Moving to France with Children of School Age 

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.

Understanding the French School System Before Relocation

France runs compulsory education from age 3 (nursery school, maternelle) through to 16. State schools are free, widely distributed, and follow the French national curriculum. There’s no opting out of the structure – grade levels follow a fixed national pattern, and the school year (année scolaire) runs September to June with mandated regional vacation windows.

For families moving to France who don’t speak French, the first meeting with the local school can feel disorienting. Forms are in French. The directeur or directrice will speak French. The admin process assumes residency documentation you may not have sorted yet.

Practically: bring a proof of address, proof of income or visa documentation, and your child’s most recent academic records translated where possible. Processing is local and fairly fast in most regions.

Choosing a School: French Public, Bilingual, or International

This is where families spend most of their planning energy, and reasonably so.

French public system is the default for most children. It’s free, the teachers are qualified, and children integrate faster than parents fear. The trade-off is that instruction is entirely in French from day one – there’s no English immersion track in the state system. Children who don’t speak French may be placed in a CASNAV unit at some institutions, particularly in larger cities. Not everyone has it.

Bilingual or international schools exist mainly in Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes, Montpellier, and areas with high expat concentrations like the French Riviera (Nice, Cannes, Antibes). These vary significantly. Some follow the International Baccalaureate (IB). Others teach in English with French as a subject. Annual fees can run €8,000 to €22,000 depending on the school and region. The International School of Nice is one recognized option in the south.

For families who arrive mid-year, who are relocating every two to three years, or whose children have special educational needs that the local school can’t accommodate – the calculus changes. An accredited online school provides a consistent curriculum regardless of where you are in France.

Visa Requirements and School Enrollment

Need a visa to enter France? Your path depends on nationality and length of stay. EU/EEA citizens move freely. Non-EU families – American, British, Canadian, Gulf nationals – need a long-stay visa (visa de long séjour) for stays over 90 days.

Visa requirements for families with children typically include proof of accommodation, proof of income or employment, and evidence of how your child will be educated. This last point matters. Some consulates ask for proof of school enrollment before issuing a visa. Others accept an enrollment letter from an accredited international online school.

Where Are Expat Families Moving to France With Children?

It’s not just Paris.

Normandy has attracted steady expat interest from British and American families over the past decade – lower property prices, proximity to the UK by ferry or tunnel, and a less pressured pace. Normandy life is quieter, schools are smaller, and children integrate relatively smoothly into the French system. The downside: fewer English-speaking resources, fewer international schools.

Southern France – the French Riviera, Aix-en-Provence, Montpellier – draws international families partly because of the weather and partly because the existing expat community makes everything slightly easier. Schools in these areas often have more experience handling new arrivals who don’t speak French.

Toulouse is growing fast – corporate expats, aerospace industry, younger families. Bordeaux draws UK families specifically, partly the wine country, partly the TGV to Paris. Rennes gets overlooked: lower costs than Paris, calmer pace, and the local system absorbs new arrivals without much friction.

Choosing where to live should factor in education options. A family with children aged 8 and 14 will have very different needs from a family with a 5-year-old.

How Children Learn French – and How Fast

Children learn French quickly. That’s not reassurance – it’s what the data consistently shows. Children aged 3 to 10 typically achieve functional fluency within six to twelve months of full immersion in a French school. They absorb the language from classmates, playground conversations, and the daily rhythm of school life.

Older children, particularly those entering secondary school (collège or lycée) at 11 or above, face a harder path. Academic language – the kind needed to analyze a French literature text or write a dissertation in French – takes two to three years to develop. This is where some families seek parallel support.

For expat families in France who want their children to maintain English academic progress while learning French, a part-time online program in English alongside the French school is one practical option. Language learning and academic continuity don’t have to compete.

“AP credits are accepted by over 500 Universities in over 75 countries, including the U.K., Canada and Australia. Many also accept AP scores for admissions, placement, and scholarship decisions.”

— College Board, Do universities outside the U.S. accept AP scores?

What About Children Who Don’t Settle?

Not every child integrates smoothly. Some find the transition harder than expected – the language barrier, a different social dynamic, a classroom culture that can feel more formal than what they knew. French kids can be friendly but the entry point socially takes time.

Some families – particularly those on assignment in France for one or two years – choose to enroll in a WASC-accredited online private school rather than attempting that integration for a short period. Legacy Online School has been serving expat families in 30+ countries since 2023, with live group classes capped at 15 students, taught by qualified teachers working US time zones. Your child stays in their American curriculum without the transition stress.

“WASC advances and validates quality ongoing school improvement by supporting its private and public elementary, secondary, and postsecondary member institutions to engage in a rigorous and relevant self-evaluation and peer review process that focuses on equity, inclusion, and access to high-level, rigorous learning opportunities for all students.”

– WASC, Mission Statement 

Sophie and David M. moved from Toronto to Rennes in 2023 on a two-year contract. Their 13-year-old son, Marcus, spent one semester in the local collège. The language barrier was manageable – the social isolation wasn’t. He withdrew. They pulled him out in January and enrolled him in Legacy’s online middle school. He finished the academic year on track, sat a trial class first to confirm the fit, and re-engaged with the curriculum within weeks. When the family returned to Canada in 2025, his transcript transferred without gaps.

A Real Case: One Family’s Approach in Lyon

James and Natalia R. relocated from Houston to Lyon in 2024 when James’s employer transferred him for an 18-month contract. Their 10-year-old son joined the local école primaire. Their 15-year-old daughter enrolled in Legacy’s online high school – she was in the middle of preparing AP courses and her parents didn’t want to disrupt that momentum with a school transition to French lycée mid-year. She completed two Advanced Placement (AP) exams while in Lyon. Her brother, meanwhile, picked up French within eight months. Two kids, two completely different situations. Both worked out.

Ready to explore your options? Legacy Online School serves expat families across France – from elementary school through high school. Book a free trial class and see if it’s a fit for your family.

Top Tips from Our Expert

Maya Robinson, College Prep Advisor at Legacy Online School

• Register your child’s school placement as early as possible – French public enrollment requires a local authority (mairie) step that can take one to two weeks even for straightforward cases
• If your child is entering collège or lycée and doesn’t speak French, request the CASNAV support track in writing from the school administration – it’s not automatically offered at every school
• Don’t assume that AP credits completed through an online private school won’t be accepted – Legacy’s AP courses are recognized by 500+ universities worldwide, and many French-track students use them as university preparation for American or UK institutions
• Normandy and smaller regional towns offer lower costs and faster integration for younger children, but larger cities provide more international education options if your older child needs English-language academic continuity
• Families on short contracts (12 to 24 months) should model both paths – French school with supplementary support, or online private school – before deciding based on your child’s age and existing academic trajectory

Disclaimer: Legacy Online School is a WASC-accredited international private online school. AP exam administration is managed by College Board. Legacy does not operate testing centers. College credit policies vary by university. Families should verify current policies directly with their target institutions.