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Lycée Descartes is a French international school in Rabat that follows the French national curriculum and participates in the AEFE network. The school offers education from 6th grade through CPGE, with five languages studied and a strong emphasis on language pathways. The campus hosts a multicultural and multilingual community representing about 20 nationalities, creating a rich learning environment rooted in tolerance and curiosity. Students prepare for higher education around the world, supported by a curriculum that includes collège, lycée général, lycée professionnel, and enseignement technologique tracks. Facilities include a health service, a high-quality library, and a demi-pension. Student life is active through the Maison des Lycéens and a dynamic sports association. Artistic and cultural education is integrated, with arts plastiques, theatre, and Cinéma Audio-Visuel, plus Education Artistique et Culturel pathways. The school also offers European language sections, Parcours Avenir, Parcours Citoyen, and Parcours Artistique et Culturel, connected to AEFE network.
Lycée Descartes has 2,500 pupils, instruction in French.
Location
The school is located in Rabat, Morocco. Address: BP 768, Place Jean Courtin, Agdal, Rabat 10106.
Stages
Secondary education with Seconde, Première, Terminale (French high school).
Type
French international school in Rabat, part of the AEFE network.
Pupil Nationality Mix
Multicultural and plurilingual community with around 20 nationalities represented.
Additional learning support
Inclusion program for visually impaired students.
Country affiliation
Morocco
Fees
Annual tuition at Lycée Descartes ranges from MAD 3,750 to MAD 77,700 for 2026/27.
Application fees (Droits de première inscription) - Droits de première inscription (DPI) : 1er enfant MAD 30,000; 2e enfant MAD 15,000; 3e enfant et suivants MAD 0. For CPGE the DPI is MAD 7,500. The DPI is payable before the start of the school year and is not refundable except in the exceptional case of refusal or impossibility of registration by the establishment.
Billing schedule and payment terms - For 1st and 2nd degree (maternelle, primaire, collège, lycée) tuition is billed and payable in three advance terms: 40% of the annual tuition due at the 1st‑term deadline, then 30% at the 2nd‑term deadline, and 30% at the 3rd‑term deadline. The specified payment deadlines are: 1st term due before 19 October 2026; 2nd term due before 18 January 2027; 3rd term due before 19 April 2027. - For post‑bac (CPGE) billing is semestrial: 5/10 (50%) of the annual amount due before 19 October 2026 and 5/10 (50%) due before 18 January 2027. - Payment timing options accepted: single payment on receipt of the invoice; payment by the term on the above dates; or up to 9 monthly installments (October to June) by direct debit or standing transfer subject to agreement with the accounting services. - Consequences of late or non-payment: reminders are issued; continued non‑payment triggers a final formal notice then possible legal recovery actions, and persistent non‑payment may lead to removal (radiation) of the pupil and prohibition of re‑registration until all sums are paid. A rejected payment (e.g., bounced cheque) leads to immediate exigibility of the debt after the prescribed delays.
Boarding (internat) and day‑school regime - The school operates on an externat/demi‑pension basis and provides a school meal service; boarding (internat) tariffs are not published as part of the financial regulation for the pôle Rabat‑Kénitra. The establishment's meal service and snack options are provided through a contracted catering service.
Other fees and regular ancillary costs - Meal service (demi‑pension) and snack: the school provides two catering spaces (collège and lycée) and publishes snack prices; example snack items include prepared student meals and individual snack prices (sample entries: student meal approx. MAD 44; hot dishes ~MAD 25; various sandwiches and snacks priced individually). These snack/ticket prices apply to collège and lycée snack outlets. - Transport, exam and other ancillary charges: certain ancillary items (transport individuel, exam fees, and other ancillary allowances) are handled separately; bourses annexes (entretien, transport individuel, examens) are managed directly with families while the bourse for demi‑pension is paid to the catering contractor. Specific tariffs for transport or other optional services are not listed in the main financial regulation and are charged or contracted independently. - School supplies / uniform: no mandatory uniform fee or a published uniform tariff appears in the financial regulation; standard lists of supplies are published separately by the school. Families should budget separately for supplies, schoolbooks, and optional activities. - Sibling reductions and staff exemptions: a 50% reduction on DPI applies to the 2nd child and a 100% reduction from the 3rd child when first inscriptions are simultaneous; local staff on certain contracts benefit from exemption rules described in the financial regulation.
Refunds, remissions and prorating - DPI is not refundable except in cases of a formal refusal or impossibility of registration by the establishment. - General remissions (partial refunds) of tuition are limited and may, on written request, be granted only in tightly specified situations (non‑acceptance for reasons of unpaid sums, definitive exclusion, absence for illness or accident for more than 30 consecutive days outside vacations with medical certificate, or for a pupil partially present due to an assigned auxiliary of life). Any remission linked to partial attendance is prorated to the number of days concerned. Arrival or departure during the school year is charged on a monthly basis: the month in which the pupil arrives or departs is due in full (calculated as one‑tenth of the annual tuition). In cases of unexcused absence over 15 days, the school may radiate the pupil and rights are due only to the end of the month of radiation (one‑tenth basis). - Bourses: when a scholarship or bourse is awarded by the competent services and if an appeal leads to a favorable decision after payment, any overpaid amount will be refunded to the family or deducted from amounts still due for the current school year.
Accepted payment methods and banking details - Accepted payment methods: online payment via the parent portal (personal account), mobile multichannel payment (Fawatir/Fatourati) with partner banks, cash deposit at Crédit du Maroc branches listed by the school, direct debit (prélèvement automatique) over up to 9 months, standing transfer (virement permanent) after agreement, cheque to the order of the school's agent comptable, payment at Cash Plus agencies or partner points of sale, and in‑person card payment at the school's accounting agency by appointment. Payments in euros are converted at the chancery exchange rate indicated on the invoice. - Bank accounts (as published for payments): - Euro account (Trésor Public): IBAN FR76 1007 1449 0000 0010 2071 577 — BIC TRPUFRP1. - Dirham account (Crédit du Maroc): IBAN 021 810 0000 073005036498 02. - Card payments can be taken at the school's accounting office by appointment; receipts are available in the parent portal.
Practical summary (key items for parents) - Budget for DPI at first enrolment (MAD 30,000; reduced for siblings; CPGE special DPI). - Budget annual tuition according to level and nationality (see the listed annual amounts and per‑term breakdowns above). - Respect the exact payment dates (1st term 19 October 2026; 2nd term 18 January 2027; 3rd term 19 April 2027) or arrange agreed instalments with the accounting office. Late payment may lead to exclusion and legal recovery. - Allow for additional, separately billed costs (demi‑pension/snack, transport, supplies, optional activities). Snack and meal ticket prices are published by the school.
Academics
Lycée Descartes teaches French Curriculum.
Curriculum
An education offering from 6th grade to CPGE. Five languages are studied. The school is multicultural and multilingual, with 20 nationalities represented in the community. The curriculum covers a varied range of tracks across middle and high school levels, including CPGE pathways. The school emphasizes preparation for studies around the world.
Exam Results
99% Bac success rate in 2025.
Higher Education Progression
Pursuits of study around the world.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Multicultural and plurilingual community with 20 nationalities. Respect, tolerance, and dialogue between cultures are the pillars of the educational project, with a focus on preventing all forms of violence and discrimination. Well-being and safe coexistence are central to the school project, with a health service providing a welcoming space to listen to students and support their well-being. A school psychologist supports students as needed and a welfare cell coordinates monitoring with educational staff; students can receive individual appointments. Students are actively engaged in school life through structures such as a Maison des Lycéens and a dynamic sports association, and ongoing efforts address harassment and promote well-being. [Source: turn3view0, turn9view0, turn10view0]
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The school's mission is to ensure excellence for all and guarantee the success of each student in a caring, safe and inclusive environment. The school is explicitly inclusive. There is support for pupils in situations of disability. The health service provides educational actions to promote health and well-being and address learning challenges. A school psychologist supports families and students and, upon request, can provide individual sessions. [Source: turn9view0, turn4view0, turn4view2]
English as an Additional Language (EAL)
In addition to French, students can strengthen their mastery of Arabic, English, Spanish or German. Certifications are prepared for language proficiency, including IELTS (International English Language Testing System) delivered by the British Council and DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranjera) delivered by the Instituto Cervantes. The school offers an English European section (Section Européenne Anglais) from secondary through to terminale, with English-language content and additional opportunities in English. Three language pathways are available in lycée and beyond, including English-focused tracks. [Source: turn7view0]
Mental Wellbeing
The infirmary is a welcoming, confidential space where students can express themselves; it is staffed by three nurses and a doctor who provide care, first aid, and health education. The health service participates in the integration and schooling of students with medical problems or learning difficulties and the nurses lead health education activities on nutrition, hygiene, prevention of addictive behaviors, screen time management, and well-being. A school psychologist provides insights into difficulties and can refer families to health professionals, with the possibility of individual appointments. The health service is open Monday to Friday 8:15-18:00, Wednesday 8:15-17:00, and Saturday 8:15-12:15. [Source: turn9view0]
Safeguarding
The school's mission is to ensure educational excellence for all and guarantee the success of each student in a caring, safe and inclusive environment. The school has a plan for preventing violence, harassment and discrimination. The health service, the school psychologist, and a safeguarding cell coordinate follow-up and monitoring with teachers and leadership. Anti-harassment initiatives and activities are part of the school's preventive framework, including student engagement projects on harassment and safe school culture. [Source: turn9view0, turn10view0]
Admissions
Admissions
Admission to a French-education establishment in Morocco is open to all students regardless of nationality or prior schooling, subject to available places and after submitting an online application on efmaroc.org. There are two primary pathways: (1) admission based on the candidate's academic parcours (with an order that depends on place availability) and (2) admission granted after an entrance test for certain levels; online dossier submission is still required. The admission decision is made by commissions, and offers are communicated to families by email after the commissions. To be effective, the family must confirm the enrollment within 72 hours directly with the assigned establishment. If the deadline is missed, the admission offer is forfeited. It is possible that for some levels or establishments there may be no places available. The number of places allocated through entrance tests (for MS to CP) or through the parcours-based route (CE1 to seconde) is very limited, so families should plan alternative schooling options in a timely manner. The dossier must be submitted online, and admission is based on the available places at the time of processing. For all admissions, a Droit de première inscription (DPI) is due at enrollment, in addition to the annual tuition, and tuition is payable in three installments. Non-payment can lead to automatic exclusion. Scholarships are available for eligible students, and information about payment terms and potential reductions may apply depending on local arrangements. In the case of families seeking to understand financial support, AEFE scholarships may be available to French nationals enrolled in EGD, OSUI, PARTNER, or AIU establishments; inquiries should be directed to the relevant school or the French Consulate. (Source material reflects the 2021–2022 admissions framework.)
Scholarships
French-nationality children may receive AEFE school scholarships, whether they are enrolled in EGD, OSUI, PARTNER establishments or AIU; information should be sought from the school or the Consulate General of France in the place of residence.
FAQs
What curriculum does Lycée Descartes follow?
An education offering from 6th grade to CPGE. Five languages are studied. The school is multicultural and multilingual, with 20 nationalities represented in the community. The curriculum covers a varied range of tracks across middle and high school levels, including CPGE pathways.
What are the tuition fees at Lycée Descartes?
Annual tuition ranges from approximately RM3,750 to RM77,700. **Application fees (Droits de première inscription)**
- Droits de première inscription (DPI) : 1er enfant MAD 30,000; 2e enfant MAD 15,000; 3e enfant et suivants MAD 0. For CPGE the DPI is MAD 7,500.
Where is Lycée Descartes located?
The school is located in Rabat, Morocco. Address: BP 768, Place Jean Courtin, Agdal, Rabat 10106.
Does Lycée Descartes provide additional learning support?
Inclusion program for visually impaired students.
What languages are taught at Lycée Descartes?
The languages taught include French, Arabic, English, Spanish and German. In addition to French, students can strengthen Arabic, English, Spanish or German. The college offers a French-Arabic bilingual International Section, a Langue et Culture Européenne pathway in English, Spanish or German, and a
Does Lycée Descartes offer scholarships?
French-nationality children may receive AEFE school scholarships, whether they are enrolled in EGD, OSUI, PARTNER establishments or AIU; information should be sought from the school or the Consulate General of France in the place of residence.
How do I apply to Lycée Descartes?
Admission to a French-education establishment in Morocco is open to all students regardless of nationality or prior schooling, subject to available places and after submitting an online application on efmaroc.org. There are two primary pathways: (1) admission based on the candidate's academic parcou
How many students attend Lycée Descartes?
The school has approximately 2500 students.
What wellbeing support does Lycée Descartes provide?
Multicultural and plurilingual community with 20 nationalities. Respect, tolerance, and dialogue between cultures are the pillars of the educational project, with a focus on preventing all forms of violence and discrimination. Well-being and safe coexistence are central to the school project, with a
Does Lycée Descartes offer English language support?
In addition to French, students can strengthen their mastery of Arabic, English, Spanish or German. Certifications are prepared for language proficiency, including IELTS (International English Language Testing System) delivered by the British Council and DELE (Diplomas de Español como Lengua Extranj
What extracurricular activities are available?
The lycée is open to the arts and offers artistic education through options in arts plastiques and theatre. An Education Artistique et Culturelle pathway is part of the program to awaken students to creativity and culture. Specialized arts subjects are available, including Arts Plastiques and Cinéma
