If you haven’t already realized it, our school is exceptional. One of France’s most prestigious public high schools, the Lycée International, located outside of Paris in historic St. Germain-en-Laye, is a vibrant international community comprised of fourteen sections. All students study the national curriculum in French; all are enrolled in a national section as well, following an academically dem
anding bilingual and bicultural program. And while French is the common language, every section’s language and culture is equally valued, so in a way the Lycée International is a blend of many international schools. Our system of partner Middle and Lower schools, including the externé structure in Lower School, combine with the French and national sections to make everyday workings intricate and demanding. Standards are high, and with them expectations, demanding considerable personal investment on the part of students, parents, and teachers. But there are enormous rewards in the cultural breadth and richness of the education. Within this complex framework, our Section goal is to provide students with a genuine American educational and cultural experience. All Section classes are taught by English mother-tongue teachers who were educated in North America. The curriculum stresses academic excellence while building intellectual curiosity and self-confidence. Our wide array of co-curricular activities aims at developing leadership, global awareness, and responsibility. The American Section enrolls approximately 700 students, from Pre-K (moyenne section) though 12th grade (Terminale). While the majority of our students hold both French and American nationalities, and a significant percentage are French citizens who have spent a considerable time abroad in American schools, there are over 50 nationalities represented in the American Section student body. The common denominator is that all American Section students speak age-appropriate fluent English and are motivated to learn in a demanding bilingual and bi-cultural environment.
