High School in France
Experience “La vie en rose” by living with a host family and attending a high school in France.
Starting date: September 2027
Yearly Program
Spots available
Spots available
Spots available
Discover why France is so much more than Paris by exploring small towns and villages, as well as regions with such diverse atmospheres and landscapes. Immerse yourself in this culture, world-renowned for its gastronomy, architecture, philosophy, and painters. Be sure to explore the magnificent countryside that stretches from the Atlantic to the Alps and from the Channel Tunnel to the Mediterranean Sea.
Admission requirements
Participants must be between 14.6 and 17.9 years old on the day of departure.
The AFS program
You'll be leaving for a year, a semester, or even a trimester. You'll attend high school in the community where you'll be living. You'll have the opportunity to be hosted by a family carefully selected by AFS so you can enjoy an immersive stay that will leave you with unforgettable memories.
AFS offers training, orientation, and activities before, during, and after your stay. You'll meet young people from all over the world.
The school system
In France, schools are managed by the Ministry of National Education. French schools are very time-consuming and energy-intensive. Days are long, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with a one- to two-hour lunch break.
Classes are made up of 30 to 35 students, and an average of two hours of homework is required every evening. However, there are many public holidays and vacations: a week and a half in October, two in December, February, and April. Summer vacation begins in July and ends at the end of August.
All classes are mandatory, and exams are continuous and regular. There are no uniforms in public schools, however, certain rules must be respected (hats are prohibited, as are short skirts, no religious symbols may be visible, etc.).
French teenagers spend a lot of time at school, and extracurricular activities take place in clubs on Wednesday afternoons and weekends. Like most teenagers around the world, young French people enjoy socializing with friends, going to the movies, and listening to music. The most popular sports in France are soccer, rugby, tennis, cycling, pétanque, and basketball.
In France, it is important to remain formal, and the use of the formal "vous" (formal) is required with strangers, teachers, and older people.
What’s included in your experience
Learning paths that evolve with the world
AFS helps people of all ages and backgrounds develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding needed to connect with diverse people, succeed in a global environment, and contribute to a positive impact on the world.
