Swiss public schools are excellent and give direct access to Swiss universities which are also excellent, should not be a problem if she speaks French. I think she would be in middle school at this age.

Probably best to go and talk to the local school's director.

> We cannot afford Swiss private education
Only the super rich (and not even all of them) and expats go to private schools.

My child moved from French Lycée to Swiss Collège. This worked very well. She went theoretically down one year, due to not enough German. But she was very happy with the result.

As Sean indicates, this gives gauranteed access to Swiss universities, which was her goal.

We lived in France. Such an arrangement probably wouldn't eork today, but that doesn't concern you. 

Private high schools in France: The only one I know is Jeanne d'Arc, in Gex. It's not bad, and has (or had, don't know) bilingual services. Located very close to the bus 60/61, so theoretically possible, if you live close to that line. Don't know if there are any on the other side.

Hey guys,

Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated.

A couple of follow-up questions, if you don't mind:

1) My wife has a meeting with the director of the local school next week. She was told he was a reasonable man. Any advice or recommendations? Anything she should or shouldn't say? 

2) tawb, what do you mean when you write: "She went theoretically down one year"? Just because of German? How would one year make any difference, if you're in a senior-year classroom with classmates who have had German all of their life? Just trying to understand what my wife might be up against in the meeting, due to the fact that my daughter, though she speaks English, Spanish and French fluently, has very little German. Would that really be a determining factor? Hard to believe. My wife's post will be four years; and we will not stay in Switzerland. It would seem to me--but what do I know?--that would be some sort of accomodation for students such as my daughter, a victim of diplomatic itinerancy. She has one year of high school left, and she would like to study in France.

Thanks again for your replies,

Chip

>>2) tawb, what do you mean when you write: "She went theoretically down one year"?

Because of her age and/or level in the French system, she would normally have entered into 2nd collège.

Since she was coming from another school system, she had to pass tests, to verify her scholastic level, in most major subjects. She passed all the tests, except in a 2nd national language, German. (French schools are not renowned for the quality of education in foreign languages. )

Due to this, she was forced to start in 1st collège, instead of 2nd. Which is what I called going down one year. But this turned out to be a good thing, enabling her to better integrate with the other students. 

>>>has very little German. Would that really be a determining factor? Hard to believe

In our case it was semi-determining.

If you want to study in France, there are lots of official non-residents, only having a “holiday home” in France. And they seem to get their kids into local schools.

However, IMHO, your best bet would be to talk to Jeanne d’Arc, being a private school, they’re relatively commercial, and willing to take new paying customers. Especially if your daughter is good at school. (They don’t want anyone that can lower their average grades.)

However, this implies living close to the 60 bus line. Or get her an electric bike. My daughter biked several times a week from Sismondi to Gex for her social activities, and was super glad for her e-bike. Despite what you hear about France, there are some good, safe bike lanes

Disclaimer: all my personal info is 10 years old, but I do chat with people, and keep updated.

tawb,  
Thanks, I truly appreciate your feedback (when I make it to Geneva, I'll buy you lunch!).  

A question about one of your comments above, which gets to the heart of the matter:   
"If you want to study in France, there are lots of official non-residents, only having a “holiday home” in France. And they seem to get their kids into local schools."  

As my children have attended French lycees all their life, this was what we hope to do--and, apparently, what many int'l types do as well--: establish residency in France, thereby being eligible to enroll the kids in the local high school, like in Ferney-Voltaire.

But my wife--newly-appointed ambassador to the WTO--was told by the French consul un Santiago that, due to the fact that she would have a carte de legitimation, a long-term French visa application could be rejected. 
The French Consulate in Geneva--responding to the enquiry from the French consul in Stgo--said that each visa applicant was unique, decided on a case-by-case basis.

But it's my understanding that many int'l workers receive said visa without any problem. (Can anyone verify this?) 
That's where it stands.
She is in Geneva, we are in Santiago.
When the "official non-residents" rent a "holiday home" in France, I imagine they have a long-term visa, otherwise they wouldn't be able to sign a lease agreement, would they?   

What I'm thinking now is that my seventeen-year-old daughter apply for a long-term visa to study in France, and we go from there; complicated, I know, but it seems to be the most viable solution.

My wife has asked for a meeting with the proviseur of Lycee Int'l in Ferney-Voltaire. Maybe something will come of it. Geneva high school admission is a long shot, I reckon.

If you know of anyone who has a carte de legitimation and sends their children to school in France, I'd like to know how they did it; how they established "residency" while living and working in Geneva--I mean, I know how they did it, by short-term rental, applying for a long-term visa, etc., but I guess what I would like to know is how "normal" it is, if it's basically rubber-stamped as some say.  

Once again, thanks,  
Chip

>>>When the "official non-residents" rent a "holiday home" in France, I imagine they have a long-term visa, otherwise they wouldn't be able to sign a lease agreement, would they? 

I think they are mostly Europeans, who don't need visas. 

>>>If you know of anyone who has a carte de legitimation and sends their children to school in France

That was me, but as European, I didn't need any visas. Was already living in FR.

There is only one public high school in Pays de Gex. (With two campuses) so your chaices are not many.

You could also look into the Lycée in Bellegarde/Valserhône, there's a direct train. And of course, look into Haute-Savoie. (annemasse/StJulien)

It seems that for a student visa, you have to be 18. 

Hello,

There's other good options of semiprivate education ("écoles sous-contrats", equivalent in Spain to "colegios subvencionados") in neighbouring France:

-Saint-François, dit le Juvénat, in Ville-la-Grand. Easy access from Gva with the Léman-Express. Many kids I know went there, high level (except for languages, that's a classic in French education)

-Présentation de Marie, in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois (no less about this one)

Best of luck!

Beatriz