Education and Schools in Paris
Paris hosts many of the top-rated schools and educational facilities in the world. Expats placing their children in schools in Paris will find a high-quality, demanding level of education. Public schooling in France is free for expats who can prove proof of residency (a utility bill), and even private schools and universities are often subsidised. Non-residents will have to pay fees as the schools are financed from tax.
Schooling in France officially starts at age six, but many parents send their children to school much earlier, at the age of three or even two. The collèges cater for children 11 to 15 years old, with the lycées for the 15 to18 year olds. The baccalaureat, or le bac, is the finishing diploma for French schooling, and performance in this exam is what gives a school-goer access to higher education.
The schooling culture in France emphasises academic excellence and allows the teacher to preside over their domain with little input from parents – an arrangement many westerners may not be used too. A parent would do well to discuss these differences with their child before they enter into the schooling system.
Private schools are good options for expats, especially as many of these schools provide education in French and in English. There are two types of private schools in France, those that do and those that do not have contracts with the government. Often Roman Catholic government contracted schools can cost as little as €300 per year, while the independent schools in Paris will cost €2,000 and over. A private school may ease the transition into a new culture, although it is important for a child to learn how to integrate into any society in which they will be spending some number of years.
For tertiary education, the French system divides into the grandes ecoles and the universities, the former being the more prestigious. The Ecole Polytechnique, which is in the Latin Quarter, and the Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) of Paris are rated at the tenth and fifth best in the world, respectively.
Unlike in most countries, the universities in France are specialised rather than general. This means that students choose to attend a university based largely upon their subject choice. For instance, the Ecole Polytechnique is an engineering school, while the HEC Paris is a business school. The University of Paris is one of the world leaders in the Humanities.
Public institutions like the Polytechnique have set fees and also receive subsidies from the government, so costs are kept low; €200 per year would cover university for residents and citizens.
For a private institution like HEC Paris, 16,000 per year is a rough estimate of an associated cost.
The school year starts in September and ends in July.
Schooling in France officially starts at age six, but many parents send their children to school much earlier, at the age of three or even two. The collèges cater for children 11 to 15 years old, with the lycées for the 15 to18 year olds. The baccalaureat, or le bac, is the finishing diploma for French schooling, and performance in this exam is what gives a school-goer access to higher education.
The schooling culture in France emphasises academic excellence and allows the teacher to preside over their domain with little input from parents – an arrangement many westerners may not be used too. A parent would do well to discuss these differences with their child before they enter into the schooling system.
Private schools in Paris
Private schools are good options for expats, especially as many of these schools provide education in French and in English. There are two types of private schools in France, those that do and those that do not have contracts with the government. Often Roman Catholic government contracted schools can cost as little as €300 per year, while the independent schools in Paris will cost €2,000 and over. A private school may ease the transition into a new culture, although it is important for a child to learn how to integrate into any society in which they will be spending some number of years.
Tertiary education in Paris
For tertiary education, the French system divides into the grandes ecoles and the universities, the former being the more prestigious. The Ecole Polytechnique, which is in the Latin Quarter, and the Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) of Paris are rated at the tenth and fifth best in the world, respectively.
Unlike in most countries, the universities in France are specialised rather than general. This means that students choose to attend a university based largely upon their subject choice. For instance, the Ecole Polytechnique is an engineering school, while the HEC Paris is a business school. The University of Paris is one of the world leaders in the Humanities.
Public institutions like the Polytechnique have set fees and also receive subsidies from the government, so costs are kept low; €200 per year would cover university for residents and citizens.
For a private institution like HEC Paris, 16,000 per year is a rough estimate of an associated cost.
The school year starts in September and ends in July.
