Authentic American education
within a top French public school,
from pre-K to 12 (MS-Terminale)
Our graduates attend the world’s
top universities, with 100%
success on the coveted OIB diploma
Bilingual and bicultural: rigorous
native English instruction
alongside a full French curriculum
14 international sections in
the French Lycée, creating
friendships to last a lifetime
A full range of co-curriculars and
community service to build
the whole person
The American Section
of the Lycée International
Welcome To
The Lycée International, established just outside Paris over a half-century ago by Dwight D. Eisenhower, offers a unique approach to bilingual and bicultural education for children ages 4 to 18.
Students learn from native English-speaking faculty in the American Section. They also follow a full French curriculum within the Lycée International de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, a public institution ranked among France’s top schools. With 99–100% success on the prestigious BFI diploma (baccalauréat français internationale), our graduates go on to the world’s finest universities. Students with limited French can join Français Spécial for one year of language immersion.
The Lycée unites students from 14 international sections. The result is a true multilingual, multicultural experience, with friendships that span the globe and last a lifetime.
University Admissions
It is with regret that we bid au revoir (but certainly not adieu) to Lower School Principal, Beccy Haugen. Beccy has just retired after 29 years of service to the American Section. As a Lower School teacher she educated generations of Pre-K, First, Second, and Fourth Grade students. As Lower School Principal for the past ten years, she has been a supportive and transformative leader.
Our graduates had a very busy weekend! It included the American Section graduation ceremony, a celebratory Terminale dinner for faculty, students, and their parents, a whole school photo session, the spectacular BFI ceremony which reunited graduates from all 14 of the Lycée International's sections, a cocktail reception, and a bal de promo. What a wonderful way to send these exceptional young adults out into the world.
We are very proud of the 56 members of our Class of 2025!
100% were awarded their BFI diplomas.
7% mention Très Bien avec Félicitations du Jury
50% mention Très Bien
34% mention Bien
7% mention Assez Bien.
We look forward to seeing what they do next!
Troisième students from the American, British, and Spanish Sections celebrated their last year of Middle School with a very memorable Junior Prom. The party brought together students from the Collège International and three partner schools.
Fourth graders wrapped up their year with a celebration of poetry. They capped many months of study with a Poetry Café, transforming the classroom into a cozy performance space complete with tablecloths, menus, and sweet treats. With families in attendance, each student took the stage to share their poems aloud. It was the perfect way to close out the school year!
This week, our Rising Sixièmes were given the chance to discover their new Middle School. Future Marcel Roby students toured the campus, attended classes, and ate a meal in the cafeteria, while the future Collège International students enjoyed a picnic on the school grounds, toured the campus, and listened to a presentation from the French administration.
Our Fifth Graders recently received their Lower School diplomas. They were full of energy as they sang their way onto the stage to the delight of a full house of family members and teachers; all assembled to applaud this important step in these young students’ academic careers. The ceremony was followed by a fantastic expo featuring the work done in Art class this year.
Our 60 Troisième students were recently honored at Middle School graduation. They have worked hard, put in the extra hours, and have managed to win our hearts as well! We couldn’t be prouder of their many accomplishments and the Middle School faculty is grateful for the memories they were able to make with them.
For the second year in a row, all Troisième students at both the Lycée International and College Marcel Roby took part in the Fresque du Climat on their last day of class. The Climate Fresk is a collaborative, engaging, and educational workshop designed to help students understand the cause-and-effect relationships behind climate change. Thank you to the American Section volunteers who organized these events for our students and their classmates.
With their written French baccalaureat exam completed on Friday, our Premières were relaxed and ready to enjoy themselves at Saturday evening's Garden Party. They wore beautiful gowns, ate delicious food, danced, talked, and enjoyed being together. It was a wonderful way to end the year!
Our end-of-the-year outing at Parc Astérix for our Cinquième and Quatrième classes was a success! In spite of the heat, 100 carefree Middle School students roamed around Parc Asterix this past Friday looking for the next thrilling ride. This trip marks the end of the year for all our middle schoolers and it was yet another opportunity for kids in the same grade but on different campuses to spend some quality time together.
Wednesday night's Seconde Boat Dance, held on the last day of school, was a fabulous way to end the school year. Close to 120 American Section students and their guests, all dressed to the nines, enjoyed a glamorous party on a peniche in Bougival, dancing it up in the downstairs discothèque and enjoying snacks and pizza on the upstairs deck.
The party was very much appreciated by the Secondes!
The Lycée's annual Tournoi des Etoiles is a fabulous celebration of international competition. Last weekend was the tournament for our oldest students, and we are proud to announce that our Troisième team was victorious in the Juniors category, while the Quatrièmes grabbed the third spot. Congratulations to our talented athletes!
This year, the American Section launched The Prem Rawat Foundation's Peace Education Program forTerminale students of all sections. Run by a retired American Section teacher, our student well-being program covers themes of personal strength and inner peace through video-based workshops, reflection, activities, and group discussion.
To consecrate a thrilling, creative year our Middle School Art Club recently organized an exhibition in the Atrium of the Lycée. For many, this was the first time that they had shown their work to the world. Though some were apprehensive, this experience will surely prove to be cathartic, and vulnerability will transform into confidence and open-mindedness.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who volunteered, baked, grilled, set up, cleaned up, and brought such wonderful energy to this year’s Lycée en Fête! With support from our amazing community, the day was filled with delicious food, vibrant culture, and lively entertainment from all 14 international sections.
Sponsored by the American Section, VOX is the Lycée's a capella group, reuniting talented singers from all 14 international sections. Their recent year-end concert was a huge success. Bravo to all.
Our 5th graders recently participated in al three-day trip to the Branféré animal park, located in Brittany. One student commented: "It was also the first time I traveled with school, which made the trip even more exciting. It was really fun to meet new friends. This was definitely the best field trip so far. Branféré is the most amusing and memorable place I've ever been to."
Our Pre-K and First Grade classes enjoyed a special visit from the Ferme de Tiligolo. Students were introduced to a variety of farm animals including goats, ducks, rabbits, and even a baby pig! They learned about where eggs come from, how a goat produces milk, and how to care for animals on the farm. The children also had a chance to pet the animals.
Our Cinquiéme students traveled to Amsterdam for our annual trip which is centered on the themes of diversity, sustainability, and tolerance. Before departure they read The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank, and kept their own journal before and during the trip. It was an unforgettable experience, full of meaningful interactions and memories.
Jon Boafo ’03
Grace Baghdadi ’18
Graham Speier
Kim Murphy
Jonathan Whitney ’97
Thomas Perkins, 1ère
Jaade Husson, CM1
Elena Auroy, 5ème
Voices of the American Section
- Alumnus
Jon Boafo ’03
“The American Section taught me the importance of having the right people around you. To this day, classmates from the Lycée are among my closest friends. American Section faculty were rock stars - they did everything to ensure that we had the best environment to grow. And I’ll be forever grateful for the once-in-a-lifetime chance to immerse myself in other languages and cultures.”
- Alumna
Grace Baghdadi ’18
“The American Section provided the best preparation possible for college in the US. Not only was it an excellent academic foundation, thanks to our English and History classes, but it also allowed me access to American culture through various extracurricular clubs and the community. The French system also supplied me with the rigor necessary to succeed at a challenging place like Yale.”
- Faculty & Parent
Graham Speier
“It's a pleasure to teach tomorrow's leaders at the American Section. Our student body, composed of nationalities from all over the world, continue to impress me with their keen minds and curious spirits. I love guiding my students on the path to excellence, and take pride in helping them grasp the complexities of modern history. Students here are among the best minds out there today, making my job at the Section that much more engaging and enlightening.”
- Parent
Kim Murphy
“I chose the American Section of the Lycée International for my children because I wanted them to grow and learn in an environment similar to that of my own childhood in the United States, with the added bonus of learning with students from the other international sections of the school. In addition to learning an American curriculum, my children share American culture and traditions with their classmates. I’ve also become an active volunteer, which allows me to interact more with the faculty and staff as well as the other Section families. This community has become our children's American family in France.”
- Alumnus
Jonathan Whitney ’97
“Some of my closest friends, almost 25 years on, are people I met at the Lycée. Despite being separated over long distances we remain in close touch and try to see each other when we can. Having this core group of friends has been a great constant over a period of a lifetime that involves continuous change. Through college, starting out in the professional world, and eventually starting my own family, it has been wonderful to continue to grow up with some of the same people and see how all these different phases link together.”
- Student
Thomas Perkins, 1ère
“As an American Section student, I can take advantage of a wide variety of extra-curricular activities, as well as a wonderful and engaging academic life. In both the classroom and the podium during MUN, or working as a photographer during a yearbook photoshoot, the American Section gives us the ability to grow and learn skills, and helps us find who we are and who we’ll become after we leave.”
- Student
Jaade Husson, CM1
“I love the American Section. We don't just study grammar, spelling, sciences... but we also have time for art and library, amazing class projects and a lot of fun activities such as theater, community service, robotics, and Irish dancing. In the American Section I feel just like in my old school in the United States, but here my friends are from around the world.”
- Student
Elena Auroy, 5ème
“What I really love most about the American Section is the atmosphere: it is always cool and calm and you are always welcomed. It really makes you want to learn. Our teachers help us and joke with us, and they always find a way to make the lesson interesting. What I also like about the American Section is that they organize and truly put hard work into the dances and trips.”