You’re looking over the school calendar for next year, and you’re already thinking about school. Between the early enrollment processes in the private sector and the usual procedures in the public sector, the dates vary. When should you start the process to ensure your plans go smoothly?
The application process for enrollment in a private school in Paris begins in September of the year preceding the intended start of the school year—that is, almost a year in advance! Schools process applications over several months, and spots are allocated on a rolling basis according to the order in which families submit their applications.
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To prepare for enrollment in a private school in Paris in September 2027, the search should begin as early as fall 2026. Most private schools—both those not under contract with the government and those under contract—open their doors and make their application forms available 12 months before the start of the school year.
Planning ahead allows you to attend information sessions, tour the facilities, and have a relaxed conversation with the administrative staff. In Paris, demand for private schools is high, especially for the “tout petit” and “petite section” levels of preschool. Getting a head start gives you time to review each school’s educational program. You can check whether the teaching methods, language immersion, or daily schedule are a good fit for your child.
Parents who begin the process between September and December have a wider range of options. The first admissions committees or interviews are often held before the end of the calendar year.
For the school year starting in September, enrollment at theÉcole M opens on September 1 of the previous year. It is sometimes possible to enroll during the school year, depending on when families who are already enrolled leave.
The admissions process includes making initial contact, individual or group discussions, a tour of the facilities, and administrative confirmation. Each network or institution sets its own procedures, but the general process remains similar across different organizations.
The admissions process at theÉcole M consists of four steps: a non-binding request for information, a presentation about the school by phone or during a videoconference information session, a meeting at the school with your child, and finally, the completion of the enrollment process.
Here are the typical steps a family goes through during the application process:
This step-by-step process ensures that you can get to know your child’s school environment before making a final commitment. Feel free to read our full article onpreschool enrollment in Paristo learn about the administrative details.
It is still possible to submit an application in the spring or early summer, even though the number of available spots decreases as the months go by. Independent schools manage their enrollment on an ongoing basis and accept late applications.
Enrollment at theÉcole M is open year-round. Because our classes have small class sizes, spots fill up quickly: they are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
If you start your search a few months before the start of the school year in September, you can take several steps:
Late applications require a quick response, because a vacancy in May or June must be filled immediately.
The enrollment schedule for private schools begins earlier and offers more flexibility than that of the public sector. City governments organize public school enrollment on specific dates, while private schools set their own deadlines.
In the public school system, enrollment depends on your place of residence and is handled by your local city hall. To learn about the official procedures for public school enrollment, you can read the information sheet on enrolling in public school.
Conversely, enrollment in private schools in Paris is not restricted by geographic zones. You can enroll your child in a school located near your workplace or along your daily commute. Selection criteria are based on alignment with the school’s educational mission and the order in which applications are submitted, rather than on a school district map.
In addition, the private sector allows you to anticipate responses. While public-sector job offers often come late in the spring, you’ll receive a response from the private sector shortly after your interview. This allows you to head into the summer with complete peace of mind.
École M is a network of private, secular, bilingual (French-English) preschools located in Paris and Clichy-Levallois. In each classroom, a French-speaking teacher and an English-speaking teacher work with the children throughout the day. The curriculum follows that of the French Ministry of Education while drawing inspiration from the work of Maria Montessori, Freinet, and Reggio Emilia.
Registration is on a rolling basis, with no competitive selection process. To explore our facilities and talk with our team, you can sign up for our next information session.
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