Marymount International School Paris

Origins and Growth

Marymount International School Paris has one of the longest histories of any international school in France. It was established in 1923 in Neuilly-sur-Seine by Mother Marie Joseph Butler, a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM). The school began as a study-abroad program for students of Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York, reflecting the RSHM congregation's commitment to international education and the formation of young women leaders.

Over the following century, the school evolved from a small college extension into a fully-fledged international day school welcoming students from Early Years (age 2) through Grade 8 (age 14) from across the globe.

Institutional Identity

Today Marymount Paris remains firmly rooted in its Catholic heritage while embracing a genuinely pluralistic community. Students from over 40 nationalities and 16 faiths study side by side, united by the school's core values of Character, Compassion, and Social Justice.

The school belongs to the broader RSHM global network, whose shared vision is "to nurture the gift of internationality and transform the world through education." This network connects Marymount Paris to sister Marymount schools in Rome, London, and the United States, creating a shared ethos across continents.

Curriculum Evolution

Academically, the school has layered a blend of educational frameworks:

• American AERO standards form the curricular backbone for subject content and learning progressions
• IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) structures inquiry-based learning in Early Years and Elementary
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) governs the middle school (Grades 6–8), preparing students for senior secondary IB programmes at other schools
• Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) underpin the school's STEAM initiative

This multi-framework approach is relatively rare and reflects Marymount Paris's position at the intersection of American and international educational traditions.

Key Milestones

• 1923: Founded by Mother Marie Joseph Butler as a Marymount College study-abroad program
• Mid-20th century: Expanded to serve expatriate families settling in the Paris region
• 21st century: Gained dual IB World School authorisation (PYP and MYP) and CIS/NEASC accreditation
• 2020: Sarah Thomas, M.Ed. appointed Head of School; Eoghan Beardmore joins as Principal
• Ongoing: CIS/MSA re-accreditation visit in progress as of 2024–2025

A Distinctive Mission

Marymount International School Paris occupies an unusual space in the Parisian international school landscape: it is explicitly Catholic in ethos yet openly pluralistic in student body. The school's mission statement declares:

"As a Catholic school embracing diversity…and in the spirit of our RSHM Mission…our school community is committed to the education of each student so they may think creatively, reason critically, communicate effectively, and learn continuously."

This is not a contradiction but a deliberate philosophy. The RSHM (Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary) tradition holds that Catholic values — particularly compassion, justice, and service — are universal and enriched by diversity rather than threatened by it.

Core Values in Practice

The school's three core values — Character, Compassion, and Social Justice — are woven throughout daily school life:

• Character is developed through the house system (four houses: Inquiry, Vision, Patience, Perseverance), student leadership, and pastoral programmes
• Compassion informs the community's approach to inclusivity, EAL support, and learning support services
• Social Justice manifests in community service projects, social studies curricula, and the school's emphasis on active citizenship

Holistic Development

The school explicitly describes itself as offering "a values-centered environment" where each student "is known, supported, and valued." This pastoral emphasis — combined with small class sizes averaging 15 students — creates a community where individual attention is the norm rather than the exception.

Spiritual life is integrated but inclusive. An on-campus chapel hosts school masses, yet students of all 16 faiths represented in the community are welcomed and their traditions respected.

Inquiry and Internationality

The IB PYP and MYP frameworks reinforce the philosophical commitment to inquiry-based learning. Students are encouraged to ask questions, investigate local and global issues, and develop the skills needed for lifelong learning. The school explicitly connects this academic approach to the RSHM vision of "transforming the world through education" — treating intellectual formation and moral formation as inseparable.

Curriculum Architecture

Marymount Paris operates a blended curriculum that is genuinely unusual among international schools:

• IB Primary Years Programme (PYP): Structures Early Years and Elementary learning around six transdisciplinary themes, fostering inquiry and conceptual understanding
• IB Middle Years Programme (MYP): Applied in Grades 6–8, developing disciplinary and interdisciplinary skills across eight subject groups
• American AERO (American Education Reaches Out) Standards: Provide the subject-content benchmarks, ensuring continuity for American families and alignment with US university preparation
• NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards): Drive the school's STEAM programme, connecting science content with engineering design and technology practice

This layering means students benefit from the internationalism and inquiry orientation of IB while maintaining content rigour benchmarked against US standards — a significant advantage for mobile families.

Assessment Philosophy

The school uses MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing annually across reading, language, and mathematics. Crucially, MAP results are used formatively — they inform teaching and learning without contributing to student grades. This reflects a philosophy that assessment should serve growth rather than ranking.

Regular report cards and classroom assessments align with both IB and US standards, giving families meaningful progress data in familiar formats.

STEAM and the FabLab

One of the school's proudly highlighted unique features is its FabLab — a fabrication laboratory equipped with:

• 3D printers
• Laser cutters
• Engineering workshop tools

The FabLab is integrated into the curriculum via NGSS-aligned projects, and is complemented by a dedicated Art Studio for creative disciplines. The Lego Workshop ASA (run in partnership with Play-Well) extends STEM engagement from Kindergarten upwards.

Class Sizes and Teaching Staff

With an average class size of 15 students (maximum 20) and approximately 52 teaching staff serving around 370 students, the student–teacher ratio sits at approximately 7:1. This intimacy supports the school's commitment to knowing each student individually.

Teachers are predominantly native English speakers, reflecting the school's primary instruction language. French language teachers and EAL specialists round out the teaching team.

Languages and Bilingualism

English is the medium of instruction for all academic subjects (~85% of instruction time). French occupies a significant complementary role (~15%), taught as a foreign language to all students and used as a dual-language support medium in Middle School for Francophone students. The school also runs French cultural immersion activities — Jeux en français and Théâtre en français — reinforcing bilingual confidence in an enriching, non-pressured way.

Demographic Profile

Marymount International School Paris is genuinely international in its student body. With students from over 40 nationalities and families speaking 26 different languages, the school's corridors reflect the cosmopolitan character of Neuilly-sur-Seine and the wider Paris diplomatic and expatriate community.

According to International Schools Database data, approximately 78% of students are international (non-French) and 22% are local French students — a ratio of 39:11 (international:local). This stands in contrast to many so-called "international" schools where local students predominate.

Faith and Inclusion

Despite its Catholic identity, the school explicitly welcomes students of 16 different faiths, underlining the RSHM tradition of universal welcome. The on-campus chapel serves Catholic liturgical life without excluding those of other traditions from full participation in school activities.

Size and Intimacy

With approximately 370 students across Early Years to Grade 8, Marymount Paris is intentionally small. This scale allows:

• Teachers to know every student by name
• Pastoral care to be genuinely individualised
• The Head of School and Principal to be visible, accessible figures in daily school life

The house system (Inquiry, Vision, Patience, Perseverance) creates cross-year-group bonds and gives students leadership opportunities through inter-house competitions and community projects.

Parent and Family Community

The school actively cultivates family involvement. A PTO (Parent-Teacher Organisation) hosts community events such as the annual BBQ (held in September), and parents are encouraged to engage with the admissions process from the outset. The admissions team provides "comprehensive support throughout the transition process" for newly arriving families — a significant consideration for mobile expatriate households.

Location in Context

Situated at 72 Boulevard de la Saussaye in Neuilly-sur-Seine, the school is in one of Paris's most affluent and internationally populated communes, close to the Bois de Boulogne. It is accessible via Metro Line 1 (Pont de Neuilly or Les Sablons, ~10 minutes' walk), multiple bus routes, and RER A from La Défense. A school shuttle service (Esther transport) covers western Paris and suburbs for after-school activities.

Campus Character

Marymount Paris is an urban day school — there is no boarding and no rural retreat. Its campus in Neuilly-sur-Seine is compact but thoughtfully equipped, making the most of its Parisian location to deliver a rich learning environment within a relatively contained footprint.

Sports and Physical Education

The flagship sports facility is a three-storey gymnasium housing two basketball courts and a fitness centre. This is a significant asset for an urban school and enables:

• Physical education classes for all year groups
• Inter-school competitive sports ("Falcons" and "Pre-Falcons" teams in soccer, basketball, volleyball, and track & field)
• Saturday Morning Booster sessions for community sport

Multiple outdoor playgrounds serve the Early Years and Elementary students during breaks and physical education.

Creative and Technical Spaces

• FabLab: Equipped with 3D printers and laser cutters; used for NGSS-aligned engineering projects and creative making across the school
• Art Studio: Dedicated space for visual arts, complementing ASA offerings such as Art Club and Nature Art
• Music Rooms/Auditorium: Dedicated music classrooms and a performance hall supporting the school's rich music programme (strings ensemble, guitar, percussion, choir)

Academic Facilities

• Science Laboratories: Modern labs supporting upper elementary and middle school science
• Library: A resource centre serving all year groups
• IT Centre/Computer Labs: Technology facilities supporting digital literacy and project work
• Smart-board Classrooms: Climate-controlled learning spaces throughout the building

Spiritual and Community Spaces

• Chapel: On-campus chapel for school masses and private reflection; central to the school's Catholic identity without being exclusionary
• Cafeteria: Full-service canteen offering daily hot meals, with allergy accommodation; students may also bring packed lunches

Uniform and Daily Life

Students wear a white and navy uniform (seasonal variations), available from "The Nest" on campus. The dress code reinforces the school's sense of community and shared identity across nationalities.