Lycee Jules Verne
Key Stats
Annual Fees: US$5K - US$7K
Curriculum: French
Age Range: 3-18
Students: ~750
Location: Morningside, Sandton, Johannesburg
Updated April 2026
In Brief
Lycee Jules Verne is the natural home for French-speaking families in Johannesburg, and a strong option for bilingual families who want the French Baccalaureate. Non-French families should think carefully about the language barrier in early years before committing.
LJV is the only AEFE-accredited French school in Johannesburg, which makes it the default landing point for French diplomatic, corporate, and expat families arriving in the city. Around 750 students from 76 nationalities follow the French curriculum from pre-primary through Terminale, sitting the French Baccalaureate at the end of high school. The school's Morningside campus sits a short distance from Redhill on Bauhinia Road - a quiet, residential location that is convenient for Sandton, Rosebank, and Morningside families specifically.
The school runs a serious bilingual French-English programme, and the 'International Section' supplement for middle and high school (ZAR 11,515-13,304 per year extra) gives a more international curriculum track within the French framework. Head Giles Perinet leads a school that feels, by most accounts, genuinely French in its culture and approach - which is both the draw and the limitation. Families appreciate the sense of continuity with French schooling globally, the fact that a child can move between AEFE schools worldwide without losing academic standing, and the francophone community that forms quickly around the school.
The canteen is mandatory at all year levels, adding ZAR 13,000-16,000 per year to the headline tuition fees. The non-refundable enrolment fee of ZAR 29,500 for Grade 1-12 is payable for the first three years of enrolment, which makes year-one costs notably higher than the tuition figure suggests. Non-French-speaking families should ask about the FLE (French as a foreign language) support programme and realistic timelines for children to integrate academically - the school has support structures, but integration into a French-medium curriculum is genuinely demanding at secondary level.
What parents value
- –AEFE accreditation means the French Baccalaureate is globally recognised and a child can transfer between AEFE schools worldwide with no curriculum disruption. For mobile French-speaking families, this is the most reliable continuity available in Johannesburg.
- –76 nationalities in a 750-student school creates a genuinely international community that is not dominated by any single expatriate group. The bilingual French-English programme is well-structured for children arriving with English as their home language.
- –Morningside location is convenient for Sandton, Rosebank, and northern suburbs families. Fees are reasonable relative to AISJ and the school's competitor set internationally.
Points of consideration
- –The mandatory canteen fee adds ZAR 12,983-15,919 per year to headline tuition, and the enrolment fee of ZAR 29,500 is charged for the first three years. Total year-one cost is meaningfully higher than the published tuition figures.
- –Non-French-speaking children entering at secondary level face a significant linguistic challenge. The school provides FLE support, but confirm directly what the integration pathway looks like for your child's age and prior French exposure before applying.
- –The school operates on a French academic calendar (September to June/July), which differs from South African and most international school calendars. Families with children in other Johannesburg schools on different calendars will have misaligned holiday periods.
Annual Fees
| Year Group | Age | USDTotal Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Primary School (Grades 0000-0) | 3 | NaN |
| Primary School (Grades 1-5) | 6 | NaN |
| Middle School (Grades 6-9) | 11 | NaN |
| High School (Grades 10-12) | 15 | NaN |
Fees converted from ZAR. For the most up to date and accurate figures please double check with the school.
Additional Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Enrolment Fee (Grade 1-12, non-refundable) | NaN |
| Enrolment Fee (Pre-Primary, non-refundable) | NaN |
| Canteen Fee - Primary (per annum, mandatory) | NaN |
| Canteen Fee - Secondary (per annum, mandatory) | NaN |
Academic Results
Academic results have not been made publicly available by this school.
Extra Curriculars
Contact the school for details on co-curricular activities and facilities. Ask what a normal week looks like outside lessons for your child's interests.
Inspections & Accreditations
Inspection
No published inspection details are currently available.
Accreditations
Accreditation details are not publicly listed.
Memberships
Membership details are not publicly listed.
Student Body
Johannesburg's international schools serve a highly diverse student body drawn from across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Contact the school for current enrolment and nationality breakdown details.
Leadership
School leadership
Contact the school for details.