Your studies in an International School in France

School schedule

The school follows a standard schedule in which students attend 7 classes per day, 5 days a week. Time in the middle of the day is set aside for clubs, study hall, and lunch.

The following schedule shows the structure of a typical school day during your High School studies in France.

School trips

Teacher-led excursions, visits, and trips may be arranged all school year long.

At our international school in France, our students are also encouraged to travel with the school staff or Nacel throughout France and surrounding countries, such as Italy, Germany, Belgium, Spain, and Great Britain. Being one of the few international boarding schools in Europe, our goal is to ensure that our students are well-traveled and knowledgeable about European cultures. Check travel opportunities HERE.

Independent travel is allowed under specific conditions (see Documents and Forms).

Intercultural skills and bilingualism

Significant global changes suggest a need for corresponding changes in how we think about ourselves and the world. International Education is an approach to learning that is focused on thinking competencies that help students to perform successfully in intercultural contexts. This approach also includes the development of intercultural communication skills.

The emphasis on personal and social responsibility supports learning and helps young people apply their international education to everyday and global situations. Ultimately, we aim for students to make meaning of their international education and integrate this learning into their life experiences.

To fulfill our mission to prepare students to be competent global professionals, Notre-Dame International High School offers a wide variety of courses in Science, Mathematics, Language Arts, Foreign Language, and Social Science (see Course Offerings). We strive to provide an appropriate level of academic challenge for all students and encourage their involvement in the arts and other enrichment courses.

In each of our classes, we endeavor to maintain a culturally relativistic viewpoint and encourage students to share their personal experiences to increase the awareness and understanding of their peers. Our diverse student body (more than 20 citizenships represented at school) serves the educational experience our students receive in the classroom.

All our students attend daily French language classes and have the opportunity to book additional French classes during school breaks to upgrade their level quickly.

High school studies in France: Curricular goals

1. Students will demonstrate proficiency in their High School Curriculum by:

• Producing high-level work that prepares them for higher education and professional life in the global community;
• Demonstrating effective problem-solving skills in various settings;
• Integrating the knowledge and experience gained in all subject areas and applying it to real-world situations;
• Gathering and applying information gained from research, past learning, and different world perspectives;

2. Appreciating the value of learning and taking an active role in their education. Students will develop and refine their intercultural thinking skills by:

• Learning to understand the viewpoints of others and allowing this information to shape their perspective of the world;
• Challenging their personal biases and beliefs through the examination of other worldviews;
• Using knowledge and critical thinking to develop educated positions on topics and issues that will improve their interactions with others.

3. Students will demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively within an intercultural setting by:

• Improving skills in oral and written language;
• Expressing thoughts and ideas with clarity, purpose, and cultural awareness;
• Recognizing, analyzing, and evaluating various methods of verbal and nonverbal communication;
• Developing mastery of English (or for U.S. students, another world language), to be successful in post-secondary studies.

4. Students will exhibit personal and social responsibility by:

• Practicing personal and academic integrity;
• Accepting, appreciating, and understanding human diversity as it relates to themselves and others;
• Developing cultural skills such as mindfulness, empathy, and patience in uncertain situations, self-reflection, and a culturally relative viewpoint;
• Understanding the impact of the actions and those of others (individuals and groups);
• Learning cross-cultural leadership skills in preparation for success.

Under certain credit conditions, students may earn a US High School Diploma.

Grade placement and credits

Students transferring to Notre Dame International High School, either permanently or temporarily, from an American school (in the USA or overseas) will:

• Continue their High School studies as planned;
• Attend the school grade they would have attended in their home school;
• And earn credits in all necessary study areas up to graduation (Grades 10, 11, or 12).

Students transferring to Notre-Dame International High School, either permanently or temporarily, from a non-American school will be required to submit a translated grade report and information about the grading system in their home school. Decisions on school grade placement will be taken based on the records provided. Their US credit status will be calculated to determine their subject choice.

Transfer of credits/ graduation

Transfer of credits remains at the entire discretion of the national educational authorities of the student's home country and Notre Dame International High School officials.

Notre Dame International High School supports students with Apostille and convalidation processes of High School transcripts when required by the home school or national authorities.