Best Boarding Schools in Paris

Welcome to Ermitage International School, a diverse, cosmopolitan community with 80 years of excellence in teaching students to engage, prosper, and succeed. Our campus is located in Maisons-Laffitte, a green and peaceful retreat just 20 minutes from Paris. This stunning, historic environment gives our 1,500 students a safe and beautiful place to explore, study, socialize, and flourish. At Ermitage, we offer students a choice between the French Bilingual Programs and the International Baccalaureate (IB) program in English with a bilingual diploma option as well. These programs are united by shared values, a multilingual campus, and an openness to the world. We strive to build our programs upon an educational foundation that values curiosity, critical thinking skills, innovation, and ambition so that our young scholars may be confident and prepared to take on the world of tomorrow. We believe learning should also include cultural and athletic activities to help our students excel in a broader context. Whether a day student, or a 5 or 7-day boarder, each of our learners gets to participate in a rich student life experience. Ermitage offers to IB students a broad range of after-school activities provided by various school and city infrastructures. This means that from 15:30-17:00 every day, students get to participate in horseback riding, golf, tennis, swimming, rowing, football, volleyball, and so much more! Maisons-Laffitte: Your Home Away From Home From the age of 11, students have the freedom to choose between day school and boarding school. Boarding students get to experience French life in a beautiful place, and enjoy the pedestrian-friendly town of Maisons-Laffitte, providing comfort and safety while offering easy access to Paris – just a 20 minute train ride away – and its cultural attractions. Right here in town, our boarders have access to shops, sports facilities, bakeries, and cafés, giving them fun opportunities to connect with the local community, practice their French language skills and taste local delicacies. Being a boarder at Ermitage means enjoying the best of both worlds! International Baccalaureate Programs The International Baccalaureate programs are part of a world-renowned education framework, recognized by top universities across the globe. The student-led approach aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring individuals, ready to face challenges and embrace opportunities. At Ermitage, we provide our students with a nurturing and international environment throughout their IB experience – from our lower school program, which is the perfect springboard into IB programs, to the IB Middle Years Program (IB MYP) and the IB Diploma Program (IB DP). Small class sizes mean our teachers can provide each and every one of our 220 IB students with individualised coaching, follow their academic progress, provide guidance individually or in small groups, and ensure each child is being adequately challenged and supported in their learning. We take pride in the hardworking students who undertake the IB. It offers a balanced timetable with rigorous academics taught in English, including comprehensive French classes for all students from beginner to native-level, and co-curricular activities. Ambitious though this program may be, our students rise to the challenge with proactivity, independence, open-mindedness, and determination to achieve excellence in all that they do. If this sounds like you, too, we invite you to come join us! IB Program Statistics: 220 students 50+ nationalities represented 23 languages spoken 15 average students per class 42/45 top Diploma Program score 34 average total grade Diploma Program French Bilingual Programs At Ermitage International School, one of our key objectives is for students to master both French and English. Ermitage teams have developed an approach to teaching that considers the needs of each individual so everyone can work together to reach success and confidently navigate the world as bilingual citizens. Ermitage offers French and bilingual instruction from Maternelle to Terminale (Pre-K to 12th grade). As students reach key developmental junctures, they are provided with an academic experience that challenges and supports them in age-appropriate ways. Starting at the age of 3, students in our Pre-K and Primary School begin to foster the love of learning in French and English. Children begin to actively participate at their own pace and gain self-awareness during these first formative years. Collège (6ème-4ème/6th-8th grade) is a time of discovery. Discovery of self, but also of the world around us. Our middle schoolers learn to find their own way and expand their skills. By offering classes adapted to their level of learning in each major subject, we individually guide our students toward mastery of the academic pillars while stimulating their minds through interdisciplinary flexibility and bilingualism. Lastly, in Lycée (3ème-Terminale/9th-12th grade) our programs lead students to their final accomplishment: the French Baccalaureate. The baccalaureate can be completed through one of two paths: the French Lycée or the International Option Baccalaureate (OIB). No matter what path our students follow, everyone at Ermitage acquires the experience necessary to achieve excellence and prepare for an ambitious post-secondary career. French Bilingual Programs Statistics 1250 bilingual students 65 nationalities represented 46 languages spoken 100% pass rate on the French Baccalaureate with Honors 58% of 2nde – Tle students enrolled in the International Option (BFI) An international education for riders: Equestrian Programs Our dedicated Equestrian Programs at Ermitage offer passionate riders the opportunity for regular practice, expert tuition, coaching, and competitive opportunities. Located in Maisons-Laffitte, renowned as the ‘Cité du Cheval,’ with exceptional facilities including 30 stables, a top jumping arena, and access to 65 kilometers of bridle paths in the adjacent Forest, our equestrian programs provide a unique and enriching experience for riders.