Schooling in France: A Guide for Expat Families

Moving to France with children adds a layer of planning to the process — and, for most families who make the leap, an extraordinary experience for their children. The French education system is rigorous, structured, and free. It is also very different from the US and UK systems, and understanding what to expect is essential.

The French State School System

French state education (école publique) is free, secular, and compulsory from ages 3 to 16. Children are enrolled in the school for their local zone (secteur scolaire) determined by their address. The system divides broadly into:

• École maternelle (nursery/pre-school): ages 3–6, compulsory since 2019

• École primaire (primary school): ages 6–11

• Collège (lower secondary): ages 11–15

• Lycée (upper secondary): ages 15–18, culminating in the Baccalauréat

The French school day is long by UK and US standards — typically 8:30am to 4:30pm or 5pm — and homework is set from an early age. Wednesday afternoons are often free (many schools operate a four-day week or 4.5-day week). School lunches are provided, frequently multi-course, and taken seriously.

Enrolling Your Children

To enrol children in a French state school, visit your local mairie with:

• Proof of address

• Children's birth certificates (with certified translation if not in French)

• Vaccination records (certificat de vaccination)

• Previous school report cards if available

The mairie will issue a certificate directing you to the appropriate school. The school will schedule an initial meeting to assess the child's level, particularly for older children who need specific placement.

Language Support in Schools

Children without French are placed in EANA classes (Élèves Allophones Nouvellement Arrivés) — special integration classes with French language support alongside mainstream schooling. The system varies in quality by school and region, but most children achieve functional classroom French within six to twelve months. Children are remarkably adept at language acquisition, and many expat families find their children overtake them in French within the first year.

International and Bilingual Schools

Several cities, notably Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nice, and Strasbourg, have international schools or bilingual programmes. These offer education in English (and sometimes other languages) alongside French, following either an international curriculum (IB, British, American) or a bilingual French one.

International schools are expensive — annual fees typically range from €8,000 to €25,000+ — but offer continuity, familiar systems, and re-integration options if you move back to the US or UK. Some expat families use international schools initially, then transition their children to the French system as language skills develop.

💡 Consideration:  Research suggests that children who enter the French state school system — even with minimal French — often integrate quickly and emerge genuinely bilingual. The immersive approach is challenging initially but the results are remarkable.

For American Families: Curriculum Differences

The French system is more formally structured and academically rigorous in certain areas (maths, languages, literary analysis) than many US state systems. American children often find the formality and homework load an adjustment. The baccalauréat is a substantial examination and the preparation for it shapes the final years of lycée significantly.

For UK Families: Post-Brexit Schooling Considerations

British children in French state schools follow the French curriculum, which means GCSE and A-Level paths are not followed. For families intending to return to the UK, planning for curriculum continuity — either through an international school or distance learning programmes — is worth considering from the outset.