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For international families in Paris, choosing a school often means choosing between education systems as well.
The French Baccalaureate, International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma and American High School Diploma can all prepare students for university, in France and internationally. Their structures, assessment methods and approaches to subject choice are quite different.
For parents who grew up with one system and are now considering another for their child, the terminology alone can take some getting used to.
Understanding how each pathway works can make the decision much clearer, especially for families whose children may eventually apply to universities in several countries.
The first distinction is an important one: these three qualifications don't work in quite the same way.
The French Baccalaureate, or Bac, is France's national secondary-school qualification. Students follow a nationally defined curriculum, combining a common core with subjects in which they progressively specialize. The final result combines continuous assessment with national examinations.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB DP) is a two-year international program for students aged 16–19. Students study six subjects alongside a common core comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), an Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS).
The American High School Diploma is structured differently. Students meet the graduation requirements established by their school over the course of high school, building an academic record that reflects the courses they have taken and their performance over time.
These differences shape both the academic experience and the choices students make during their final years of school.
Each pathway balances breadth, specialization, assessment and student choice in a different way.
The French Baccalauréat général combines a broad common curriculum with increasing specialization during the final years of secondary school.
Students select three enseignements de spécialité in Première and continue with two of them in Terminale. These subjects carry significant weight in the final qualification and allow students to develop deeper expertise in areas that align with their interests and future studies.
Assessment is spread across the final two years. Under the current system, 40% of the final Bac result comes from continuous assessment and 60% from national examinations. The terminal assessment includes French, mathematics from the 2027 Bac session, philosophy, the student's two specialist subjects and the Grand oral.
For students who already have clear academic interests, the specialist subjects provide considerable depth before university.
The French Bac is also closely integrated with the French higher education system. It provides direct access to higher education and is the established pathway into French universities and classes préparatoires.
The IB Diploma maintains considerable academic breadth throughout its two-year program.
Students study six subjects, covering areas including languages, individuals and societies, sciences and mathematics. Subjects are taken at Higher Level (HL) or Standard Level (SL), allowing students to pursue some areas in greater depth while continuing to study across disciplines.
Three elements form the IB core:
The IB combines internal and external assessment, including final examinations. Subject choices can also matter for university admission, particularly when a degree program requires specific subjects at Higher Level.
For internationally mobile families, the shared IB framework can provide a familiar academic reference across countries.
Students working towards an American High School Diploma earn credits across their high school years by completing required courses and electives, with academic performance assessed over time.
There is no single national American high school curriculum. Graduation requirements are established by individual schools, and students can often shape part of their academic program around their interests and future plans. Their transcript records the courses they have taken and their performance throughout high school.
Depending on the school, students may also take advanced courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes.
The individual academic pathway is therefore an important part of a university application. Alongside the diploma itself, the transcript shows the subjects studied, their level and the student's performance over time.
For a closer look at credits, GPA, course choice and university recognition, read our complete guide to the American High School Diploma.
All three pathways can lead to universities in different countries. Academic results, subjects studied and the requirements of the chosen institution or degree program all influence admissions.
For students considering French higher education, the French Bac provides the most familiar route through the national system. Students completing international or American qualifications can also apply to French institutions, with requirements and procedures depending on the qualification and institution.
Universities in the United States regularly review applications from students educated in different systems. The academic record and level of coursework form part of that evaluation.
The IB Diploma provides universities with a standardized international qualification. Individual courses can have specific subject or Higher Level requirements, making subject selection important once students begin considering particular degrees.
Students with an American High School Diploma also apply to universities outside the United States. Individual institutions may have requirements concerning the student's academic record or additional qualifications such as AP or IB courses.
For families considering the United Kingdom, Europe or several possible destinations, checking university requirements early can help inform subject and course choices during the final years of school.
At 14 or 15, many students have only a vague idea of where their future might take them.
For an internationally mobile family, the possibilities may be particularly broad. A student could be living in France today, have family connections to another country and eventually decide to study somewhere entirely different.
Keeping a broad range of subjects open, choosing an appropriate level of academic challenge and understanding how different university systems view qualifications can give students time to develop their interests before making more specialized choices.
Their plans may change considerably during the final years of school. A pathway with enough flexibility can allow those plans to evolve with them.
At the American School of Paris, students in Upper School (Grades 9–12) can build an academic pathway around their strengths, interests and future plans.
All students who meet ASP's graduation requirements earn the American High School Diploma. Within their Upper School program, students can choose from several academic pathways:
A student may pursue the complete IB Diploma Programme, while another may select AP and IB courses as part of a different academic program. ASP offers a wide range of course options across Grades 9–12, supporting different academic interests and ambitions.
For internationally mobile families, continuity between education systems can also be an important consideration. ASP's curriculum is designed to support students who transfer between schools and countries, whether they spend their entire education at ASP or join for a shorter period.
Explore Curriculum and Diplomas at ASP.
A diploma is the final outcome of several years of learning. For families making a decision today, the experience leading up to it deserves just as much attention.
How does your child learn best? Which subjects genuinely interest them? Are they ready to specialize, or would they benefit from keeping a broader academic program? Do they already have a university destination in mind? Could another international move be part of the family's future?
Some students thrive within a highly structured academic program. Others benefit from greater freedom to combine subjects and levels. A student with a clear university goal may already know which courses will support it, while another may need time to explore several possibilities.
The strongest pathway gives students an appropriate level of challenge while allowing their interests and ambitions to develop.
At ASP, the range of pathways available in Upper School gives students room to shape an education that reflects where they are today and where they may want to go next.
The French Baccalaureate is France's national secondary-school qualification. Students follow a common curriculum alongside specialist subjects, with a final grade based on continuous assessment and national examinations. The IB Diploma is an international two-year program built around six subjects and a common core comprising Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and Creativity, Activity, Service.
The IB Diploma follows a defined two-year international program with common requirements and assessment principles. An American High School Diploma is awarded when students fulfil the graduation requirements established by their school.
At ASP, every graduate who meets the school's requirements earns an American High School Diploma. Students may also pursue the full IB Diploma, AP courses or a combination of IB and AP.
The two programs place different demands on students, making a simple difficulty ranking misleading. The French Bac combines specialist subjects, continuous assessment and national examinations. The IB requires students to continue across six subject areas while completing its core requirements, including TOK, the Extended Essay and CAS.
A student's strengths, subject choices and preferred way of learning can influence how demanding each pathway feels.
They are distinct qualifications produced by different education systems. The French Bac is a national diploma governed by the French education system, while an American High School Diploma reflects completion of a school's graduation requirements.
Universities and education authorities determine how international qualifications are considered for admission, so families should check the requirements of individual institutions.
Yes. Students with an American High School Diploma apply to universities in many countries. Admission requirements vary by country, university and degree program, and some institutions may require specific courses, AP results, IB coursework or other evidence of academic preparation.
All ASP students who meet graduation requirements receive the American High School Diploma. Upper School students can follow different academic pathways alongside it, including the full IB Diploma Programme, AP courses or a combination of IB and AP coursework.
ASP's Upper School pathways include the IB Diploma Programme, AP courses, a combination of IB and AP, and the American High School Diploma. The French Baccalaureate is not among the diplomas offered by ASP.