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Guide to International and French Schools in Lagos

Lagos has a network of excellent international schools preparing students for French, British, and American diplomas.

Well-Regarded Institutions

  • Lycée Français Louis Pasteur (Victoria Island): AEFE-accredited from preschool through the final year of high school (terminale).
  • British International School (BIS Lekki): British curriculum, IGCSE and A-Levels.
  • American International School of Lagos (AISL VI): American program from Kindergarten through High School.

Tuition Fees and Admissions

Annual fees vary considerably by school and grade level: Lycée Français Louis Pasteur applies an AEFE-approved fee schedule, generally between NGN 2 million and 4.5 million per year depending on the cycle, plus registration and first-enrollment fees. AISL and BIS, positioned at the higher end of the market, often charge between NGN 5 million and 9 million per year for secondary school, with limited places that require early application, sometimes months ahead of the September intake. These schools generally require a placement test and a complete academic file, and offer relocation support for newly arrived families.

Alternatives and the Broader School Network

Beyond the three flagship institutions, Lagos has several good-quality private English-language schools following the British or an enriched Nigerian curriculum (such as Greensprings School or Grange School), offering a more moderately priced alternative for families not necessarily targeting an AEFE, IB, or American diploma. The choice of school largely depends on the family's mobility plans: children on a French curriculum benefit from continuity if the family returns to France or moves to another AEFE-network school, while British and American curricula ease the path to further studies in the UK, the US, or English-language Nigerian universities.

A Long History Behind Both Flagship Schools

Lycée Français Louis Pasteur was founded in 1958 by the Association Française du Nigeria (AFN), making it one of the oldest international schools in the city; it moved in 1987 into its current premises, built with support from the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and today enrolls around 580 students in classes averaging 17 pupils. The American International School of Lagos (AISL), founded in 1964, has occupied an 8.56-acre campus in Victoria Island since 1981 and serves students from preschool through grade 12 of all nationalities, with a strong share of American families alongside many other nationalities represented in its student body.

Planning Ahead for Admissions Timelines

Given their long track record and reputation, these established schools often maintain waiting lists, particularly for key entry points such as preschool, sixth grade (equivalent to French sixième), or tenth grade (seconde). Families planning a move to Lagos should therefore start enrollment procedures several months before arrival, working directly with the admissions offices of Lycée Français Louis Pasteur or AISL, which generally offer some scheduling flexibility for corporate relocation cases.