Hello guys welcome to TigerJek, today in this article we will be deep diving into the Best Schools in Paris. Paris is not only the City of Light but also a world-class hub for education for your students, offering families a wide variety of schools that combine cultural diversity, academic excellence, and international recognition. Whether you’re moving to Paris for work, seeking bilingual education, or preparing your child for top universities worldwide, the city provides outstanding opportunities.
From prestigious French lycées to renowned international schools, Paris caters to different academic goals, languages, and financial considerations. This guide highlights the 6 best schools in Paris for 2025, giving you a clear overview of their strengths, specializations, and what makes them stand out.
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Best Schools in Paris
What Makes a Great School in Paris?
Before we dive into the list of the best schools in Paris, here are key factors to consider when choosing a school:
- Curriculum: French Baccalauréat, IB, American, British (A-Levels), or bilingual programs.
- Language Options: French-only, bilingual French-English, or trilingual offerings.
- Reputation: Strong academic results, university placements, and alumni networks.
- Cultural Diversity: International schools often bring together students from 50+ nationalities.
- Costs: Public schools are free, while private international schools may charge €20,000–€40,000 annually.
- Extracurriculars: Sports, arts, innovation, and global citizenship programs.
1. Lycée Louis-le-Grand
- Location: 5th arrondissement, Paris
- Founded: 1563
- Tuition: Free (public lycée)
- Programs: French Baccalauréat, Classes Préparatoires (CPGE)
- Notable Fact: Alumni include Descartes, Voltaire, and Victor Hugo.
- Best For: Academically elite French students aiming for Grandes Écoles.
If you ask most Parisians to name the most famous lycée in the country, chances are they’ll say Lycée Louis-le-Grand. Nestled in the Latin Quarter, just a short walk from the Panthéon and the Sorbonne, the school has been the part of the city’s intellectual scene since 1563. It was originally founded by Jesuits, and over the centuries it developed into a place where ambition and high expectations are simply the norm.
The school is probably best known for its Classes Préparatoires, the grueling two-year programs that prepare students for entry into France’s elite Grandes Écoles. Getting into these classes isn’t easy—you’re competing with the brightest teenagers from across France—and once admitted, students are expected to work at an almost relentless pace. But the rewards are clear: graduates regularly move on to top careers in politics, academia, science, and the arts.
What makes Louis-le-Grand special is also its heritage. When you walk its corridors, you’re literally in the footsteps of figures like Descartes, Voltaire, or Hugo. There’s something inspiring about knowing you share the same classrooms as people who shaped French culture and even world thought. At the same time, the school isn’t frozen in history. It embraces modern teaching methods, strong science tracks, and even opportunities for international collaboration.
For ambitious students, Louis-le-Grand feels less like an ordinary lycée and more like a springboard toward the intellectual and professional elite of France.
2. Lycée Henri-IV
Location: 5th arrondissement, Paris
Founded: 1796
Tuition: Free (public lycée)
Programs: French Baccalauréat, CPGE, bilingual tracks
Notable Fact: Nicknamed Louis-le-Grand’s “eternal rival.”
Best For: Students seeking top-level humanities, sciences, and elite university entry.
Ask almost any French student where they’d want to study if they could, and Lycée Henri-IV will be one of the first names mentioned. Often described as Louis-le-Grand’s “eternal rival,” Henri-IV has built its own legend over the centuries. Located right by the Panthéon, in the heart of Paris’s historic Latin Quarter, the school sits in an area steeped in intellectual life. Walking up to it, you can sense the weight of history, but also the excitement of being at the center of academic Paris.
Founded in 1796, the lycée quickly became one of the cornerstones of elite French education. Its Classes Préparatoires (CPGE) are famous nationwide and every year send large numbers of students to École Normale Supérieure, École Polytechnique, Sciences Po, and other top institutions. It’s especially strong in philosophy, literature, and mathematics, which has given it a reputation as a place where both thinkers and problem-solvers thrive.
What sets Henri-IV apart, though, is its culture. While the competition is tough—students here work incredibly hard—there’s also a sense of belonging to a proud tradition. Alumni often describe the school as intense but life-changing. The combination of rigorous academics, inspiring teachers, and the intellectual atmosphere of the Latin Quarter makes it more than just a lycée. For ambitious students, it’s a launchpad into France’s academic and cultural elite.
3. Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Location: Saint-Germain-en-Laye, just outside Paris
Founded: 1952
Tuition: Free (public, with modest fees for international sections)
Programs: French Baccalauréat with international options (American, British, German, Spanish, Japanese, and more)
Notable Fact: Offers the prestigious OIB (Option Internationale du Baccalauréat).
Best For: Expatriate families seeking a multicultural, bilingual education.
Unlike most French lycées that mainly serve local students, Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye was designed with a global community in mind. Opened in 1952, just after the war, it was originally created to serve children of NATO staff. Over time it grew into one of France’s most distinctive schools, where the French Baccalauréat meets the cultural richness of an international education.
The school is especially famous for its Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB), which combines the rigor of the French curriculum with additional courses taught in the student’s section language. Whether that’s English, German, Japanese, or Spanish, the program allows students to graduate with an education that is not only bilingual but often trilingual. This makes the lycée a magnet for expatriate families, diplomats, and globally minded parents who want their children to maintain strong ties to both French and international traditions.
Life at Lycée International is just as multicultural as its classrooms. Students are surrounded by peers from all over the world, which creates an environment where cross-cultural friendships are the norm and international perspectives are valued. Despite being demanding academically, the school is known for its open, inclusive atmosphere.
For families looking for the **best of both worlds—a French education with global depth—**Lycée International stands out as an unmatched choice.
4. École Jeannine Manuel
Location: Paris 15th arrondissement
Founded: 1954
Tuition: ~€30,000/year
Programs: Bilingual French-English curriculum, IB Diploma, American High School Diploma
Notable Fact: Consistently ranked the best private international school in Paris.
Best For: Families seeking elite bilingual education with global recognition.
Founded in 1954 by Jeannine Manuel, this school was created with a simple but ambitious mission: to promote international understanding through education. Today, École Jeannine Manuel stands at the top of Paris’s private international schools, drawing students from more than 70 nationalities. It offers a truly bilingual French-English program while also preparing students for both the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and the American High School Diploma.
What makes the school exceptional is the balance it strikes between French academic rigor and a broader global outlook. Students are immersed in a demanding curriculum where languages, critical thinking, and cross-cultural dialogue are at the core. By the time they graduate, many are fluent in at least two, often three, languages. This global preparation explains why its alumni frequently go on to attend the world’s leading universities—ranging from Harvard, Yale, and Stanford to Oxford, Cambridge, and Sciences Po.
Beyond academics, École Jeannine Manuel emphasizes values such as collaboration, open-mindedness, and creativity. Its classrooms encourage debate and inquiry rather than rote learning, helping students grow into independent thinkers.
For families looking for an elite bilingual education with international prestige, few schools rival École Jeannine Manuel. It is especially attractive to globally mobile families who want a school that will keep doors open, whether in the U.S., the U.K., or France.
5. International School of Paris (ISP)
Location: Paris 16th arrondissement
Founded: 1964
Tuition: ~€35,000/year
Programs: Full IB (PYP, MYP, DP)
Notable Fact: Only Parisian school fully accredited to offer the three IB levels.
Best For: Families who want a complete International Baccalaureate pathway.
Founded in 1964, the International School of Paris (ISP) has grown into one of the city’s most respected international schools, particularly for families who want their children to follow the full International Baccalaureate pathway. Unlike many other schools that only offer the IB Diploma at the high school level, ISP is the only school in Paris officially accredited to deliver all three IB programs: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP), and the Diploma Programme (DP).
The school prides itself on its diverse, multicultural environment, with more than 65 nationalities represented in the student body. This cultural mix creates a unique atmosphere where students learn not only from teachers but also from their peers’ different perspectives, traditions, and languages.
ISP emphasizes an inquiry-based approach to learning, encouraging students to ask questions, think critically, and explore ideas in depth rather than simply memorizing facts. Creativity and innovation are strongly promoted, whether through arts, sciences, or collaborative projects. The aim is to produce graduates who are adaptable, confident, and well-prepared for the challenges of higher education and global careers.
Many ISP graduates go on to study at top universities worldwide, including institutions in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Europe. For internationally minded families who want continuity in education and the security of a globally recognized diploma, ISP stands out as an outstanding choice in Paris.
6. American School of Paris (ASP)
Location: Saint-Cloud (western Paris suburbs)
Founded: 1946
Tuition: ~€38,000/year
Programs: American High School Diploma, AP, IB Diploma
Notable Fact: Europe’s first American international school post-WWII.
Best For: Families seeking an American-style education with international flexibility.
The American School of Paris (ASP) holds a special place in the history of international education. Founded in 1946, just after the end of World War II, it was the first American international school in Europe and quickly became a beacon for families seeking an American-style education abroad. Located in Saint-Cloud, a leafy suburb west of Paris, the campus combines green open spaces with modern facilities, making it both welcoming and academically stimulating.
ASP offers a uniquely flexible academic program, blending the American High School Diploma with the opportunity to pursue Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. This dual pathway allows students to keep doors open for both U.S. universities and leading institutions across Europe and beyond.
The school is also known for its commitment to a well-rounded education. While academics are rigorous, ASP places equal importance on arts, sports, and extracurricular activities, helping students develop creativity, teamwork, and leadership skills. Its athletics program is particularly strong, with opportunities to compete in international school leagues across Europe.
Although it is often seen as the natural choice for American expatriate families, ASP is far from being exclusively American. Its student body represents over 50 different nationalities, creating a truly global community. Graduates frequently continue their studies at Ivy League universities, Oxbridge, and top-tier European schools. For families seeking both the comfort of a U.S. curriculum and the flexibility of international pathways, ASP is an exceptional choice in Paris.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Among the Top 6
- French Academic Prestige → Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Lycée Henri-IV
- Multicultural Public Option → Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
- Elite Bilingual Private Schools → École Jeannine Manuel, International School of Paris
- American Education in Paris → American School of Paris
FAQs About Schools in Paris
Q: Are public schools in Paris free?
Yes, prestigious schools like Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Lycée Henri-IV, and Lycée International are free, with only small fees for extras.
Q: Which school is best for international students?
École Jeannine Manuel and ISP are top private choices; Lycée International is the best public option.
Q: What’s the hardest school to get into?
Lycée Louis-le-Grand and Lycée Henri-IV, due to selective admissions.
Q: Which schools prepare students for international universities?
ISP, École Jeannine Manuel, and ASP have strong global university placement records.
Q: Do all international schools teach in English?
Most use bilingual or trilingual models, with English and French as primary languages.
Conclusion: Finding the Right Fit
Paris offers some of the finest schools in the world, from historic French lycées to globally recognized international institutions.
- For top French academics → Lycée Louis-le-Grand, Lycée Henri-IV
- For multilingual education → Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye
- For private international excellence → École Jeannine Manuel, ISP
- For American pathway → American School of Paris
The best choice depends on your child’s academic goals, future university plans, and language background. No matter which you select, Paris ensures access to exceptional teachers, cultural richness, and a truly global education.
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