École Internationale Arc-en-Ciel

"École Internationale Arc-en-Ciel is a private international school situated in Lomé, the vibrant coastal capital of Togo, offering a truly global education to families from across West Africa and around the world."

With a name that translates to "rainbow" in French — a fitting symbol for its richly diverse community — the school has established itself as one of the leading international educational institutions in the region, welcoming children from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. Founded in 1986, Arc-en-Ciel has built nearly four decades of experience serving the international community in Lomé. The school's long history reflects a sustained commitment to academic excellence and to meeting the needs of mobile, internationally minded families, including expatriate professionals, diplomats, and relocating households who require a rigorous, globally recognized education for their children. The school's academic program is anchored in the full continuum of the International Baccalaureate curriculum, one of the most respected educational frameworks in the world. Arc-en-Ciel was first authorized to deliver the IB curriculum in 1999 and has since grown to offer all three core IB programmes. Younger learners in the nursery and primary years are educated through the IB Primary Years Programme, which emphasizes inquiry-based learning and the development of the whole child. Students in the middle school years follow the IB Middle Years Programme, a challenging and interconnected curriculum designed to help adolescents make meaningful connections between their studies and the wider world. At the secondary level, students can pursue the IB Diploma Programme, the internationally recognized qualification that opens doors to universities across the globe. One of Arc-en-Ciel's most distinctive features is its genuinely bilingual environment. Instruction is delivered in both English and French, with separate language tracks available to families. This dual-language approach is a significant advantage for expatriate families who may be coming from, or moving on to, either Francophone or Anglophone countries, and it reflects the school's unique position at the crossroads of West Africa's linguistic traditions. The student body is a remarkable reflection of the school's international character. Arc-en-Ciel welcomes approximately 500 students representing more than 40 nationalities, creating a richly multicultural community where children learn alongside peers from dramatically different cultural backgrounds. This diversity is not merely a statistic — it is woven into the daily life of the school, fostering the kind of intercultural understanding and global awareness that the IB philosophy champions. For relocating families considering Lomé as their next posting, Arc-en-Ciel offers something genuinely reassuring: a well-established institution with a proven track record, a curriculum recognized by universities worldwide, and a community that understands the particular joys and challenges of international life. Whether a family arrives speaking English, French, or both, and whether their children are just beginning their educational journey or preparing for university applications, École Internationale Arc-en-Ciel is equipped to meet them where they are and support them every step of the way.