Haut-Lac International Bilingual School is a private school in the hills above Vevey, founded in 1993 by two bilingual couples who wanted a school that treated English and French as equal languages of instruction rather than teaching one as a foreign subject. It has grown into an all through school for ages 3 to 18 with a small boarding house, and it sits at the eastern end of Lake Geneva within the wider region covered by our Geneva international schools hub. It appeals to families who want a genuinely bilingual education combined with the International Baccalaureate.
This profile sets out the curriculum, the fee band, the admissions calendar and the community around the school. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a prospectus. For the wider cost picture across the region, see our Geneva school fees guide.
Haut-Lac at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Bilingual English and French; IB Middle Years Programme, IB Diploma, IB Career-related Programme and a US High School Diploma |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Early years to age 18 (nursery from 18 months at the Vevey site) |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Accreditation | Authorised IB World School (Middle Years and Diploma Programmes) |
| Fee band | Upper tier; boarding charged separately (see Geneva fees guide) |
| Campus areas | Praz-Dagoud and Roches Grises, Saint-Legier; nursery in Vevey |
Curriculum and academics
Haut-Lac runs a bilingual curriculum in which English and French sit side by side through the primary and lower secondary years, with the option of an English only track for families who prefer it. From the lower secondary years pupils follow the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, with or without Swiss option modules, before choosing one of three senior routes: the IB Diploma, the IB Career-related Programme or a United States High School Diploma. That spread lets a family pick an academic or a more applied pathway without changing school.
Because the school is an authorised IB World School and teaches in two languages, it suits internationally mobile families who want their child to leave genuinely fluent in both English and French while holding a globally portable qualification. Families weighing a bilingual route against single language English or French schools in the region can read our overview of the bilingual curriculum before deciding which fits their child.
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Haut-Lac International Bilingual School fees
Haut-Lac sits in the upper part of one of the most expensive school markets in Europe. Day fees are quoted in Swiss francs and rise through the year groups towards the Diploma, while boarding is charged on top for families who use the boutique boarding house. The day rates land in the upper range mapped in our Geneva school fees guide. We do not republish a precise figure here because the schedule changes each year, so confirm the current rate with the school before you budget.
Plan for the costs that sit above headline tuition. Expect a registration or application charge, a deposit on acceptance, lunch and after school provision, and examination entry fees in the IB years. Boarding, transport up the hill from Vevey and the strength of the Swiss franc all add to the real cost, so build the full total into any relocation package discussion.
Admissions and intake
Haut-Lac runs an academic year from late August to June and admits across year groups subject to availability, with rolling international arrivals through the year. The early years and the start of secondary are natural entry points, and boarding places are limited, so register as soon as a move to the region is confirmed.
Admission is based on prior school reports, an age appropriate assessment and, in the bilingual stream, an evaluation of a child's readiness in English and French. Children with little French can usually enter the English supported route and build the second language over time. Applications are made through the school and require recent reports, passport documentation and, for transfers, a leaving record.
Location and who goes there
The school is in Saint-Legier-La Chiesaz, in the hills above Vevey and Montreux at the eastern end of Lake Geneva. Its two campuses, Praz-Dagoud for the younger years and Roches Grises for the older ones, are a short walk apart, and a separate nursery operates in Vevey. Many Haut-Lac families live along the Riviera shoreline between Vevey and Montreux, an area with a long established international community drawn by the headquarters, hospitality and food companies based in the region. The parent body mixes local Swiss families who want a bilingual education with internationally mobile arrivals.
For the wider picture of how the bilingual, British, French and IB schools sit across the region, including fee tiers and neighbourhoods, see the Geneva schools hub.
Haut-Lac International Bilingual School reviews
No verified parent reviews of Haut-Lac International Bilingual School have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We hold back from publishing a star rating until we have enough verified first hand accounts to represent the school fairly, and we never fabricate ratings. If your family attends or has attended Haut-Lac, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Haut-Lac International Bilingual School fees?
Haut-Lac sits in the upper part of the Lake Geneva region market. Day fees are quoted in Swiss francs and rise through the year groups towards the Diploma, with boarding charged on top. Schedules change annually, so confirm the current figure with the school and budget separately for registration, a deposit, lunch and examination entry fees.
Is Haut-Lac International Bilingual School a good school?
Haut-Lac is an authorised IB World School founded in 1993 and one of the established bilingual schools in the Lake Geneva region. Whether it fits depends on whether a genuinely bilingual English and French route and a setting above Vevey and Montreux suit your family. Confirm current programme authorisation directly with the school.
What curriculum does Haut-Lac International Bilingual School follow?
Haut-Lac teaches bilingually in English and French, or in English only, from the early years to age 18. It offers the IB Middle Years Programme in the lower secondary years and, in the upper school, the IB Diploma, the IB Career-related Programme and a United States High School Diploma.
When do Haut-Lac International Bilingual School applications open?
Haut-Lac runs an August to June academic year and admits across year groups subject to availability, with rolling international arrivals. Apply as soon as a move is confirmed and ask about availability in your child's year group and in the boarding house.
Where is Haut-Lac International Bilingual School located?
Haut-Lac is in Saint-Legier-La Chiesaz, in the hills above Vevey and Montreux at the eastern end of Lake Geneva. It runs two campuses a short walk apart, Praz-Dagoud for ages 3 to 12 and Roches Grises for ages 13 to 18, alongside a boarding house.
