With a population of over 2.14 million people, Paris is a global, multicultural city. It is home to some of the best public, private, and international schools in France. With France ranking as the 5th country with the best education system in the world in 2020, schools in Paris perform averagely according to the PISA 2018 results, with its students outperforming other European countries.
Education in Paris is structured based on the French education system, which is divided into three levels:
Formal or compulsory education starts at six years of age. However, children below the age of six years can enroll in a public or private kindergarten. If you wish to enroll your child in a public kindergarten, then you have to contact the local town registrar for registration. Moreover, Paris offers parents the option of registering their child to a kindergarten that’s outside the municipality. All you have to do is request a waiver from the town hall in your locale. You also have to get consent from your mayor and the mayor of the host of your preferred town.
Students spend five years in French elementary schools, from age six to age eleven. This stage is similar to the elementary system used in schools in the United States. After primary school, the students progress to secondary schools, which are divided into two stages, for four years; the first stage is referred to high school (collèges) while the second stage is called upper secondary school (lycée). Although students aren’t required to take an entrance exam to join secondary schools, they undergo a comprehensive examination while in secondary school to evaluate their capabilities.
Generally, the high school level aims to prepare students for upper secondary education. As a result, they sit for a formal exam, which signifies the completion of compulsory schooling. However, passing the high school exam does not guarantee that the student will progress to the upper secondary. The lycée or upper secondary education lasts for one year and prepares students for further vocational courses or A levels.
There are various schools in Paris, including public, private, or international schools. While public schools are state-funded, both private and international schools require parents to pay tuition fees for their children. Furthermore, there are two types of private schools, which include those contracted or funded by the government, and those that are non-contracted (not supported by the government). State-funded private schools adhere to the same rules and curriculum as the state-owned schools. On the other hand, international schools offer internationally recognized curricula such as the British, American, or International Baccalaureate.
Edarabia showcases all private schools in Paris through which parents can filter by tuition fees, curriculum, rankings & ratings. There are many public, private and charter schools near you that cater to both expat and local students.
Depending on the level of education; kindergartens (pre-schools), primary, secondary and high schools will all have varying tuition fees. Most K-12 schools offer different curriculums and extra-curricular activities to support the intellectual and physical wellbeing of students. Admissions for the top international schools in Paris tend to have waiting lists so it is recommended that parents apply well in advance to secure a spot for their children. Additionally, each school has ratings based on parent reviews and are ranked below accordingly.
For more details, please click here
Twitter