Primary and Secondary Schools in France

In France, every child aged 3 to 16 who lives in the country must receive an education, whatever their nationality. In practice this means enrolment in a public or private school; home education is possible only with an authorisation for limited reasons. Schooling is organised in three stages: école maternelle (nursery school) from age 3, école élémentaire (primary school) from age 6, and secondary education in a collège and then a lycée.

For international families and students, French schools offer full-time study in French, international sections that prepare a bilingual version of the national exams, and boarding (internat), which allows students from other regions or countries to attend a school away from home. Our directory lists two schools of this type in France: Saint-Denis International School in Loches, in the Loire Valley, and the Lycée Léonce Vieljeux in La Rochelle.

How the French school system works

• École maternelle: compulsory from age 3; children enrol first at the town hall (mairie) and then at the school
• École élémentaire: from age 6, starting with the CP class after the last year of maternelle
• Collège: four years, from 6ème to 3ème, ending with the brevet exam
• Lycée: three years (seconde, première, terminale) leading to the baccalauréat in a general, technological or vocational track

Public schools are assigned by catchment area: a child is normally enrolled in the school of their sector, usually the one closest to home, and families need a derogation to choose another. Private schools are either "sous contrat" (under contract with the State) or "hors contrat" (independent). A pupil who moves from an independent private school to a public collège or lycée must pass an admission exam.

Many lycées also offer post-baccalauréat courses. The Lycée Léonce Vieljeux, for example, has about 1,700 pupils and students in three tracks: general and technological (including the STI2D technology baccalauréat), vocational (such as vehicle maintenance and heating and renewable energy installation) and post-baccalauréat, with BTS higher technician diplomas and a CPGE preparatory class for the Grandes Écoles.

International programmes and admission

Some schools help students who do not yet speak French with a French as a foreign language (FLE) programme. Saint-Denis International School, a private school founded on Christian values, has around 600 pupils in its collège and lycée, including about 70 international students. Its FLE section is open at collège and lycée level, for stays from one month to a full year, and the school holds the "Qualité FLE" label. It is officially recognised as an international school from primary to lycée, so pupils can take the brevet with the international option and the baccalauréat with the American international option (BFI), with English literature and history-geography in English. The school announced in 2026 that it is changing its name to Saint Martin-Saint Denis Val de Loire International School.

Students from outside the European Union, the EEA and Switzerland need a long-stay visa to study in France for more than three months; EU, EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a student visa. Ask the school which documents it provides for the visa application.

Costs and boarding

Boarding is an extra cost. At the Lycée Léonce Vieljeux, boarding is listed at 1,612.67 euros for five nights a week and 1,985.63 euros for seven nights a week, and financial help may be available depending on the family's situation. Boarders are 7.8% of pupils and the boarding house is regularly full. Private schools set their own fees; Saint-Denis has around 300 boarders, and its FLE prices are published in its programme brochure.

How to choose a school in France

• Language level: without fluent French, look for an FLE programme or an international section
• Public or private: public schools are free but assigned by catchment area; private schools set their own admission and fees
• Boarding: check whether boarding includes weekends and how many places remain
• Exams: check which baccalauréat track or international option the school prepares
• Location: Loches is about one hour by coach from the Tours/Saint-Pierre-des-Corps high-speed rail station, according to Saint-Denis

Frequently asked questions

At what age is school compulsory in France?

Every child living in France between 3 and 16 must receive an education, usually by enrolling in a public or private school.

Can a foreign student attend a French lycée for a few months?

Yes, at some schools. Saint-Denis International School, for example, offers FLE stays of one month to a year to join the French school programme. Students from outside the EU need a long-stay visa for more than three months.

How much does boarding at a French lycée cost?

It depends on the school. At the public Lycée Léonce Vieljeux in La Rochelle, boarding is listed at 1,612.67 euros for five nights a week and 1,985.63 euros for seven nights.

What is the BFI?

The baccalauréat français international (BFI) is an international option of the French baccalauréat. At Saint-Denis, the American option adds specific exams in English and English-American literature, history-geography and an oral on knowledge of the world, and the diploma states the international option.