Lycee Francais du Caire is the historic French school of the Egyptian capital, listed on our Cairo city hub and one of the options weighed by families in our guide to the best international schools in Cairo. Founded in 1911, it is operated directly by the Agence pour l'enseignement francais a l'etranger, the French government agency that runs and supports French schools worldwide. That direct AEFE management is the key fact for any parent considering it, because it ties the school tightly to the French state system, its inspectorate and its pathway to French universities.
This profile is an independent reference page. GlobalSchoolGuide takes no payment from schools and nothing here was placed because a school paid for it. The facts below were researched from the school and public sources at the time of writing, and anything we could not confirm is marked not published rather than guessed.
At a glance
Curriculum and academics
The Lycee follows the French national curriculum exactly as set by the French Ministry of National Education, so the structure mirrors a school in France: maternelle and elementaire in the primary years, college through the middle years, and lycee ending in the French Baccalaureat. Teaching is in French, with Arabic and English taught as languages, and the whole programme is designed to feed straight into French and francophone higher education.
Since 2023 the terminale year has offered the Baccalaureat Francais International, a bilingual route that adds an international dimension to the standard Bac in selected language tracks. Families who want an English medium pathway instead usually look at the International Baccalaureate or British curriculum schools elsewhere in the city, so the choice here really comes down to language and onward destination. For families committed to a French education, the direct AEFE link and the long history are the draw.
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Lycee Francais du Caire fees
As a school inside the AEFE network the Lycee usually sits below the dollar pegged premium charged by the largest British and American schools in Cairo. Our Cairo international school fees guide places French network schools in the lower to mid bands of the market, though families who fall outside the French scholarship and support system pay the full published schedule. Because fees and the available support change year to year, confirm the current tuition and billing arrangements with the school before you budget from abroad.
Tuition is only part of the cost. Budget for a first enrolment or registration charge, any annual contribution to the parents association that funds parts of the network, school transport across Maadi, New Cairo and Zamalek, lunches, and the usual extras for trips, materials and activities. Ask how charges are staged across the year and use our fee tools to model the full annual figure rather than the headline tuition alone.
Admissions
The Lycee runs on the French academic year with a September start and a registration cycle that opens earlier in the calendar. Priority in the French system typically goes to children already in the AEFE network and to French nationals, with remaining places offered to other families subject to space and, for older students, the level of French. Entry into the primary years is more flexible on language than entry into college or lycee, where following lessons in French matters.
New Cairo and Maadi are among the busiest areas for international schooling in the capital, so popular year groups can fill ahead of the new year. Families planning a move should enquire early, confirm which campus serves their age group, and be honest about their child's French so the school can advise on the right entry point.
Location and who goes there
The historic heart of the school is the Maadi campus, in the leafy southern suburb that has drawn diplomats and expatriate families for generations. Further primary sites in New Cairo and Zamalek and the secondary classes in El Mearag spread the network across the southern and central parts of the city, so a French family can usually find a campus within reach of where they settle.
The community is a mix of French and francophone expatriates, Egyptian families who want a French education and pathway, and staff of French companies and institutions working in Cairo. For the wider picture of where families live across the capital and how the French option compares with the British, American, IB and bilingual schools, see the Cairo city hub and our guide to the best international schools in Cairo.
Reviews
We do not yet hold verified parent reviews for Lycee Francais du Caire. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish reviews only once we can confirm they come from real families. If your child attends or has attended the Lycee, we would value your first hand account. Share your experience through the school reviews hub and help the next relocating family decide with better information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Lycee Francais du Caire fees?
As an AEFE network school the Lycee tends to sit below the dollar pegged premium of the largest British and American schools in Cairo, in the lower to mid bands described in our Cairo fees guide, though families outside the French scholarship system pay the full schedule. Confirm the current tuition and any registration charges directly before budgeting.
What curriculum does Lycee Francais du Caire follow?
The school teaches the French national curriculum set by the French Ministry of National Education, from maternelle through to the French Baccalaureat. Since 2023 the terminale year also offers the Baccalaureat Francais International in bilingual tracks.
Is Lycee Francais du Caire a good school?
The Lycee is the long established French school in Cairo, founded in 1911 and run directly by AEFE, the French state agency for education abroad. Whether it suits depends on whether your family wants a French language education and pathway, and we do not publish a rating without verified reviews.
Where is Lycee Francais du Caire located?
The historic primary campus is in Maadi, with further primary sites in New Cairo and Zamalek and secondary classes in the El Mearag area. The network spreads across both the southern and central parts of the capital.
When do Lycee Francais du Caire applications open?
The school follows the French academic year with a September start and runs a registration cycle earlier in the year. Places in popular year groups can fill ahead of time, so families should enquire early and confirm availability for their child's level.
