Best International Schools in Paris
Paris is home to some of the most respected international schools, offering expat families exceptional education within a dynamic, multicultural environment. Known for their academic rigor and diverse extracurricular programs, these schools provide students with a holistic learning experience.
Schools in Paris are regularly evaluated to maintain high standards, with leading institutions achieving top ratings for their outstanding quality.
This guide highlights premier international schools in Paris, assisting expatriate families in finding the ideal educational opportunities for their children’s growth and success.
The British School of Paris
The British School of Paris (BSP) is one of the largest and most renowned British international schools globally. Dedicated to fostering academic excellence, BSP offers small class sizes, study spaces, well-equipped libraries, cutting-edge technology, and outstanding facilities that create an ideal environment for student development.
With a focus on high teaching standards and personalized education, BSP also emphasizes a well-rounded experience, providing ample opportunities in sports, music, and the arts. Supported by a dedicated team of qualified staff, students at BSP enjoy a positive and nurturing atmosphere, enabling them to grow with confidence and curiosity.
BSP students frequently gain entry to prestigious universities across the UK, USA, France, and beyond. Known for its enriching extracurricular program, BSP instills in students the skills, resilience, and ambition to thrive both in academics and personal pursuits. The school’s environment is designed to inspire well-rounded and successful young adults.
EIB Grenelle
EIB Grenelle, a bilingual private school in Paris’s 7th arrondissement, opened in 2021 near Les Invalides. This international school offers a unique bilingual education to students from Nursery through Year 6 (Maternelle to CM2), seamlessly blending the French national curriculum with English-language instruction.
With 50% of classes conducted in English and the remainder in French, EIB Grenelle combines the structured approach of the French system with the interactive, hands-on methods typical of English teaching. This dual approach prepares students to excel academically and socially in a multicultural world.
Part of the esteemed EIB Paris network, the school fosters a warm, family-oriented community where students thrive. The experienced and diverse teaching staff caters to the needs of expatriate families, creating a supportive environment for growth. Alongside core subjects, EIB Grenelle offers STREAM (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) activities. The school’s curriculum is focused on fostering critical thinking, global awareness, and collaborative skills.
Malherbe International School
Malherbe International School (MIS), located in the western suburbs of Paris, provides students with a multicultural education that strengthens academic skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Founded in 1990, MIS is a bilingual, private co-educational day school, welcoming children from ages 2 to 11, with around 160 students representing over 25 nationalities.
MIS blends English and French instruction, following the English National Curriculum in Primary while adopting a Montessori approach in nursery and pre-primary classes. Alongside English instruction, students receive robust French language support, including a dedicated French as a Foreign Language program for non-native speakers.
Conveniently situated in the Yvelines (78) region and accessible by the RER A train, MIS provides an inclusive, family-oriented setting that encourages cultural exchange and high academic performance. Over the past three decades, MIS’s unique educational model has successfully prepared students for continued studies worldwide, helping them adapt and thrive.
Trillium International School
Trillium International School is dedicated to providing a bilingual and bicultural education, preparing students with the skills needed to succeed in a globally connected world. The school emphasizes respect for the environment as an eco-school, encouraging sustainable practices and contact with nature.
Trillium’s philosophy centers on promoting values like respect, empathy, cooperation, and open-mindedness, creating an inclusive atmosphere that fosters individual growth. Small class sizes and a Montessori-based approach support autonomy, self-confidence, and personal responsibility, allowing students to explore their unique strengths.
The curriculum at Trillium is designed to encourage intellectual curiosity while blending English and French national curriculum studies. The school’s goals include preparing students academically for middle school in both international and Francophone or Anglophone systems and developing active, responsible global citizens. By integrating innovative educational practices with a focus on technology, Trillium empowers students to thrive in an ever-evolving digital world.
Rainbow School Paris
Rainbow School Paris is a private international school dedicated to nurturing each student’s personal and academic growth in a supportive, multicultural setting. Established in 2003 by Bénédicte Lartigue, the school blends Montessori principles with an international curriculum to create meaningful learning experiences.
Rainbow School emphasizes autonomy, creativity, and well-being, encouraging students to explore their unique potential while learning at their own pace. Small class sizes allow for personalized attention and a balance of structure and choice in lessons, fostering independence within a caring environment.
The school’s bilingual approach features English immersion in Nursery (70% English, 30% French) and expands into a bilingual primary program, integrating the French national curriculum. French as a Foreign Language (FLE) is provided for non-native speakers, supporting their language development.
With 25 nationalities represented, Rainbow School celebrates cultural diversity and actively involves families through the parent association, “Friends of Rainbow School Paris,” strengthening connections between home and school.
Kingsworth International School
Kingsworth International School in Paris is a vibrant, multicultural community offering a bilingual curriculum to students from over 40 nationalities. Intended for ages 2.5 to 18, the school comprises Early Years, Primary, Middle, and Upper sections, each fostering personal and academic growth in a supportive environment.
Kingsworth combines an inquiry-based, text-centered curriculum with a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) subjects, helping students build critical thinking skills.
Small classes—ranging from 5 to 18 students—allow for personalized instruction and frequent group discussions, creating a familial atmosphere on each campus of approximately 100 students. Regular assessments are designed to challenge students, emphasizing a deep conceptual understanding and the development of strong analytical skills.
Situated in Paris’s Sixteenth Arrondissement, Kingsworth’s campus includes historic architecture and a welcoming courtyard. Students engage in diverse activities, clubs, and peer tutoring, led by dedicated international staff who foster curiosity and meaningful engagement.
Open Sky International
Open Sky International is an independent bilingual school in Boulogne-Billancourt, just minutes from Paris, offering top-tier French-English education to students aged 2 to 18 from over 40 countries. With a balanced curriculum from preschool through secondary school, the school promotes language fluency by conducting half of the primary lessons in French and the other half in English.
In secondary school, students earn internationally recognized credentials, including the British GCSE and IGCSE, along with France’s Brevet des Collèges. Beginning in Year 12, students prepare for globally respected A levels, with exams administered as part of Open Sky’s Pearson Edexcel accreditation.
Open Sky takes a personalized approach, with small class sizes, skilled teachers, and diverse activities like sports, chess, drama, and capoeira to nurture student growth. Every child is welcomed, including those new to French or English, supported through targeted language classes to ensure bilingual proficiency.
Forest International School
Forest International School, located in a diverse global community, brings together students, teachers, and staff from various countries. The school fosters cultural appreciation daily and through special events. This environment promotes respect, understanding, and prepares students for global citizenship and leadership.
The school’s small class sizes ensure personalized attention, allowing educators to adapt their methods to each child’s abilities, maturity, and learning preferences. The curriculum integrates the English National Curriculum with the International Primary and Middle Years Curriculums, offering a balanced approach to academic excellence. Students also have access to Cambridge assessments and preparation for the French Brevet des Collèges.
Forest International School emphasizes outdoor education, promoting child development, well-being, and a connection to nature. The school’s extensive facilities include a large garden, separate play areas, a sports field, and a heated swimming pool open during autumn and summer terms. These amenities create a nurturing, inclusive, and active learning environment for all students.
Bilingual International School Of Paris
The Bilingual International School of Paris (BISP) provides a dual-language education for students aged 3 to 18, immersing them equally in French and English. Following a distinctive model, the day is split into two halves: one for English instruction and the other for French, offering true bilingual immersion. Unlike programs where a second language is introduced gradually, BISP ensures students learn and communicate in both languages from day one, promoting fluency as they progress academically.
The school’s early years program, open from age 3 (and in some cases from 2.5 years in January), introduces children to a bilingual environment. Classes are small, with a maximum of 12 students, allowing native-speaking teachers to deliver a creative, balanced curriculum.
In Primary School, both languages are given equal emphasis, with 50% of instruction time dedicated to each. BISP’s multicultural setting, representing over 32 nationalities, fosters natural cultural awareness and appreciation, helping students form global perspectives through daily interactions with peers and educators.
Lycée International - British Section
The British Section at Lycée International Saint-Germain-en-Laye provides a rigorous British curriculum integrated within a bilingual, bicultural French educational framework for students aged 3 to 18. As a part of five partner schools in the Saint-Germain-en-Laye - Le Pecq area, this section offers a fee-based English-language program, aiming to foster academic excellence and cultural awareness.
Students receive between 6-8 hours of English instruction weekly, taught by British Section educators, while the remainder of their classes are conducted in French. This immersive experience ensures a balanced, bilingual education that prepares students for academic success in either anglophone or francophone environments.
The British Section promotes a love for learning, personal growth, and development of individual strengths within a supportive setting. It encourages students to become independent thinkers and responsible global citizens, while building an inclusive community that values collaboration among pupils, parents, and colleagues, facilitating cultural understanding and international mobility.
Union School
Union School provides nursery and primary students with an exceptional bilingual education in both French and English, maintaining small classes of 20 to ensure individual attention and a nurturing atmosphere. Core values, including team spirit, kindness, and confidence-building, are central to the school’s approach, fostering an environment where students feel encouraged and supported.
The school’s unique double curriculum includes both the French Programme de l’education nationale and the English National Curriculum, allowing students to easily transition between traditional and international courses. This balanced bilingual program helps children develop language skills and academic versatility.
Union School prioritizes both personal and academic growth, combining cognitive science insights with innovative global teaching methods to help children thrive. Union School emphasizes holistic development and offers a broad selection of extracurricular activities. These programs aim to make learning enjoyable while preparing students for future success in a supportive, forward-thinking environment.
Le Petit Cours du Rocher
Le Petit Cours du Rocher, a private school established in 1953, offers a bilingual French-English program for children in preschool, kindergarten, and primary grades. This family-oriented institution combines traditional values with immersive bilingualism, with 50% of classes conducted in French and 50% in English by native-speaking teachers.
The school’s curriculum integrates the French National Education system with the British curriculum, emphasizing both academic excellence and personal growth. Small class sizes, limited to 20 students, allow for individualized attention, fostering a nurturing environment where students can thrive.
Programs at Le Petit Cours du Rocher include weekly activities in sports, music, and the arts, as well as coding classes from CP (Grade 1) onward. The school also features a FabLab, providing hands-on experiences in engineering for kids. With teachers certified in Positive Discipline, this bilingual institution prioritizes the well-being of both students and educators, nurturing "minds, hands, and hearts."
Prunelle School Montessori Bilingual
Prunelle Bilingual Montessori School, based in Levallois-Perret and Puteaux, offers bilingual French-English education for children aged 2 to 12. Focused on holistic development, Prunelle’s approach combines a warm, structured environment with personalized teaching. Each class includes both a Montessori-certified educator and an assistant, one of whom is a native French speaker and the other an English speaker, ensuring individualized guidance in small, close-knit classes.
The school’s educational philosophy respects each child’s natural pace and uniqueness, fostering autonomy, confidence, and responsibility. Using a Montessori framework, classrooms are equipped with engaging, hands-on materials that promote concentration, self-correction, and understanding through practical application. Classes operate on three-year cycles, allowing older students to reinforce their knowledge by helping younger peers.
To track progress, Prunelle employs personalized monitoring rather than standardized comparisons, with regular parent-teacher conferences and reports on each child’s growth. In addition, character building, independence, and peaceful conflict resolution are core values at the heart of Prunelle’s enriching and supportive environment.
Concordia Bilingual School
Concordia Bilingual School, situated in Paris’ 16th arrondissement, offers a unique bilingual education for preschool, primary, and middle school students. Integrating both the French Education Nationale and the English National Curriculum, Concordia provides a well-rounded program that combines academic rigor with cultural enrichment.
Concordia Bilingual School provides a positive, international environment where students flourish through sports and a variety of extracurricular activities. The bilingual experience at Concordia Bilingual School is immersive, with instruction divided equally between English and French. Classes follow a structured schedule: two days in English, two in French, and a half-day split between both languages, with native-speaking teachers.
Non-native French speakers receive additional language support, ensuring full proficiency in both languages by the end of primary school. With small class sizes, Concordia Bilingual School tailors academic plans to each student’s pace and needs. Emphasis on "soft skills" like teamwork, creativity, public speaking, and critical thinking prepares students for success in a multicultural world.
Marymount International School
Marymount Paris is a renowned private international school for children ages 2 to 14. As the oldest international school in France, Marymount offers a warm, welcoming environment that embraces students from various countries, religions, and backgrounds. The curriculum draws from top international standards, preparing students for global educational pathways.
Students participate in service-learning projects to develop a sense of community responsibility. Daily French lessons are part of the program, with native speakers following the French National Curriculum, enhancing bilingual learning across the student body. Through its affiliation with the RSHM Global Network, Marymount provides opportunities for international exchanges and cross-cultural experiences in London, Portugal, and Rome.
The active Parent-Teacher Organization fosters a vibrant community with social events and seasonal gatherings, while the school’s historical ties to the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary ensure a strong foundation in both academics and values.
Education Fees Planning
For British expats, planning education fees is a crucial part of relocating abroad, particularly when enrolling children in British international schools. These schools, while offering a high-quality education aligned with the British school system, often come with significant tuition fees. It's essential to account for costs such as registration, yearly tuition, uniforms, and extracurricular activities. Additionally, expats should explore employer subsidies, scholarships, and financial aid options.
Early planning, budgeting, and consulting with financial advisors can help families manage these expenses effectively, ensuring a smooth educational journey for their children.
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