American Section

Welcome to the American Section of the Lycée International of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. The American Section, one of 13 international sections represented within this French state school located in the Western suburbs 12 miles (18 kilometers) from the center of Paris, is comprised of just over 700 students and 30 faculty and staff. Approximately 60% of our students are U.S. citizens and many hold both French and American citizenship. Most of the remaining 40% are French citizens who have spent a considerable amount of time in the United States or have had American schooling. However, a child’s nationality is not a criterion for admission into the American Section. The goal of the American Section is to offer our students aged 4-18 (pre-Kindergarten through 12^th grade) a bi-lingual education comprising a high quality American educational and cultural experience in 6-8 hours of formal language and history instruction in English per week and a comprehensive French education with a particularly strong emphasis on math, science and languages leading to the traditional French Baccalaureate with the International Option (OIB). Every day, our students navigate between two cultures, two languages, two educational systems with ease and fluency, from reading American classics to developing a phonetic understanding in two languages; from tackling a third language beginning in the 6^th grade to leading a delegation at the Model United Nations. Furthermore, a comprehensive extra-curricular program develops the skills our students will need to succeed as global citizens in an ever shrinking and competitive world.

It is my true pleasure and honor to be at the head of this Section. Working with a team of bi-cultural and bilingual educators who are committed to the best of American teaching practices yet also true Francophiles makes for a vibrant and determined community. We love the complexities of this dual system and firmly believe that our students are fortunate to mature both intellectually and emotionally in such a diverse and rich environment.

Kelly Herrity, Director