International School Waiting Lists in Paris: How to Secure a Place

Securing a place at a Paris international school can be one of the most stressful aspects of a Paris relocation. The city has a well-established expatriate community, a large diplomatic corps and a concentration of multinational headquarters that generate sustained demand for English-medium schooling — demand that in several cases consistently outstrips supply. For British families arriving without a school place confirmed, the experience can feel chaotic. For families who plan ahead, the picture is far more manageable.

This guide explains which schools are most oversubscribed, how each waiting list operates, which entry points are tightest, and how to build a school strategy that gives your family the best realistic chance of securing the right place.

The Schools at a Glance: Demand Versus Supply

Paris international schools fall broadly into three demand categories:

Highly competitive / long waiting lists: EJM (apply 12–18 months ahead); LISGL British Section (language test; competitive entry); ISP (oversubscribed at KG, Grade 6–7, DP Year 1)

Significant demand / most grades have waiting lists: ASP (rolling waiting pool); BSP (high demand at Reception/Year 1)

Most accessible / rolling admissions: ICS Paris (no entrance exam; rolling admissions; most reliable back-up); Bilingual Montessori School of Paris (generally more accessible at early ages)

École Jeannine Manuel (EJM): Apply Earliest

EJM in the 15th arrondissement is the most sought-after school in Paris at almost every entry point. Its combination of genuine bilingual French-English education, Ministry-accredited status at primary level (which keeps primary and middle fees considerably lower than full-fee international schools), and strong academic outcomes creates demand that consistently exceeds places.

Admissions advisers consistently recommend submitting EJM applications 12–18 months before the intended start date. For September 2027 entry, this means applying no later than autumn 2026 — before many families have even confirmed their relocation.

The school assesses applicants through school reports, a written test at secondary level and an interview. There is no shortcut to the waiting list: places are allocated in order of application, subject to assessment outcomes. The registration fee of €650 is payable at application.

Several practical points for families targeting EJM:

• Apply at the earliest practical point — a late application virtually guarantees a waiting list position rather than a direct offer
• The school is competitive at every year group, not just secondary; apply for primary and nursery entry with equal urgency
• If you need French-language support (approximately €3,895 per year extra), declare this at application — it does not disqualify a child but it is a factor in the admissions assessment
• EJM does not operate a purely financial selection model; places are not simply bought through high fees at primary level

Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye (LISGL): A Test, Not a List

LISGL's British Section does not operate a conventional waiting list in the same way as private schools. Entry is determined by competitive examination:

• Written test (approximately March): English comprehension and essay
• Oral test (approximately April–May): Discussion of texts; conducted in English

The standard required is native or near-native English. Candidates either pass the test or they do not. There is no ability to simply "wait your turn" — families must apply within the September–December window, sit the tests, and accept the result in June–July.

This makes LISGL's situation different from other oversubscribed schools. A family cannot secure a LISGL place by applying 18 months ahead — they can only secure one by entering a child who passes the language tests. Preparation matters: children who have had continuous English-medium schooling and are strong readers and writers will be at an advantage.

As a French public school, LISGL also does not offer the same flexibility around entry timing that private schools can offer (such as mid-year starts). The primary entry point is September.

The American School of Paris (ASP): Active Rolling Waiting Pool

ASP in Saint-Cloud uses a rolling admissions model and maintains an active waiting pool across most year groups. Most grades have families waiting, but the pool does move — particularly over the summer as previously enrolled families confirm departures.

Strategies that work at ASP:

• Apply as early as possible and pay the application fee to enter the waiting pool formally
• Confirm continued interest with the admissions office every two to three months — schools sometimes remove families who have gone silent
• Consider mid-year entry if an autumn start proves impossible; families departing mid-year create mid-year places
• If you have flexibility on year-group placement (for example, a child born close to a year boundary), ask whether an alternative year group has shorter waiting times

ASP's private bus network covering the 7th, 8th and 16th arrondissements and parts of Hauts-de-Seine means that transport is manageable for families in central Paris, but the Saint-Cloud location adds travel time for families east of the 16th.

International School of Paris (ISP): Tight at Key Entry Points

ISP in the 16th arrondissement is oversubscribed at specific entry points: Kindergarten (age 5), Grade 6 or 7 (secondary transition), and DP Year 1 (Diploma Programme, equivalent to Sixth Form entry). At other year groups, places may be more readily available, particularly in the middle secondary years.

ISP's non-refundable entry fee of €10,000 from Grade 1 creates natural self-selection. Families who are less committed to Paris or who are exploring ISP as one of several options sometimes withdraw before the entry fee stage, which creates some movement. Nonetheless, ISP should be treated as a school where early application (October–December) and patience are essential.

ISP operates a formal waiting list and will contact families in order as places arise. The school's location in the 16th arrondissement — the most practical for families living in central or western Paris — contributes to sustained demand.

For full IB options including ISP, see our IB schools in Paris guide.

British School of Paris (BSP): High Demand at Entry Years

BSP in Croissy-sur-Seine has the highest demand at Reception (KG1, age 3) and Year 1 (KG2, age 4) — the typical primary entry points. Demand at secondary is more variable, with some movement at IGCSE and A-Level years as families from other schools transfer in or as families relocate. This makes BSP, unusually, somewhat more accessible at secondary than at primary.

Families planning to begin a child's Paris education at BSP from nursery or primary should apply during the October–December window for the following September. A Development Fund contribution of €8,000 applies in the first year (alongside the €1,500 registration fee), and confirming payment of this promptly on receiving an offer helps secure the place.

See our British schools in Paris guide for full details on BSP.

ICS Paris: The Most Reliable Option

ICS Paris in the 15th arrondissement is the most accessible English-medium IB school in Paris. It operates rolling admissions, requires no entrance examination, and is less consistently oversubscribed than ISP, EJM, ASP or BSP. For families who have left their application late, or who are targeting a mid-year start, ICS is the realistic first port of call.

ICS is not a fall-back in any pejorative sense. It offers the full IB Continuum (PYP, MYP, Diploma) from ages 3 to 18 with a strong pastoral reputation. Its shuttle service is used by approximately a third of students. Fees are lower than ISP at comparable year groups (€20,595–€31,260 versus ISP's €25,500–€39,000).

For families building a realistic school strategy, the sensible approach is:

1. Apply to EJM 12–18 months ahead if the bilingual route is preferred
2. Apply to ISP and/or BSP in October–December
3. Apply to ICS in parallel as a reliable option
4. Register interest with ASP's waiting pool

This multi-school approach avoids the risk of a single point of failure.

Building a Realistic School Strategy

The overriding lesson from Paris school admissions is that supply is constrained across the western cluster, and the most desirable schools fill up faster than most families expect. A school strategy built around a single school is a school strategy built around a single point of failure.

Practical steps for families relocating to Paris:

Twelve to eighteen months before your intended move:

• Apply to EJM if you want the bilingual route
• Register initial interest with ISP, ASP and BSP

Nine to twelve months before:

• Submit formal applications to ISP, ASP, BSP, ICS during the October–December window
• Apply for LISGL British Section if language test standards are likely to be met (September–December application)

Six months before:

• Confirm which offers you have received; withdraw from schools you will not attend (freeing places for other families)
• Finalise housing in the neighbourhood that serves your confirmed school choice
• Plan transport logistics in advance — see our guide to best areas in Paris near schools

On arrival:

• Provide final address documentation and certificat de radiation
• Confirm enrolment and pay outstanding deposits
• See our step-by-step application guide for enrolment documents

How Global Investments Can Help

Global Investments helps British families coordinate property search with school application timelines in Paris, ensuring that housing decisions are made in the right neighbourhoods for the schools where places are available. Our team has experience of the western arc residential market where the majority of English-medium schools are located. Contact us to discuss your relocation timeline and the property options that fit your school shortlist.

This guide is for general information only. School fees, residency requirements, and educational frameworks change regularly. Always verify current information directly with schools and relevant French authorities.