Cities / Shanghai / Shanghai French School
Shanghai French School
The AEFE-affiliated Lycée Français de Shanghai, with twin Eurocampuses shared with the German school, serving over 1,500 students from preschool to the French Bac.
In brief
The AEFE-affiliated Lycée Français de Shanghai, with twin Eurocampuses shared with the German school, serving over 1,500 students from preschool to the French Bac.
Founded in 1995, Shanghai French School is a non-profit run by the parents association and contracted with the Agency for French Education Abroad. Two large Eurocampuses share facilities with the German school, the original Qingpu campus and the newer Yangpu campus that opened in 2019. Roughly 1,500 students span PK through Terminale, French is the working language with English and Chinese embedded throughout, and German or Spanish enters from grade 7. Laurent Fouillard heads the school.
Parent voice highlights real bilingual rigour, strong critical-thinking habits in older grades, the FLSco programme that takes non-French speakers from K3 upward, and a tight, well-organised parent community with a serviceable bus network. The repeated grumble is the Qingpu commute from central Shanghai, the trilingual load on late arrivals, and an institutional feel to the campus architecture. Right fit for francophone families and for anyone serious about a French-system education.
Fees
Annual fees
| Year level | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| TPS (Preschool age 2) | 2 | CN¥125,000 |
| PS-GS General (ages 3-5) | 3 | CN¥125,000 |
| PS-GS Linguistic Stream | 3 | CN¥147,580 |
| Primary CP-CM2 General | 6 | CN¥125,000 |
| Primary CP-CM2 Linguistic Stream | 6 | CN¥147,580 |
| Middle School General | 11 | CN¥162,200 |
| Middle School Linguistic Stream | 11 | CN¥184,780 |
| Secondary General | 15 | CN¥185,500 |
| Secondary Linguistic Stream | 15 | CN¥208,080 |
One-time fees
| Item | Age | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | CN¥3,600 | |
| Registration Rights | CN¥24,500 | |
| Construction Fee (Individual) | CN¥30,000 | |
| Construction Fee (Corporate) | CN¥75,000 |
Reviews
- Lycée Français de Shanghai operates under the French government and enrolls almost entirely French passport holders, which forms a self-contained francophone bubble. One ex-student described it as "a giant western Bubble in Shanghai".
- Mandarin exposure is light. One former parent said most pupils had only one hour of Mandarin a week and German was more popular than Chinese among students.
- Academic preparation pulls ahead of mainland-French peers for kids who later return. One ex-student said they came back to France with a two-year academic lead, citing morning lessons plus afternoon sport or arts.
- A 2013 abuse case at the Pudong campus, where a kindergarten teacher was convicted, still surfaces in expat conversation.
Positives
- Academic preparation. Returning students arrive in France ahead of mainland-French peers.
Considerations
- French expat bubble. Strong francophone community, weak local integration. Limited Mandarin exposure.
- Safeguarding history. 2013 conviction of a Pudong-campus kindergarten teacher for abusing several students still cited.
Leadership
Laurent Fouillard
Laurent Fouillard serves as Proviseur (Principal) of Lycee Francais de Shanghai, one of the leading French educational institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. He oversees pedagogical direction alongside four adjunct principals who manage the school's two campuses. The school employs over 300 staff members from 50 different nationalities, united in their mission to guide each student toward academic success.
Academic results
- 2025 Baccalaureat 100% pass rate
- 2024 Baccalaureat 100% pass rate