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Search & filter all 2 schools Compare 2 schools in Lyon

SEN International Schools in Lyon, France

Edited by · Chief Marketing Officer

About international schools in Lyon, France

Lyon’s international-school scene mixes English-medium private schools that run IGCSE/Cambridge and International Baccalaureate pathways, long-standing bilingual Franco-English schools, and public “sections internationales” attached to the French system that teach part of the programme in another language. Languages commonly taught across these options include English plus German, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese, and a small number of schools are authorised to deliver the IB Diploma or Cambridge qualifications. Annual costs vary widely: public international sections are provided within the state system (no tuition, though sections often charge a supplementary fee) while private international schools charge tuition that commonly runs from the low thousands up to around €18,000 a year depending on the school and pupil’s year group. Admissions typically follow a winter/spring cycle with written or oral language tests for section places or international curricula, and private schools frequently require an application fee plus a one-off capital enrolment deposit once a place is offered.

Compare 2 SEN / Special Education international schools in Lyon, France. Filter by curriculum, fees (average EUR 12,884), location, and more to find the right international school now.

At a glance 2 schools · avg fee EUR 12,884
Schools listed
2
Curricula
4
Average annual fee
EUR 12,884
Fee range
EUR 7,744 – 18,024
Most common curriculum
Cambridge IGCSE (2 schools)
Average school size
300 pupils
Largest by enrolment
International School of Lyon
Oldest
Cité Scolaire Internationale de Lyon (1992)
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FAQs for France

What international curricula are available in and around Lyon?
Families will commonly find the International Baccalaureate (DP and some PYP/MYP provision), Cambridge/IGCSE pathways and bilingual versions of the French national curriculum (sections internationales or BFI/OIB options). Some private schools combine the French curriculum with Cambridge subjects or prepare students for IB diplomas, and public sections deliver an adapted national programme alongside stronger language and international-exam options.
How much should we budget for school fees?
Costs vary by sector: state schools with an international section charge no tuition but do levy section or association fees, while private international schools publish a wide range of fees that depend on age and programme. Published fee schedules for local English-medium and bilingual private schools show annual tuition in some cases reaching into the mid-five figures, with specific schools publishing entry and capital fees in addition to annual tuition. Check each school’s current fee schedule and whether employer sponsorship or sibling discounts apply.
When should we apply and what does admissions usually involve?
Most international and bilingual schools in Lyon run a standard admissions cycle: applications open in autumn or winter, language and academic assessments are held in late winter to spring, and offers and deposits are exchanged before the summer. Public international sections are selective and require language tests and a formal dossier; private schools commonly require an application fee, assessments and a non-refundable enrolment or capital payment once a place is offered. If you need a mid-year move, contact schools early to check availability rather than relying on published cycle dates.
Are there free public international options in Lyon?
Yes - the Cité Scolaire Internationale and other public schools host official sections internationales that are part of the French state system, so there is no standard tuition charge for schooling itself. Those sections are selective, require language competence, and many sections ask families to pay a supplementary section fee or association charge to support additional teaching and activities. Expect separate costs for transport, meals and optional trips.
My child does not speak French - will schools support them?
Most private international and bilingual schools in the Lyon area provide English-medium teaching and additional language support for non-French speakers, and larger schools commonly run EAL/ESL programmes or individual language support. Public international sections expect a baseline proficiency in the section language and may be less able to offer intensive beginner support, so families with non-French speakers should ask each school about entry tests, targeted language support and catch-up programmes before applying.