Key takeaways
The American curriculum is less centralized than the French one – and that confuses a lot of parents encountering it for the first time. No single national exam, no fixed subject list, no uniform diploma. What it does have: a credit-based system, a college prep track, and AP courses that open American universities. Understanding it matters before you choose a school.
- The American K-12 system runs from Kindergarten through 12th grade, roughly equivalent to maternelle through terminale in the French system
- High school (grades 9–12) is where the college prep track diverges most sharply from the French lycée
- AP courses are the primary mechanism for signaling college readiness in the American system
- A WASC-accredited American diploma is recognized by universities in the US and internationally – it is not the same as a French baccalauréat
Contents
We are a US-accredited international online school that coexists with local schooling. Families are responsible for ensuring compliance with any local education requirements applicable to their situation.
Le Système Scolaire Américain: The Basics
The American education system runs K–12: Kindergarten and primary education (Grades K–5, ages 5–10), middle school or junior high school (Grades 6–8, ages 11–13 – the equivalent of middle school in France), and upper school or high school (Grades 9–12, ages 14–18).
There is no national baccalauréat equivalent. There is no single mandatory French-style philosophy exam or Grand Oral. What the American system uses instead is a credit accumulation model: students earn credits by completing courses, and the diploma is awarded when they reach the required total across required and elective subjects.
The American high school diploma requires a minimum number of credits in English Language Arts, mathematics, science, social studies, foreign language, and electives. Schools have flexibility in how they structure this – which is why accreditation matters. A diploma from a WASC-accredited school carries the same credibility as a diploma from a leading US private school. One from an unaccredited source does not.
How American Schools in France Operate
For families in France seeking a physical US school experience, options exist – mostly concentrated in and around Paris.
The American School of Paris (ASP) in Saint-Cloud is one of the largest and most established. It offers the US curriculum from primary school through 12th grade. Day school, English instruction, with mandatory French as a daily requirement. Tuition runs to roughly €30,000+ per year at secondary level.
Marymount International School Paris follows a similar model – Catholic, co-educational, US curriculum, Paris area. Lennen Bilingual School offers instruction in French and English from an early age, blending both systems rather than following one exclusively.
Notre-Dame International High School near Paris offers a dual diploma program – baccalauréat and American high school diploma simultaneously. This appeals to families who want both tracks. The school is a private school with physical attendance required.
These schools are legitimate. They are also physically anchored in the Paris area, expensive, and not available to families based in Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, or anywhere else in France.
American Section Programs in French Lycées
A different option exists within the French state system: sections américaines or sections bilingues within selected lycées internationaux. These programs allow French learners to follow bilingual education – instruction in French and English – and sit the option internationale du baccalauréat (OIB), sometimes called the baccalauréat français international.
American section students follow the French national curriculum with added English-language instruction – French language remains the primary medium of instruction, with English taught as a parallel track and used for specific subject content. They do not receive a US high school diploma. The OIB is still a French baccalauréat variant – stronger than the standard bac for international applications, but not an American diploma.
“Les sections américaines dans les lycées internationaux permettent aux élèves de suivre une formation bilingue et d’obtenir le baccalauréat avec mention internationale. (American sections in international lycées allow students to follow a bilingual program and obtain the baccalauréat with an international distinction.)”
— Ministère de l’Éducation Nationale, Lycées internationaux
The Andersons – a Swedish-American couple in Strasbourg – enrolled their daughter in a lycée international américaine section in 2022. The bilingual track was solid. But by Terminale she needed a US transcript for American university applications, not just an OIB. They added Legacy’s online high school for two AP courses in her final year. OIB on the French side. AP transcript on the American side. Both applications went out.
Where Legacy Fits
Legacy Online School offers the US curriculum fully online – available to families anywhere in France, not only Paris. WASC-accredited, operated since 2023, serving learners in 30+ countries. The curriculum is delivered through FlexPoint Education Cloud, developed by Florida Virtual School.
Full K–5 elementary school, online middle school (Grades 6–8), and online high school (Grades 9–12). 19 AP courses. Live daily classes, qualified teachers, groups capped at 15. Three learning formats: Live Group, One-on-One, Self-Paced.
“If you take AP, you’ll show university admissions officers that you took challenging classes and are prepared for the rigors of university courses.”
— College Board International, Prepare to Study Abroad
The Kowalski family – Polish-American, based in Nice – relocated from Chicago in 2022. Their two children had been following the American curriculum through 5th and 8th grade respectively. The local lycée international had a waiting list. The nearest US school was in Paris. They enrolled both in Legacy – elementary and online middle school – within a week. Both continued without interruption. Their son finished 8th grade on schedule and moved into Legacy’s online high school the following year. No waitlist, no relocation to Paris, no curriculum gap.
See tuition and fees for current pricing – significantly below the Paris physical school benchmarks. Book a free trial class before committing.
Top Tips from Our Expert
Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor at Legacy Online School
- The American system’s flexibility is a strength – but it requires planning. In the French system, the curriculum is fixed. In the American system, course selection in 9th and 10th grade shapes the college application profile in 12th. Start thinking about AP course sequencing early.
- If your child has been in the French system and is switching to the US curriculum mid-school, credit evaluation matters. Legacy’s admissions team can assess prior coursework and place your child appropriately in the US grade sequence.
- American schools in Paris are legitimate options for families anchored in the Île-de-France region. For everyone else in France, a fully online American school removes the geographic dependency.
- The American high school diploma and the French baccalauréat are not interchangeable. Choosing one over the other – or both – depends entirely on your child’s university targets. Contact our college guidance team if you’re unsure which path makes sense.
- Virtual clubs and extracurricular activities through Legacy supplement the academic program – important for American university applications, which weight extracurriculars alongside grades
Disclaimer: Legacy Online School is a WASC-accredited international private online school. This article is for informational purposes only. School availability, tuition figures, and education law in France may change. Families should verify current information directly with schools and qualified professionals.
