Lycée Janson de Sailly is one of the largest and best known state lycées in Paris, set in the 16th arrondissement and teaching the French national curriculum from collège through to the baccalauréat. It is a public school rather than a fee paying international school, but its international and European sections, alongside a respected classes préparatoires track, make it a serious option for families weighing the French route among Paris international schools. Tuition for the standard French programme is effectively free, which sets it apart from almost every other school in this guide.
This profile covers the academic pathways, what the international section involves, the modest costs a family should still budget, the admissions route into a state lycée and the part of Paris the school serves. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a promotion.
Lycée Janson de Sailly at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | French national curriculum, French baccalauréat, international and European sections |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Collège and lycée, roughly ages 11 to 18, plus classes préparatoires |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Accreditation | French Ministry of Education state lycée; international sections |
| Fee band | State funded; international section in the lycée international band (see Paris fees guide) |
| Campus area | 16th arrondissement, near rue de la Pompe |
Curriculum and academics
Janson de Sailly teaches the French national curriculum across its collège and lycée, leading to the French baccalauréat. Families can read our guide to the French curriculum to see how the lycée system, its sections and the baccalauréat fit together. The school is known for breadth in languages, with provision that has included Arabic, Chinese, Russian, Italian, Latin and Ancient Greek, and for its selective classes préparatoires aux grandes écoles, the post baccalauréat track that prepares students for France's competitive higher education entrance examinations.
For international families the draw is the section internationale, a bilingual stream that adds the language, literature, history and geography of a second national tradition taught in that language, leading to the international option of the baccalauréat. A section européenne and an Abibac French and German double diploma stream widen the choice further. Families comparing this against the IB or a fully English medium route can weigh how a bilingual state pathway sits alongside the private international schools across the city.
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Lycée Janson de Sailly fees
As a French state lycée, Janson de Sailly does not charge tuition for the standard national programme, which is the single biggest difference between it and the private international schools mapped in our Paris school fees guide. Families on the standard track pay only modest costs such as the cantine for school lunches, books and materials, and trips.
Where the school carries a charge is the international section: participation in a bilingual section sits in the lycée international band the fees guide describes for state sections, far below the private school tiers. There is no capital levy, registration premium or compulsory transport fee of the kind common at the fee paying schools, so the total cost of a place is a fraction of the premium Paris market.
Admissions and intake
Admission to Janson de Sailly follows the French state system. Placement in the collège and lycée is in principle linked to the school catchment, the carte scolaire, for the standard French programme, while entry to the section internationale is selective and assessed on the language concerned. The academic year runs on the French calendar from September to early July.
International families relocating mid year should approach the relevant académie and the school directly, since places in the international section are limited and competitive. Applicants to the section internationale are normally assessed for the ability to follow lessons in the second language, and supporting school reports are requested. Because the prépa classes are nationally competitive, entry there is based on baccalauréat results and the Parcoursup process rather than on enrolment as a younger pupil.
Location and who goes there
The school occupies a large nineteenth century campus in the 16th arrondissement, close to rue de la Pompe and within the Auteuil and Passy quarters on the western side of central Paris. This is one of the city's established residential districts and home to many French professional and diplomatic families, as well as international households who choose the French system. The location is well served by the metro and sits within comfortable reach of the western suburbs.
For the wider picture of how the French lycée option compares with the American, British and IB schools across the capital, see the Paris international schools hub.
Lycée Janson de Sailly reviews
No verified parent reviews of Lycée Janson de Sailly 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 the school, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Lycée Janson de Sailly fees?
Janson de Sailly is a French state lycée, so the standard national programme carries no tuition. Families budget only for lunches, books and trips. Joining the international section adds a modest contribution in line with the lycée international band described in our Paris fees guide.
Is Lycée Janson de Sailly a good school?
Janson de Sailly is one of the largest and most established state lycées in Paris, well regarded for its languages, its international sections and its competitive classes préparatoires. Whether it suits your family depends on wanting the French baccalauréat route rather than an English medium international curriculum.
What curriculum does Lycée Janson de Sailly follow?
The school follows the French national curriculum to the baccalauréat, with international, European and Abibac sections that add a bilingual dimension, plus post baccalauréat classes préparatoires.
When do Lycée Janson de Sailly applications open?
The school runs the French September to July year. Places on the standard programme follow the state catchment system, while entry to the selective international section is assessed ahead of the new year, so families should contact the school and the académie early.
Where is Lycée Janson de Sailly located?
Janson de Sailly is in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, near rue de la Pompe in the Auteuil and Passy area on the western side of the city.
