Ecole Jeannine Manuel

"École Jeannine Manuel stands as one of the most distinguished private schools in France, and indeed in Europe, with a reputation built over seven decades of bilingual, internationally minded education."

Founded in 1954 by Jeannine Manuel herself, the school was established with a visionary mission: to foster understanding between peoples and cultures through the shared experience of genuine bilingual learning. That founding philosophy remains at the heart of everything the school does today, making it a compelling choice for expat families and relocating professionals seeking an academically rigorous environment that takes both language and cultural identity seriously. The school's academic program is built on a foundation of bilingual French-English instruction, meaning that children are not simply learning a second language as a subject — they are learning through two languages simultaneously across the curriculum. This immersive approach begins in the earliest years and continues all the way through to graduation. At the secondary level, École Jeannine Manuel offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) alongside the French national curriculum, giving students a credential that is recognized and respected by universities around the world. This dual academic pathway is particularly valuable for families who may not remain in France permanently and want to preserve their children's options for higher education internationally. The Paris campus is spread across two locations in the 7th and 15th arrondissements, both well-connected and situated in some of the city's most characterful neighborhoods. Together, the Paris campuses serve approximately 2,400 students representing around 80 nationalities — a figure that speaks volumes about the school's genuinely international character. This is not a school where international students are a small minority navigating a predominantly local environment; rather, the diversity of the student body is structural and central to the school's identity. Children grow up learning alongside peers from across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and beyond, which reinforces in daily life the intercultural values the school was founded to promote. The school's academic outcomes are exceptional by any measure. École Jeannine Manuel was ranked the best high school in France for eighteen consecutive years through 2019, a remarkable achievement that reflects not only the quality of its faculty and programs but also the serious academic culture the school has cultivated across generations of students. Beyond Paris, the school has expanded to include a campus in Lille — located in Marcq-en-Baroeul — which serves more than 1,000 students including approximately 120 boarders, as well as a presence in London, making it part of a small but cohesive network of schools sharing the same bilingual philosophy and high standards. For expat families arriving in Paris, École Jeannine Manuel offers something genuinely rare: a school that does not ask children to choose between their home culture and their host country, but instead treats that dual identity as an asset. With its long history, exceptional academic record, multilingual environment, and diverse international community, it deserves serious consideration from any family seeking the best possible education in the French capital.