Paris - Public schools

This document is split into several sections for easy navigation

State
Schools with international departments
Training classes for A level
Comment

The French education system is the responsibility of the State and is controlled by:

• Ministère de l’Education Nationale
  110, rue de Grenelle
  75007
  Paris
  Tel: + 33 (0)1 5555 1010
• Rectorat de Paris
  service académique de l'inspection de l'apprentissage
  94 av Gambetta
  PARIS
  75020
  Tel: + 33(0)1 4462 4754

• Collège et lycée international Honoré de Balzac
  118,bd Bessières
  75017 
  Paris
  Tel: +  33  (0)1  5311 1213
  Spanish, English, German from secondary school up to college
• Collège et lycée d'Etat de Sèvres
  21, rue du Docteur Ledermann
  92310 
  SEVRES
  Tel: +  33 (0)1  4626 6010
  German and English 
• Collège Pierre et Marie Curie
  62, avenue Pierre et Marie Curie
  78230  
  LE PECQ
  Tel: +  33 (0)1  3976 8486
  English and Portuguese
• Lycée international d'Hennemont
  Rue du Fer à Cheval
  BP 230
  78104 
  Saint Germain en Laye
  Tel: +  33 (0)1  3910 9411
  German, American, English, Danish, Norwegian, Spanish, Italian, Japonese, Dutch, Swedish and Portuguese 
• Collège Marcel Roby 
  3, rue de La Rochejacquelin
  78101 
  Saint Germain en Laye
  Tel: +  33 (0)1  3910 2590
  American and Spanish
• Collèges des Hauts Grillets
  10, boulevard Hector Berlioz
  78100
  Saint Germain en Laye 
  Tel: +  33 (0)1  3087 4620
  German and Polish
• Collège international
  48 rue Guérin
  77300
  Fontainebleau
  Tel: +  33 (0)1  6422 4317
  English and German

Training classes for A level

• Ecole active bilingue JEANINE MANUEL
  70,rue du Théatre
  75739 
  Paris cedex 15
  Tel: +  33 (0)1  4437 0080
  website: www.eabjm.com
• American school of Paris
  41, rue Pasteur
  BP 82
  92216 
  St Cloud cedex
  Tel: +  33 (0)1  4112 8282
  website: www.asparis.org
• International school of Paris
  6, rue Beethoven
  75016 
  Paris
  Tel: +  33 (0)1  4224 0954
  website: www.isparis.edu

Comment
The French state system offering the standard education of the country.
On the whole, it has a good reputation but it is relatively tough. As pupils proceed through the system it gets tougher. If you are a non French speaking family you should be under no illusions. It may seem ludicrous to state the obvious but in the French State system the language is French. Your own mother tongue may be taught as a foreign language but that is it. Think very carefully especially if your child or children are already in your home country’s education system. Besides the physcological shock of moving house, moving country, going to a “new” school is equally stressful for most children. Throw in a different language and it can be a recipe for disaster. Put bluntly if you want your children to go into the French state system to “learn” the French language and to make French friends it could be a very bad experience for you and your child. The French State system is there to educate French children.. There is no Français Spécial (*see later) the children are there to learn all the subjects generally taught in schools throughout the World. In ordinary French state schools without an international section there will almost certainly be no special provision for the period of transition.
The state system starts off at a very early age so on the other hand starting a young child at a state school, “maternelle” could give that child or children the benefits of a bilingual upbringing.
If you have contracted for a long-term or permanent stay in France, the great advantage of French schooling for children, who have the capacity, is to be “broadened” by the experience, allowing them better integration with French culture and society, once the very difficult period of transition is over. The choice is obviously a personal one and best made after visiting possible schools and after discussion involving the child; if of an appropriate age. Many French “private” schools have state support. This means that a good education can be inexpensive.  If your child cannot yet read or write English, or has sufficient knowledge of French, they can be sent to a state school, which is free up to the baccalauréat (the final school exam).
Finally French schools start and finish early, so you may otherwise have to arrange for an au pair, nanny or make other arrangements to deliver and collect your children.