Everything Americans need to know about enrolling children in the French school system. This section covers how French public schools are organized by age group, the difference between maternelle, primaire, college, and lycee, how to register at your local school, what documents the administration will ask for, and what to expect during the first weeks. We also cover private and international school options, language support programs for children arriving without French, bilingual school pathways, and how to handle the transition for kids who are mid-year or coming from the US curriculum. Whether you are moving with young children or teenagers, this is your practical guide to navigating education in France as an American family.
If you read one guide on this topic, make it The French School System for American Parents: Grades Out of 20 and the First Six Months.
Kids under 10 reach functional classroom French in 4-6 months. "Doit fournir plus d'efforts" is standard teacher talk, not a warning. Grades run out of 20.
Aurelio Maurici25 min read
How ENIC-NARIC France evaluates US degrees, what the attestation unlocks, which professions require formal recognition, and how to apply step by step.
Aurelio Maurici13 min read
French public school is free and compulsory from age 3. Your address decides the school, and enrollment starts at the mairie, not at the school itself.
Aurelio Maurici15 min read
CASNAV assessment, UPE2A language classes, and how French schools integrate non-French-speaking children: what actually happens and what parents must do.
Aurelio Maurici17 min read
French public school is free. International schools cost €10,000 to €35,000 per year. The decision framework American families in France actually need.
Aurelio Maurici15 min read
Homeschooling in France requires state authorization since 2022. The 4 accepted reasons, annual inspections, and CNED: what Americans must know.
Aurelio Maurici17 min read
How to get a crèche place, find an assistante maternelle, use monenfant.fr, claim CAF childcare allowances, and navigate childcare in France as an expat.
Aurelio Maurici16 min read
