Notre Dame International High School, widely known as NDIHS, is one of the few international boarding schools in France. It occupies the campus of Notre Dame les Oiseaux in Verneuil-sur-Seine, a residential town around thirty five minutes west of Paris by train, and offers an American curriculum to students in the final three years of secondary school. For families relocating to the region it is a distinctive choice among Paris international schools, combining a United States style high school with the option to board.
This profile covers the academic programme and Advanced Placement pathway, the fee band including boarding, the admissions route and the setting. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so what follows is an editorial reference rather than a promotion.
Notre Dame International High School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | American curriculum, American High School Diploma, Advanced Placement |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Grades 10 to 12, ages 15 to 18 |
| Founded | On the Notre Dame les Oiseaux campus, established 1929 |
| Accreditation | Cognia accredited; Advanced Placement courses approved by the College Board |
| Fee band | Upper mid tier, plus boarding (see Paris fees guide) |
| Campus area | Verneuil-sur-Seine, west of Paris |
Curriculum and academics
NDIHS teaches an American curriculum leading to the American High School Diploma, the qualification recognised by universities in the United States and widely accepted elsewhere. Students take Advanced Placement courses approved by the College Board, which allow able pupils to study university level material and can earn credit at many institutions. The school is accredited by Cognia, the international accreditation body for American style schools.
Because the school covers only grades 10 to 12, it suits families who want a focused, college preparatory final phase rather than a full through school. It appears in our roundup of American schools in Paris, where its boarding option marks it out from the day only schools in the city.
Deciding between two offers?
Put Notre Dame International High School side by side with up to two other Paris schools on fees, curriculum and stage range.
Notre Dame International High School fees
Notre Dame International High School sits in the upper mid band of the Paris day school market described in our Paris school fees guide, but boarding adds a substantial further cost on top of tuition, as it does at any boarding school. The school offers both five day and seven day boarding, and the choice between day, weekly and full boarding is the single largest driver of what a family pays.
Beyond tuition and boarding, budget for the usual line items: a registration or enrolment fee, examination entry fees for Advanced Placement in the senior years, and costs for trips, materials and activities. Because boarding fees are not directly comparable with day school tiers, families should request the current schedule from the school and model the full figure before committing.
Admissions and intake
The school runs an American style academic year from late August to June and admits students into grades 10 to 12. Entry is based on prior school reports, English language readiness and, for boarding applicants, an assessment of suitability for residential life. Places are offered on a rolling basis as they arise, though the senior grades are the natural entry points.
Applications are made directly to the school. International and local families are both welcome, and the boarding provision means students sometimes join from outside the Paris region or from abroad. Given the focused three year structure, families are advised to apply in good time before the start of grade 10 or for a specific transfer year.
Location and who goes there
NDIHS is set on the wooded Notre Dame les Oiseaux campus in Verneuil-sur-Seine, a quiet residential town in the western Yvelines around thirty five minutes from central Paris by train. The setting suits families who prefer a greener, suburban environment to the city centre, and the boarding option draws students from across the region and beyond. The parent community is international, with a strong representation of families connected to the United States and to companies in the western Paris business corridor.
For the wider picture of how the American boarding route compares with the day schools and IB options across the capital, see the Paris international schools hub.
Notre Dame International High School reviews
No verified parent reviews of Notre Dame International High 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 the school, please consider sharing your experience through our school reviews page to help other relocating families.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Notre Dame International High School fees?
Day tuition sits in the upper mid band of the Paris market in our fees guide, while five day and seven day boarding add a substantial further cost. The boarding choice is the biggest driver of the total, so request the current schedule from the school.
Is Notre Dame International High School a good school?
NDIHS is one of the few international boarding schools in France, offering an American diploma with Advanced Placement and Cognia accreditation. Whether it suits your family depends on wanting a focused college preparatory high school, with the option to board.
What curriculum does Notre Dame International High School follow?
The school follows an American curriculum leading to the American High School Diploma, with Advanced Placement courses approved by the College Board, for students in grades 10 to 12.
Does Notre Dame International High School offer boarding?
Yes. The school offers both five day and seven day boarding alongside day places, which is unusual among international schools near Paris.
Where is Notre Dame International High School located?
The school is on the Notre Dame les Oiseaux campus in Verneuil-sur-Seine, a residential town around thirty five minutes west of central Paris by train.
