Selecting a school in France can feel like the most stressful aspect of moving with children. Online resources often don’t reveal what daily life is truly like, and families’ priorities vary. This guide concentrates on practical questions and an uncomplicated decision process — particularly for families planning to relocate to Paris.
First: Define What “Good” Means for Your Family
Before comparing schools, outline your non-negotiables. Most choices go wrong when families juggle too many criteria at once without a clear priority list.
- Commute: the time spent driving each day matters more than you expect.
- Curriculum: options like British / American / IB / local programs.
- Language environment: what your child is exposed to throughout the day.
- Support: learning assistance, ESL support, pastoral care.
- Culture fit: the school’s structure, discipline, and communication style.
How to Decide Without Feeling Overwhelmed
A practical method that suits expatriate families well:
A simple process
- Narrow your options by location first. In Paris, commuting conditions can make a decent school feel like a daily challenge.
- Verify availability and the admissions timeline. Waiting lists are typical.
- Inquire about classroom realities. Class sizes, staff turnover, and how communication is handled.
- Inquire about support. ESL, learning support, and transition assistance for new students.
- Schedule a single visit (or virtual tour) for each finalist. Trust what you see over glossy brochures.
Pro tip: Create a one-page checklist and rate each school after visiting. It helps avoid the “everything feels the same” issue.
Questions to Ask Schools
These questions tend to reveal more than generic “tell us about your program” discussions:
- What is the usual class size for this age group?
- How do you accommodate new students mid-year?
- How do teachers communicate with parents (weekly updates, apps, email)?
- What does a typical day look like (start/end times, breaks, expectations for homework)?
- How do you assist children who feel anxious or are adapting to a new country?
- What is your ESL language-support policy if needed?
- How do you manage heat and indoor/outdoor time during warmer months?
Costs & Logistics (The Part Nobody Loves)
School decisions are never just tuition. Factor in the full routine cost:
Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
- Choosing by reputation alone: the daily routine matters more.
- Ignoring commute time: it affects sleep, mood, and family life.
- Assuming “international” means the same everywhere: it doesn’t.
- Not asking about support: transitions are real for kids.
- Waiting too long: admissions timelines can be tighter than expected.
The Bottom Line
The ideal school is typically the one that lines up with your family's real routine: location, support, and everyday ease for your child — not the one with the flashiest marketing.
If you’d like help weighing priorities for Paris (commute, routines, what to ask), get in touch — or call +33 1 23 45 67 89.