The information on this school’s profile is taken from publicly available sources, and has been collated by AI and curated by human moderators. Every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy, but factual inaccuracies are possible. If you would like to report inaccurate information please email support@doris.school
Taught languages French, Spanish, English, Portuguese
Strengths Languages, Sport, Academic Enrichment
Clubs Cultural and Language, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction
Lycée Français Paul Valéry de Cali is a French international school serving Maternelle, Élémentaire and Secondaire, delivering the French national education system within the AEFE network. The school offers the French Baccalaureate and the Colombian Baccalaureate, and conducts instruction in French while teaching four languages—English, Spanish, French and Portuguese—supporting rapid bilingualism and multiculturalism. Classes emphasize differentiated pedagogy and the development of critical thinking in a diverse student body. The campus network centers on a rural Arroyohondo–Yumbo site of about 70,000 m2 with completed preschool facilities and ongoing primary and secondary buildings; the design prioritizes bioclimatic features, natural ventilation and daylight, and includes dedicated sports facilities. The Antigua La Flora site previously served multiple facilities and closed in 2022. The school is the only French lycée in Cali and operates under AEFE guidelines to foster autonomy, responsible citizenship and a high standard of education through its programs and extracurriculars.
Cl. 10 #23-01, Arroyo Hondo, Arroyohondo, Yumbo, Valle del Cauca, Colombia
The Essentials
Lycée Français Paul Valéry de Cali has 1,050 pupils, instruction in French.
Location
The school is located in Arroyohondo, Cali, at Calle 10
23-01, along the old Cali–Yumbo road (Km 3.5). It has been in Cali for over 60 years. It is part of the AEFE network of French international schools in Colombia.
Stages
The school offers preschool (Maternelle), elementary (Élémentaire), and secondary (Secondaire) programs.
Type
The school is a French international school.
Country affiliation
France
Bus service
Bus service is provided by BRASILIA, a Cali-based company with over 40 years of experience. The service uses satellite-tracked vehicles and features a fleet of large and mid-size buses, minibuses, and vans. Open hours are 7:00–16:00. Transport coordinator: Diego Andrade +57 3137438384; Customer service: Adalgiza Rendon +57 3102926992; transbrasilia@lfcali.edu.co.
Fees
Application / admissions fees
- The school requires purchase of the registration (inscripción) form to begin the admissions process; families must complete and return the form as part of enrollment.
Annual structure of tuition charges (how fees are calculated)
- The annual educational tariff for each grade is split into two parts: matrícula (an annual registration payment) equal to 10% of the annual tariff, and pensión (tuition) equal to the remaining 90% of the annual tariff.
Tuition billing schedule and payment terms (how and when you will be billed and expected to pay)
- The school issues digital invoices for monthly tuition through its billing system; the invoice for each month is generated within the first two working days of the month and must be paid within ten (10) days of issue. Monthly tuition is billed for a ten-month academic cycle (September through June).
- Payment of the matrícula is required once per year at the time of enrollment or renewal; an extemporaneous surcharge of 10% on the matrícula may be applied when matrícula is not paid in the stipulated timeframe. All amounts billed after due dates accrue interest for late payment and the school may escalate overdue accounts to pre‑legal collection procedures if two months of payments are outstanding.
- The school offers a prompt-payment arrangement: families who pay the full set of monthly tuition for the academic year in advance may be eligible for an early‑payment discount as set by the institution (specific discount terms are published by the school each year). A family with three or more children enrolled receives a 20% discount on the monthly fee for the child in the lowest grade.
How tuition is presented and paid (frequency / instalments / per-term detail)
- The annual tariff is normally divided into the matrícula (10% of the annual tariff) and the pensión (90% of the annual tariff). The pensión is payable in monthly instalments across the 10-month academic period (one monthly invoice each month from September to June). Specific grade-by-grade monetary values (tariff per grade) are set annually by the school and communicated to families in the school's financial regulations and invoices.
Examinations, international tests and special billed items
- International exam and certification fees (for example Cambridge or other approved external examinations required by the French system) are billed in the academic year and may be split into scheduled instalments for applicable grades (the school schedules exam-related invoicing across months set by the institution).
Other regular or optional fees and costs
- Student cafeteria (lunch): the school publishes cafeteria meal prices and operates a reloadable balance system for cafeteria services; a representative lunch price listed for collège-lycée service is COP 15,500 per meal. Cafeteria account recharges are accepted in cash on site or via the cafeteria provider's online platform.
- Association (AS) sports/extracurricular affiliation: there is an annual membership fee for the school sports association; an example listed for collège affiliation is COP 250,000 (annual). This fee is charged separately and is non-refundable if the student ceases participation.
- Texts and pedagogical materials: sale of textbooks and special French-imported materials is billed annually at enrollment or may be added to the monthly pensión depending on the item and school decision.
- Transportation (school bus): transport is an optional external service contracted through third-party providers; cost varies by route and is billed separately under the school's rules for optional services.
- Trips, pedagogic outings and extracurricular activities: optional outings require separate payment; deposits required at registration for some trips are non‑refundable unless otherwise specified; full or partial reimbursements follow the trip contract and insurance clauses (medical exceptions and school-cancelled trips may trigger refunds under defined conditions).
- Student ID card, annual administrative charges and cultural stamp: a single annual charge for administrative items (carné, estampilla procultura, and other annual charges) is invoiced together with matrícula.
Boarding / residential provision
- The institution does not operate a boarding (internado) program; schooling is provided on a day‑school basis.
Refunds and cancellations
- Refunds for tuition and other billed items follow the school's financial rules: monthly charges already caused and invoiced are normally due in full; in the event of early withdrawal, families who benefited from an early‑payment discount may forfeit that discount and must request any reimbursement in writing with bank details for the refund. Deposits for optional trips are generally non‑refundable unless trip cancellation or specific conditions in the trip contract (medical certificate, force majeure or school cancellation) apply. Academic records, diplomas and certificates may be withheld until outstanding financial obligations are settled.
Accepted payment methods and payment processing
- The school issues digital invoices through its Phidias billing portal; payments must be made using the invoice as the official payment document. The school accepts bank consignments/transfers to its authorized accounts and uses payment processors (for some services) such as Avalpaycenter; specific account numbers and payment instructions are provided to families in school billing communications. For certain administrative payments (certificates, replacement ID), the school lists a Colpatria savings account (example reference used for certificate requests).
Penalties and collection
- Late payments generate interest and the school may add collection costs; accounts with two months or more in arrears are subject to pre‑legal collection action and possible loss of re‑enrollment for the following year. Invoices more than 55 days overdue can be blocked in the school's billing portal until resolved.
Summary of what is published and what families should expect to receive from the school
- The school publishes its financial rules and the billing framework (matrícula = 10% of annual tariff; pensión = 90% payable across the academic months), the billing timetable, penalties, discount schemes (including sibling discount) and which items are billed separately (meals, transport, extracurriculars, exam fees, textbooks). Families receive grade‑specific monetary tariffs, precise payment schedules, bank account details and any exam or trip charges directly in the school's annual fee communication and on the monthly invoices.
Academics
Lycée Français Paul Valéry de Cali teaches Bespoke Curriculum, French Curriculum for students aged 2 to 18.
Curriculum
The Lycée Français Paul Valéry follows the French national education system within the AEFE network. Education is delivered at three levels: Maternelle, Élémentaire, and Secondaire. The instruction emphasizes differentiated pedagogy, with a focus on developing critical thinking. The AEFE network provides high-quality education in line with the French national education requirements, guided by values such as tolerance, humanism, equality, and critical thinking. The French teaching environment is culturally diverse and uses an innovative pedagogy that values language learning. The school offers the French Baccalaureate and the Colombian Baccalaureate.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Three professional psychologists oversee the preschool, elementary, and secondary levels. The service offers ongoing psychological support to students and families through consultation spaces, in-class observation, and workshops and conferences for students and families on personal-life topics and prevention. Institutional meetings review the progress of students facing difficulties. The aim is to offer a healthy school experience by prioritizing dialogue, trust, and respect, with wellbeing as a top priority. Career guidance is part of the secondary psychology service, including personality tests, meetings with professionals, university visits, and workshops to help students plan their futures in the French or Colombian systems.
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Multilingual education includes French, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.
Mental Wellbeing
Wellbeing is a central priority. The psychology service provides ongoing mental-health support, preventive programs, and family-oriented activities to promote resilience. The team collaborates with external professionals for specific cases, and maintains open communication with teachers and staff.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is defined in the Manual de Convivencia. The policy states that every student has the right to safety and protection from physical or moral aggression, and that any form of violence, threats, insult or defamation is not permitted. The school's educational approach is secular, inclusive, and grounded in critical thinking, with freedom of conscience within school rules and a commitment to non-discrimination. The manual covers bullying, cyberbullying, and sexual violence, with definitions and procedures for prevention, reporting, and redress to restore rights and dignity. It also describes situations and formative consequences intended to modify behavior to safeguard the learning environment. The school promotes tolerance, equality, and respect for all members of the school community.
Admissions
Admissions
1. Start by submitting the online admissions form. The form is the first step of the admissions process and asks whether the candidate comes from another French lycée, the child's full name, the child's date of birth, and the full name, email, and phone number of the parent or guardian. It includes a checkbox to accept the terms and conditions and an option to purchase the registration form. Enrollment is open for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years.
FAQs
What curriculum does Lycée Français Paul Valéry de Cali follow?
The Lycée Français Paul Valéry follows the French national education system within the AEFE network. Education is delivered at three levels: Maternelle, Élémentaire, and Secondaire.
What age range does Lycée Français Paul Valéry de Cali serve?
The school serves students from age 3 to 18.
Is the school co-educational?
The school is described as co-educational, day.
How many students attend Lycée Français Paul Valéry de Cali?
The school has approximately 1,050 students.
Where is Lycée Français Paul Valéry de Cali located?
The school is located in Arroyohondo, Cali, at Calle 10 #23-01, along the old Cali–Yumbo road (Km 3.5). It has been in Cali for over 60 years. It is part of the AEFE network of French international schools in Colombia.
Who leads Lycée Français Paul Valéry de Cali?
The school is led by Jean-Marc Gavanon.
Does the school provide SEN support?
No SEN provision information is publicly available. Parents with children who need additional learning support should enquire directly with the school.
What languages are used for instruction?
The Lycée Français Paul Valéry has been in the city of Cali for more than 60 years and is a pioneer in multilingual education, offering Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese.
How do I apply to Lycée Français Paul Valéry de Cali?
1. Start by submitting the online admissions form.
What extracurricular activities are available?
Extracurricular workshops promote artistic and sporting activities. The after-school workshops complement the school day and aim to develop students' artistic and athletic abilities. Sebastián Gutiérrez coordinates the program.
Is there a school bus service?
Bus service is provided by BRASILIA, a Cali-based company with over 40 years of experience.
