International Schools in Monaco: Options, Fees and Admission

International schools in Monaco at a glance

Monaco combines a French public system with two English-language international schools. Families who arrive from abroad choose between a school that follows the French curriculum and a school that prepares for the International Baccalaureate or the British exams.

About 90 nationalities attend school in the Principality, according to Hello Monaco in 2026. This mix explains why the international schools run their classes in English and prepare their pupils for universities in the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe.

The International School of Monaco in detail

The International School of Monaco (ISM), founded in 1994, stands at 43 avenue Princesse Grace in Larvotto, according to the Good Schools Guide. It welcomes pupils from 3 to 18 years and counts more than 60 nationalities. Sources give between nearly 700 and 850 pupils, depending on the date and the scope of the count.

Curriculum and languages

ISM is an IB World Continuum School and offers the four IB programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP) and the Career-related Programme (CP). Early years and primary are bilingual in English and French, and the secondary school continues in both languages while adding other languages. The school also acts as an accredited DELF testing centre for French.

Recognition and results

The Council of International Schools re-accredited ISM in January 2024, with all international standards met. The school collaborates with King's College School in Wimbledon on quality assurance and curriculum planning, and it holds the Athlete Friendly Education Centre status of the World Academy of Sport. Carfax Education ranked ISM among the top 15 private schools in Europe in 2023 and 2024.

Fees and extra costs

Tuition for international schools sits well above the public system. The table gathers the figures published by the Good Schools Guide for ISM and by Hello Monaco for the Riviera.

Fees change every year and vary by age group, so confirm the current schedule with the school before you apply. Add the costs of uniforms, meals, transport, exams and activities to your budget.

Admission: how to apply

International and private schools run their own admission, separate from the state schools.

• Timing: families usually apply 6 to 12 months before the start of the academic year
• Selection: interviews, entrance exams and a review of the academic profile
• Procedure: contact the school and complete the online form on its website
• Deadlines: they differ from the state schools, and enrolment is sometimes possible during the year, subject to availability
• Documents: school reports, a reference from the previous school and identity documents of the parents

State schools follow another logic. Applications are made in the spring before the new year, residency in Monaco has to be proven, and placement depends on the home address. Monegasque children and children with a Monegasque parent have priority, followed by residents and by children of parents who work in Monaco.

International schools near Monaco in France

Some families look beyond the Principality, especially for boarding or for a different curriculum. The schools below sit on the French side of the Riviera, according to Hello Monaco (article published in 2019 and updated in 2023). Check the current fees on each website.

Commuting weighs on the choice. A school in Monaco shortens the day for children and parents, while a school in Mougins or Sophia Antipolis involves a daily drive or a school bus.

Public and state-contracted schools in Monaco

Public schools

Public schools follow the French curriculum and teach mainly in French, with English introduced early and Italian, German and Spanish as options. Hello Monaco lists these schools:

• Primary: École de la Condamine, École de Fontvieille, École des Révoires, École Saint-Charles, École du Parc and École des Carmes
• Middle school: Collège Charles III
• Lycées: Lycée Albert Ier and Lycée Rainier III, the vocational and technical lycée for hospitality and catering

State-contracted private school

FANB runs from kindergarten to the final year of lycée. The State funds the teachers and the core teaching, while parents pay additional fees and the cost of activities. The school prepares for the general Baccalauréat.

For families who plan to stay in the Principality over many years, the public route offers a path to the French Baccalauréat without tuition. Families who move often or who aim at universities outside France lean towards the IB or the British system.

How the school choice shapes your home search in Monaco

In Monaco, the school and the home go together. A public school depends on your address, while an international school leaves you free to live in the district you prefer. The table links the main districts to a school nearby and to the average price per m² measured by IMSEE in 2025.

A family with children at ISM often looks at Larvotto, where the school stands within walking distance of the beaches and the gardens. Larvotto also carries a higher price per m² than the other districts in the table, so a family on a tighter budget compares it with Fontvieille or La Condamine, where the distance to ISM is covered by bus. Our guide to the districts of Monaco compares the atmosphere, the services and the prices, and our guide on living in Monaco covers schools, healthcare and daily life.

If you arrive from abroad, the order of the steps matters. Secure a home first, since it proves your residency for the state schools and for the residence permit, then submit the school applications. Read our guide to becoming a resident in Monaco for the documents.

Find a family home close to the schools

At Balkin, our team supports families who relocate to the Principality, with local expertise since 2005. Browse our apartments for sale in Larvotto and our apartments for rent in Larvotto, or consult the 3-bedroom apartments for rent in Monaco, a layout that suits many families. The price per sqm in Monaco guide gives the current values district by district. Arrange a private consultation to define your brief: number of bedrooms, distance to the school and move-in date.