International Schools

Schools with Accredited International Curricula

Lycée International Français Pierre Manoël Talon ⭐⭐⭐

Profile: Run by the Fondation Claudine Talon, opened in September 2024, AEFE-accredited from preschool through the final year of high school (accreditation for the upper grades granted in June 2026). Capacity of roughly 1,200 students.

Address: Fidjrossè, Cotonou Phone: +229 01 44 20 13 13 Email: contact@pierremanoel.com Website: pierremanoel.com

What it offers:

• The official French curriculum, accredited from preschool through the final year
• Five educational hubs (preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, sports) on a large, secure campus
• School cafeteria
• A boarding program for top students starting September 2026 (priority to Foundation scholarship students, with a wider rollout planned for 2027)

2026 results: 94.5% pass rate for the Baccalauréat (65% with honors), 90.5% pass rate for the Brevet (67% with honors).

What sets it apart: a young school, but with the fastest accreditation track in the AEFE network, and a much larger capacity than Cotonou's other international schools.

EFE Montaigne ⭐⭐⭐

Profile: A French school run by a parents' association, accredited and under contract with the AEFE, from preschool through the final year of high school.

Address: N° 655, Rue 12.052, Les Cocotiers, Cotonou Phone: +229 21 30 17 28 / +229 21 30 04 86 Email: secretariat@efemontaigne-cotonou.com Website: efemontaigne-cotonou.com

What it offers:

• The accredited French national curriculum
• Preschool, primary, middle school, and general high school
• Sports and science facilities, a media library

Estimated fees: roughly €1,600 to €2,400 a year for preschool and primary, rising to €3,800 a year in high school, not including initial enrollment fees. The full fee schedule is published each year on the official website.

What sets it apart: a direct continuation of the French system, with no equivalence exam needed if the family moves back to France.

QSI International School of Benin ⭐⭐⭐

Profile: An American international school running the Mastery Learning program in English, with a strong diplomatic community presence.

Address: Lot #126 & #127, Zone Résidentielle de la Radio, Camp Guézo, Cotonou Phone: +229 66 62 12 46 Email: benin@qsi.org Website: benin.qsi.org

What it offers:

• Instruction entirely in English from preschool onward
• High School Diploma and Advanced Placement (AP) options
• Small class sizes

Estimated fees: around $6,300 a year for PreK, rising to $23,300 a year from primary through high school, plus a non-refundable $300 enrollment fee.

What sets it apart: AP credits are directly recognized by North American universities.

English International School (EIS) ⭐⭐

Profile: A British school founded in 2000, part of the Cambridge International Schools network, following the British curriculum through A-Levels.

Address: Haie Vive, Cotonou Phone: +229 019 788 7273 / 012 130 1274 Email: education@eis-benin.org Website: eis-benin.org

What it offers:

• The British national curriculum, IGCSE, AS and A-Level
• Co-ed, from age 2 through university entrance
• A strong cultural mix (English-speaking diaspora families, European expats)

Fees: not published — contact the school office directly.

What sets it apart: the only alternative to the American system for families aiming for IGCSEs and A-Levels.

Private Bilingual Schools

As the three major international schools have filled up and demand has grown among diaspora families for a hybrid education, a network of private bilingual schools has developed in Cotonou, generally with fees more accessible than QSI's.

Oak International School

Address: Rue Pharmaquick, opposite Société Laborex, Cité Vie Nouvelle, Akpakpa, Cotonou Phone: +229 01 60 02 22 22 / +229 01 64 93 11 11 Website: oisbenin.bj

Profile: A blended Benin/France/Cambridge curriculum, with French-English bilingual immersion starting from preschool.

Ufuk Bénin

Address: Rue X, Akpakpa, Cotonou Phone: +229 65 18 44 44

Profile: An international bilingual school known for strict discipline and modern facilities.

Private Catholic and Faith-Based Schools

For families looking for a school that follows the Beninese national curriculum, or a bilingual option at a lower cost, well-regarded private school complexes exist in Cadjèhoun, Gbégamey, and Fidjrossè — such as the Complexe Scolaire Catholique Notre-Dame or École Sainte-Marcelle — offering solid academics at a fraction of what the international schools charge.

Nurseries & Preschools (Early Childhood)

For your little one's early development, in a safe and stimulating setting.

• La Cabane des Lutins (Haie Vive): A favorite among expat families, this nursery offers a caring environment with plenty of hands-on activities (painting, music, motor skills).

Higher Education & Training Centers (Private Universities)

Cotonou draws students from across the region (Nigeria, Togo, Gabon) thanks to its range of post-secondary options.

• ESGIS Bénin (School of Management, IT and Sciences): One of the leading private higher education institutions in Benin, with degrees recognized by CAMES.
• HECM (Higher School of Business and Management): Very popular for programs in management, finance, and human resources, with several campuses across the country.
• EPAC (Abomey-Calavi Polytechnic School): A public institution just outside Cotonou, and still the country's benchmark engineering school.
• Institut Français du Bénin (IFB): Beyond its cultural programming, the IFB offers excellent language courses (French as a Foreign Language, TCF/DELF test prep) and hosts the Campus France office.

How to Choose: Curriculum, Budget, and Location

The right choice mostly comes down to where your child's education is headed next. A family planning to return to France, or to continue in French-language education, is generally better served by EFE Montaigne or Lycée Pierre Manoël Talon, both accredited under the French system. Montaigne is the safe, long-established choice; Pierre Manoël, newer, stands out for its capacity, brand-new facilities, and upcoming boarding program — though its high-school accreditation is only a few months old. English-speaking families, or those aiming for North American universities, tend to gravitate toward QSI. For IGCSEs and A-Levels, EIS remains the only option.

Budget is often the deciding factor: the gap between the French and American systems is wide enough that some families choose a bilingual local private school for the early years, then switch to Montaigne, Pierre Manoël, or QSI once their child reaches secondary school.

One practical thing to plan around: Montaigne, QSI, and most of the international nurseries are clustered in the same area (Les Cocotiers, Haie Vive, Cadjèhoun), while Pierre Manoël sits in Fidjrossè. Choosing a school often ends up deciding which neighborhood you live in — not the other way around. See our guide where to live in Cotonou: neighborhoods before you start apartment hunting.

Spots in preschool and primary at Montaigne and QSI usually fill up as early as the March–April pre-registration period for the September start. Reaching out to the school office directly, several months ahead, is the only reliable way to know what's actually available.

Do you run an international school in Cotonou and want a detailed listing in this directory? Contact our team.