Be an exchange student in the Greater Paris Area
Your Exchange program in Paris Greater Area with Nacel.
During their High School program in France, exchange students may choose to be placed in the Greater Paris area, either in a host family or in a boarding school. They are enrolled in a public or private secondary school and placed with a paid host family, or at the school dorm during the week and in a paid family during weekends. This provides exchange students the opportunity to experience the everyday life of French students and discover the French culture and “art de vivre”, while exploring Paris and its world famous museums and monuments.
What should I expect from my exchange program in Paris Greater area?
French secondary education is divided into two schools:
- the “collège” for the first four years directly following primary school (Grades 6-9)
- the “lycée” for the next three years.
You attend a French Lycée, in 10th, 11th and more rarely in 12th grade. Completion of secondary studies leads to the French “baccalauréat”, which is the French High School Diploma. The school principal makes the ultimate decision regarding grade and placement level for international students, taking into account the school’s organization, the student’s transcripts and their French level. All students attend general classes such as French, History, Math, Foreign Language (usually English, then German or Spanish), P.E., Sciences, etc..
In France, students spend a lot of time at school. Generally speaking, they start school at 8am and finish at 5pm or 6pm, there is a 1-hour break at lunchtime. Sometimes, there are classes on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. You may practise sports or do cultural activities such as music or arts outside of school, in local clubs and so called "associations". Those activities usually take place after school, on Wednesday afternoons as well as on Saturdays. Sundays are usually dedicated to family life, going out, relaxing, doing homework.
Most students get the chance to practice sports if this can be arranged with the host family at the beginning of the stay.
Graduation from a secondary school in France is only possible after at least two years of study (Grade 11 and 12). We are happy to support you in your objectives if you intend to graduate in France.
Paris Boarding School Option: if you choose our program in a private boarding school, you will be placed in Issy-Les-Moulineaux, a town directly linked to Paris city center (15 minutes by foot from Latin Quarter!).
Looking for an international school in Paris? Study at Notre-Dame International High School, an English speaking high school in Paris area. Notre-Dame International High School is one of the French international schools offering international students to study in English and improve their French thanks to intensive French classes and French homestay immersion. As an international school located in Europe, the school attracts students coming from all over the word for a challenging international education.