3 best boarding schools in Paris 2024

In The best boarding schools in Paris, students usually have an atmosphere full of practical home comfort and warmth. Even foreign students adapt quickly to this environment, so that after a few days they feel comfortable and confident on foreign territory.

The first stage of compulsory education is the primary level. One such school in France is called Ecole elementaire and children are sent to it at the age of 6 and rarely at the age of 7. They study for free at the elementary school and parents pay 10-20 euros per year, this money is spent on gifts children's holidays. The school provides textbooks, manuals, handouts for budgetary funds, and in the case of private educational institutions, their cost is included in the annual full board and lodging costs.

In French elementary school, children study for a total of 5 years. The first class is preparatory, the next two are basic, and two more are secondary, where the youngsters prepare to pass the first exams of their lives and move on to the next stage. The fifth year is a good time to transfer your child from a school to a French school. In this class, the study courses intersect and adaptation is easy with adequate knowledge of the language and a good level of socialization - students find friends and integrate into the cultural environment of another country.

After elementary school, they enter secondary school - university. children enter grade 11 and study until the first year. Thus, secondary school, which accounts for grades 6-3, is subdivided into three stages.

• Adaptation - involves preparing yesterday's children for a new stage of study, starting in grade 6, when new subjects, such as history and algebra, appear in the curriculum.
• Center - The range of subjects studied is expanding in favor of exact sciences, the in-depth study of French, optional Latin and an additional foreign language of the student's choice becomes mandatory.
• Orientation - In the 3rd year, adolescents must orient themselves to further activities from the three available orientations and immerse themselves in the core subjects of their chosen specialization.

After graduating from high school in France, graduates take a qualifying exam and receive a document - Diplôme National du Brevet - an established form of basic secondary education.

Ecole maternelle (the mother school)

French children go to school ready - with a basic set of knowledge, because the teachers and psychologists at Ecole maternelle work with them during the preparation phase. Ecole maternelle , where they play with children from 3-7 years old, helping them to explore the world, learn the alphabet, speak and interact with others in various life situations.

The beginning of the educational process (Ecole élémentaire)

From the mother's school in France, children are taken to elementary school. Teachers who are authorized to work with young children are educated in specialized educational institutions. A very important aspect of their preparation is child psychology and educational activities. In the country, the responsibility for raising children is not transferred only to parents, but at school they are also involved in socialization, formation of personality, helping to understand themselves and not to conflict with the environment.

The country's national schooling system, in addition to socialization, provides for the study of six basic areas of knowledge at the primary level.

• National languag;
• Natural sciences;
• Mathematics;
• Arts and creativity;
• Physical Education;
• Social sciences.

The listed subjects are taught as part of an integrated curriculum. From the beginning of elementary school, children understand that nothing can be learned separately - everything is interconnected. Moreover, this approach - interdisciplinary acquisition of knowledge - persists throughout the educational system. 

The intermediate stage of the educational process in this country is called university. Collège is a school where students study for 4 years and receive a basic secondary education certificate after passing the final exam. With him you can continue your studies or work in professional jobs that do not require qualifications, such as laborer or waiter.

As mentioned above, university students go through 4 successive stages. First, in French high school, children have a year to adapt. The adaptation class puts the knowledge and education of students who have completed French elementary school on a par with that of foreigners who have studied in any other country in the world.

Primary school - one year university

At the upper primary and secondary school levels in France, children receive a minimal teaching load. Teachers give them more time to adapt to the group, make friends, decide on their priority areas of knowledge, and consolidate the foundations acquired at Ecole élémentaire.

High school - 2 or 3 university courses

In the middle stage of acquiring a basic secondary education, local and visiting French students study according to the standard procedures of the Bologna system of acquiring knowledge. Teachers teach them exact sciences, children learn languages, mathematics, and also develop creatively and engage in physical education.

While studying at school, children are inculcated with culture and taught to be humane. At the request of schoolchildren, they take them on excursions, to the theater, inviting lecturers and experts in various fields to familiarize them with the details of the work in their field. Sometimes such trips are paid, but in most cases the educational institutions cover the costs, especially in private cases.

Graduation from high school

In the final year of college, students must make a final choice about their next move. Those who want to continue their education and try to pursue higher education will try to prepare for their final exams and choose the right school. Others are looking for a job that interests them, since the certificate of lower secondary education already allows them to work, and then the children can study at their leisure. In the fourth year of university, known in France as the third year, most of the curriculum is practical and career oriented. The best schoolchildren are taken to companies that offer them options for further study and work, help them make decisions, and test their skills and qualities. 

Parisian boarding schools offer an enriching environment filled with the comforts of home and a warm, welcoming atmosphere. These schools are particularly adept at helping foreign students quickly adapt and feel at ease in a new setting.

Primary Education: Ecole Élémentaire

• Age of Enrollment: Children typically begin at the age of 6 or 7.

• Duration: Education at this level lasts for 5 years, covering various disciplines.

• Fees: Education is free, with minimal costs (10-20 euros annually) for extracurricular activities and school events.

• Curriculum: Includes preparatory and basic courses, leading up to secondary education, where students prepare for their first exams.

Transition to Secondary Education

• Secondary School Entry: After elementary, students progress to secondary school, starting in grade 11 and continuing through the first year.

• Stages: Divided into adaptation, center, and orientation stages, each focusing on new subjects, broadening of the curriculum, and specialization in selected areas.

• Diplôme National du Brevet: On completion of secondary school, students receive this certificate, marking the end of compulsory education.

Ecole Maternelle: Early Education

• Age Group: 3-7 years old.

• Focus: Basic knowledge acquisition, social interaction, and preparation for elementary education.

Boarding Schools in Paris: A Diverse Landscape

Paris hosts an array of boarding schools, including:

• State-Contracted Institutions: Following national curriculums with state subsidies.

• Private Institutions: Offering specialized programs, smaller class sizes, and a range of extracurricular activities.

Esther Diaz

Education specialist, career coach and consultant. She worked for Inspired Education Group and directed the admissions department at the International School san Patricio Toledo.

What would you say is the most important when choosing a school?

This is the quality of support and work of the management, the opportunity to study at IB, the prestige of the school and the percentage of successful completion of the diploma stage of IB, recommendations for further universities. It is worth considering the national "recruitment" of campus students, opportunities for extracurricular development and activities, the availability of medical services and consultations, opportunities for language immersion. Is education at the chosen school based on the values you share? Is the school a close-knit community? Is academic support good?

• Multilingual Learning: Courses in French and English, with options for other languages.

• Cultural Diversity: Exposure to various cultures, fostering global awareness and tolerance.

• Quality Education: Emphasis on engaging learning experiences and qualified teaching staff.

• Language Proficiency: An ideal setting for mastering French or English.

• Range: Approximately €25,000 to €40,000 per year.

• Inclusions: Covering academics, accommodation, meals, and extracurricular activities.

• Application Process: Involves submission of academic records, recommendations, motivation letters, and sometimes entrance tests.

• Host Family: Offers a nurturing environment with meals and cultural immersion.

• Residence: Provides a more independent living experience within the school campus.

In summary, Paris’s boarding schools provide a comprehensive educational experience, blending rigorous academics with cultural and personal development. These institutions prepare students not just for academic success but for global citizenship in today’s interconnected world.

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