Founded in 1960 in the heart of Paris 7th, Lennen is the only truly French-American school in the capital. Small classes, two cultures, one goal: unlocking every child’s potential.
Paris, 1960. Guided by a pioneering vision of education, Patricia Lennen — a Columbia University graduate and passionate advocate for innovative teaching — founded what would become Lennen Bilingual School. The school’s story began in a single classroom within the American Church in Paris, at 65 Quai d’Orsay, in the heart of the 7th arrondissement.
At Lennen Bilingual School, we believe every child carries unique potential. Our mission is to help it flourish.
Since 1960, we have offered an authentic French-American dual curriculum within a caring, multicultural environment. Our educational approach is designed to nurture confidence, curiosity, and the skills children need to shape their own path.
In our small class settings, located in the heart of Paris’s 7th arrondissement, each student is truly known and valued. Teachers provide individualized attention and adapt learning to the pace and needs of every child.
Our approach is guided by five core commitments: cultivating individual talents by revealing each child’s potential; combining the best of the French and American education systems to deliver a well-rounded academic foundation; connecting languages, cultures, and personalities in a community representing more than 27 nationalities; encouraging students through kindness and positive challenge, while fostering a lifelong love of learning; and preparing agile, confident minds ready to adapt and thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Throughout her years as a teacher in Paris, Patricia encountered many American families whose children struggled to find their place linguistically. French schools, while academically strong, could present significant language barriers, while English-speaking schools often left little room for meaningful engagement with French. Too often, children were caught between two systems — without fully belonging to either.
Inspired by her passion for education and her love for France, Patricia set out to imagine something different. She envisioned a learning environment that would bring together the best of American educational practices with deep immersion in the French language and culture. Her ambition was simple yet powerful: to allow young children to grow into bilingualism naturally, while thriving in the country that had become their home.
From the earliest years of schooling, Lennen Bilingual School answered this need. And it was only the beginning.
In 1990, when Patricia passed the torch to her daughter, Michèle Lennen, a new chapter began in the school’s story. Raised within a family deeply rooted in both French and American cultures, Michèle naturally carried forward the mission her mother had begun: to create a learning environment where cultural differences are lived and celebrated every day.
Under her leadership, the school expanded to include preschool, kindergarten, and elementary levels. Michèle championed small class sizes, where every child is known by name and benefits from a balanced 50/50 immersion in both languages. With two native-speaking teachers in each classroom, children are immersed daily in authentic French and authentic English.
The academic program thoughtfully brings together the standards of the French National Education system with the American curriculum, offering students a truly bilingual, bicultural education.
Lennen Bilingual School is far more than the oldest French-American bilingual school in Paris. For over six decades, it has been a place where children discover who they are — across two languages and two cultures — guided by the conviction that a fulfilled child does not replicate a model, but creates their own path.
Rooted in a dynamic and humanistic vision of education, Lennen Bilingual School honors the legacy of Patricia while boldly shaping the future, preparing children to grow, adapt, and thrive in an ever-changing world.
Lennen’s values are lived out every day. Kindness, inclusion, and multiculturalism foster a reassuring environment where every child is recognized. By promoting the joy of learning and self-confidence, Lennen Bilingual School supports students in their personal development with complete peace of mind.
At Lennen Bilingual School, every teacher and member of the leadership team is carefully selected for their professionalism and their ability to listen and engage with students. Our team of 25 dedicated educators is deeply committed to each child’s academic and personal development, and reflects the richness of the French and American perspectives that define our school. Working closely with families, this educational team creates a secure, stimulating bilingual environment in which every student is supported to grow and thrive.
At Lennen Bilingual School, children, parents, and the educational team come together as a close-knit, caring, and inclusive community. All members share a common culture rooted in learning, mutual support, and openness to the world. Inspired by a longstanding American tradition dating back to 1960, this sense of community extends far beyond the classroom, creating lasting relationships that strengthen belonging and collaboration among families. Joining Lennen Bilingual School means becoming part of a community where we grow together, learn from one another, and where every individual plays a role in bringing the Lennen spirit to life each day.
In the heart of Paris
Located in the heart of Paris’s 7th arrondissement, Lennen Bilingual School’s two campuses offer a secure and enriching learning environment tailored to each age group. Thoughtfully designed to support student well-being and success, they combine bright, welcoming spaces, modern facilities, and close connections with families. These campuses embody Lennen’s bilingual spirit, where academic excellence, cultural openness, and personalized support are experienced every day.
The Lennen Villars campus offers thoughtfully designed spaces for primary school students, supporting independence, academic growth, and well-being in a safe and welcoming environment.
