Education and Schools in Paris

Education and schools in Paris include many of the world’s top-rated institutions. If you’re placing your children in schools in Paris, you’ll find a high-quality and demanding level of education. Public schooling in France is free if you can provide proof of residence, and private schools and universities are often subsidised. Non-residents may have to pay tuition fees, as the schools are financed through taxes.

Schooling in Paris is an official requirement from age six, but many parents send their children to school much earlier. The collèges cater for children 11 to 15 years old, with lycées for the 15 to 18-year-olds. The baccalaureate, or le bac, is the finishing diploma for schooling in Paris, and performance in this exam determines access to higher education.

The schooling culture in Paris emphasises academic excellence and usually allows the teacher to preside over their domain with little input from parents. This may be difficult for expat parents to adjust to, and you would do well to discuss these differences with your children before they enter the schooling system.

Public schools in Paris

Public schools in Paris are available to legal residents in France, entitling you to send your child to school at no cost. Few expats take advantage of this option, partly because of the language barrier and also because most only move to the city for a few years.

For those looking to settle down in Paris for the longer term, it’s worth exploring this option. Beyond monetary considerations, the most significant advantage of enrolling your child at a public school in Paris is that it allows them to become fluent in French, which in turn helps them integrate into French society faster.

That said, picking up a new language is easier for younger children. Older children who don’t already speak French often find attending public schools in France overwhelming because of the language barrier. While some schools do offer extra language classes through UPE2A programmes (special units for non-French speaking students) to help bring foreign students up to speed, this remains relatively rare.

The standards of public schools vary considerably in Paris. Better schools tend to be located in more affluent areas, particularly in western Paris. Generally, class sizes at public schools are large, with an average of 26 students at the primary level and around 22 at the secondary level.

Useful links

• Registration for Non-French Speaking Students
• School Registration Process (Service-Public.fr)

Private schools in Paris

Private schools in Paris can be a great middle-ground option for expats, especially as many of these provide classes taught in English as well as in French. A private school may ease your child’s transition into French culture, especially if you’re from a substantially different background. There are two types of private schools in France: those that have contracts with the government (sous contrat) and those that don’t (hors contrat).

As fees can be subsidised by the government for contracted schools, you’ll find that private school fees in France are often cheaper than those at an equivalent school in your home country. Non-contracted schools offer more flexibility in teaching approaches but typically come with higher costs.

International schools in Paris

There are over 40 international schools in Paris. These are ideal if you’re only in Paris for a short period and have plans to return to your home country. International schools in Paris offer a range of curricula, including British, American and International Baccalaureate, with the latter being particularly widespread.

The benefit of sending your children to international schools is that it allows them to have a degree of continuity in their studies, which can ease their adjustment to life in a new country. It also allows them to mix with other expat students who might face similar challenges.

Standards at international schools in Paris are excellent. These also offer a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports, music and art. Fees at international schools in Paris tend to be high, so see if you can negotiate an allowance to cover these within your employment contract.

Best International Schools in Paris 

Tertiary education in Paris

Tertiary education in Paris is divided into grandes écoles and universities, with the former being more prestigious. Unlike in many other countries, universities in France are specialised rather than general. This means that as a student, you choose to attend universities based on your subject choice. For example, the École Polytechnique is an engineering school, while HEC Paris is a business school. The University of Paris is a world-leading tertiary education institution specialising in the humanities.

International students applying to Parisian universities typically use the Campus France ‘Études en France’ platform if coming from one of the 66 designated countries. Support systems exist for international students, including CROUS housing aid and the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris (CIUP), which houses nearly 6,000 international students.

Special educational needs in Paris

Special educational needs support in Paris has improved significantly since the 2005 law on equal rights for disabled people, which established clearer responsibilities for schools regarding inclusion. The infrastructure in place to support people with special needs is fairly well established across the city.

Where possible, both public and private schools in France try to cater to the needs of students with special needs through the use of specialist teaching assistants known as AESH (Accompagnant des Élèves en Situation de Handicap). The Maison Départmenetale des Personnes Handicapeés (MDPH) is the organisation charged with evaluating a child’s special needs. They work with the Commission des Droits et de l’Autonomie des Personnes Handicapeés (CDAPH) to create a personalised learning plan (PPS).

When a student with special educational needs can’t be accommodated at a mainstream school, there is the option of a specialised school or a private tutor. The availability of additional staff and facilities to cater for students with special needs often depends on the school as well as the area in which it’s located. It is, therefore, important for parents of a student with special needs to investigate the availability of appropriate facilities when selecting a school in Paris.

For English-speaking families, support groups such as EKIPP (Extraordinary Kids in Paris... Parents too!) and SPRINT France offer valuable resources specifically for expat families navigating the French special-needs system.

Useful links

• MDPH Paris: Official Support for Special Needs
• EKIPP: Extraordinary Kids in Paris
• SPRINT France: English-Speaking Support for Special Needs
• Schooling for Students with Disabilities in France

Tutors in Paris

The private tutoring industry in Paris is steadily growing, reflecting the global trend toward supplementary education. While most tutors offer one-on-one sessions, some services provide small group sessions, and online tutoring has become increasingly popular. The French government has taken steps to regulate the private tutoring industry, but you should work through a reputable tutoring agency to ensure that the teachers are properly equipped to teach your children.

Finding a tutor suitably qualified to teach French and International Baccalaureate curricula is fairly easy in Paris. Fewer tutors can assist with other national curricula, such as the British or American, although agencies specialising in international students are filling this gap.

Your children’s school and other expat parents may be good starting points for sourcing qualified private tutors. Axiom Academic is a global tutoring database which offers access to many tutors throughout Paris. For families with children in international schools, specialised agencies like TutorChase and Tychr provide tutors specifically trained in curricula like the International Baccalaureate.

Useful links

• Axiom Academic: International Tutoring Network
• TutorChase: IB Tutors in Paris
• MyPrivateTutor: Find Local Tutors in Paris
• Tychr: Specialized IB Tutoring
• Superprof: Popular French Tutoring Platform