Frequently Asked Questions
University Counseling FAQ
Fund Raising FAQ
General FAQ
Where is the International School of Paris located?
We have two campuses, both located in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, roughly a 20 minute walk from each other.
The address for the Primary School (nursery to grade 5) is:
96 bis rue du Ranelagh
75016 Paris
France
The address for the Secondary School (grades 6 to 12) and for the Admissions office is:
6 rue Beethoven
75016 Paris
France
A detailed map and walking directions are available on the Map and Directions page.
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What are the school hours?
| Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten | 9:00 – 15:15 |
| Grades 1 to 5 | 9:00 – 15:30 |
| Grades 6 to 8 | 8.45-16.30 Monday, Wednesday and Friday
8.45-15.15 Tuesday and Thursday |
| Grades 9 to 12 | 8:45 – 16:30
(unless otherwise stated on timetable) |
Children in nursery, pre-K and kindergarten can be dropped off from 8:45 am, but we ask parents not to bring them any earlier than this. Children in grades 1 to 5 can be dropped off from 8:30 am.
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Does ISP have any boarding facilities?
No, at ISP we only accept students who live with their parents or legal guardian in Paris. In most cases, we do not accept students who will be living with a host family. The IB Programmes are very rigorous, and we feel that it is necessary for students to have the appropriate level of support at home.
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Is there a school bus service?
We operate a bus service for the Primary School only. The exact bus route is decided according to the requirements of the families registered for the service at the start of the school year. However, as a general rule, a full-size school bus covers the Boulogne area and the 15th and 16th arrondissements, and several mini-buses are used to cover the needs of most other families. Parents can accompany very young children (nursery and pre-K) on the bus for the first few days, but after this we recommend that the child take the bus alone.
Students in the Secondary School tend to walk to School, or take advantage of the excellent public transport system in Paris (métro, bus, RER, light railway etc.)
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Is lunch provided?
A hot lunch program in collaboration with a catering company is available for purchase in the Primary School. Students in the Secondary School either pack their own lunch or buy one off campus if they have off campus lunch privileges.
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Is there a school uniform?
No, our students are free to wear whatever they feel comfortable in, provided that their clothing is appropriate to the learning environment and is not offensive, insulting or hazardous to others.
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What vaccinations are obligatory for my child in France?
Diphtheria, tetanus and polio (DTP) are legally required, and French law stipulates that anyone under the age of 18 must receive a booster every 5 years. Due to the highly mobile character of our school population, ISP also requires all students to have had either the BCG vaccination or the 10-unit skin test for tuberculosis.
Additionally, ISP strongly advises vaccinations against pertussis (whooping cough), measles, mumps, rubella (German measles) and meningitis, as well as hepatitis B for adolescents. All vaccinations have to be up to date at the beginning of each school year.
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Do the fees given on the website include VAT?
VAT is not payable on the school fees as ISP is legally registered as a not-for-profit organisation in both France and the US. The fees given on the site are, thus, the net fees; there are no extra charges to be paid.
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My child is at ISP and requires a school certificate. Who should I contact?
For the Primary School: Katarina Hodgson
For the Secondary School: Marie Lechantre
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Admissions FAQ:
Is there a required interview or admissions test?
No, in the majority of cases the decision about any child’s admission is based on the information contained in the application file we receive. If we deem it necessary to meet and potentially assess the applicant, due to any specific issues or concerns which may arise, this will be requested as an additional stage in the application process.
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Is there a deadline for applying?
No, at ISP we operate on a system of rolling admissions and we receive applications throughout the year. Children are accepted according to the availability of space we have in the grade concerned.
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How do we pay application fees?
We accept payments by cheque, bank transfer or cash, in euros only. If you choose to make a bank transfer, we would kindly ask that you use your name as the reference for the transaction, so that we can clearly trace who the payment is for. For our bank details, please refer to our current fee documentation.
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FAQ on Languages
Are classes taught in French, English, or both?
Classes are taught in English at ISP. However, French is a mandatory subject at all levels, and Secondary School P.E. is partly delivered in French. As part of the IB programme, students also have the opportunity to study their mother tongue in depth and to learn a foreign language.
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What languages can my child study at ISP?
We offer a range of mother-tongue and foreign languages. If your child’s mother tongue is not taught at ISP, we strongly encourage families to find other ways to help the children continue to study it, either by finding a private tutor, or some other way. The school can often provide help and guidance with this. For more information on the languages offered, please see the Learning at ISP section of this website.
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How much French will my child study?
Pre-school
(Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten): | 1.5 hours per week
(2 classes of 45 minutes each) |
| Grades 1 to 5 | 4 hours per week (4 classes of 1 hour each) |
| Grades 6 to 10 | Up to 6 hours a week
|
| Grades 11 and 12 | Higher Level: 4 hours / Standard Level: 3 hours per week |
For more information on the languages offered, please see the Learning at ISP section of this website.
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Is there a minimum level of English required? Does my child require an IELTS or TOEFL certificate?
From nursery to grade 9, we accept children with all levels of English. From grade 10 onwards, a minimum foundation in English is strongly recommended, but we do offer intensive English classes where required, at an extra cost. We do not require applicants to provide any formal certification of ability in English, such as TOEFL or IELTS.
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IB Diploma FAQ:
My child wishes to complete only his/her final year of secondary education (grade 12) at ISP. Is this possible?
At ISP we generally discourage students from entering into grade 12, as the IB Diploma is a two-year program (spanning grades 11 and 12) and can thus only be taken as a whole. It can sometimes be possible for students currently following an IB Diploma programme elsewhere to transfer into grade 12 at ISP, but this requires considerable advance planning. It is important for you to contact us as early as possible in such case, so that we can look into the possibility of a transfer.
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My child is currently 19 and would like to undertake the full IB diploma at ISP. Is this possible?
Unfortunately, ISP cannot accept students who will have turned 20 by the date of their graduation.
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I have heard that there is a bilingual version of the IB Diploma. What criteria need to be satisfied in order for this to be awarded?
The IB specifies that Bilingual Diplomas can be awarded to students who have undertaken: two languages A1, or
a language A1 taken together with a language A2, or
a group 3 or 4 subject taken in a language other than the candidate's language A1, or
an extended essay in a group 3 or group 4 subject written in a language other than the candidate's language A1.
Please see the IB Diploma Framework page of this website for more information about the above terms.
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6 Rue Beethoven, 75016 Paris, France