The school occupies sites in the 7th and 15th arrondissements on the Left Bank, close to the institutions and embassies of central western Paris and within easy reach of the metro. Its families cluster in the western and central arrondissements and the inner western suburbs, which keeps commutes manageable for the diplomatic, academic and professional households that form the core of the parent body. The community is genuinely multinational, reflecting the 80 nationalities the school reports.
For the wider picture of how the bilingual, American, British and IB schools sit across the city and its suburbs, including fee tiers and neighbourhoods, see the Paris schools hub. Families comparing this school with its sister profile can also read our entry on Ecole Jeannine Manuel, the current name for the same institution.
Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel reviews
No verified parent reviews of Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent a school fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family attends or has attended EABJM or Ecole Jeannine Manuel, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel fees?
The school sits in the upper mid Paris band, roughly 18,000 to 28,000 euros a year depending on year group, below the premium internationals. Budget also for inscription, the cantine, examination entry fees and books and trips.
Is Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel a good school?
It is one of the oldest bilingual schools in France, founded in 1954, the first independent International Baccalaureate World School in the country, and is accredited by the French Ministry of Education, the Council of International Schools and the New England Association. Suitability depends on whether genuine French and English bilingualism fits your family.
What is the difference between Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel and Ecole Jeannine Manuel?
They are the same institution. Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel is the original name from 1954, and the school is now generally known as Ecole Jeannine Manuel.
What curriculum does Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel follow?
A bilingual French and English programme to the upper school, where pupils choose between the French baccalaureate with international option and the International Baccalaureate Diploma.
When do Ecole Active Bilingue Jeannine Manuel applications open?
The school runs a September to June year and admits mainly at pre school and the start of secondary. Apply as early as the published window allows because popular year groups fill quickly.
