The school was officially founded in 1874, after three years of functioning, by teachers and Protestant academics from Alsace who came to France after the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine by the German Empire during the Franco-Prussian War. The new school was an establishment for secondary education based on the model of the Jean Sturm Gymnasium, with the ambition of "producing a type of man who was cultivated, and combines the virtues of the regional soul with the general qualities of the humanist". The two first headmasters of the school, Frédéric Rieder and Théodore Beck, were both pastors and former students of the Jean-Sturm Gymnasium. Later, the school was headed by Henri Péquignat, Jacques Vallette, Jean Neel, Georges Hacquard, Jean-Pierre Hammel, René Fuchs, Pierre de Panafieu. The school rapidly became one of the testing grounds for public education, known as a "pilot school". Non-religious since 1874, mixed in 1908, it insisted from its inception on the importance of French and foreign languages. It opened a gymnasium and science labs in 1881. Audiovisual methods of teaching were introduced in 1963, with the introduction of CCTV. Running from kindergarten to final year, the École alsacienne is one of the most reputable schools in Paris. Students from the École alsacienne often come from amongst the most privileged sectors of society, due to their selection and admission policies, and its geographic location. The establishment offers relatively few integrated places, as many students stay there throughout their school life. The school considered opening an establishment in Argenteuil, but the project never took place, due to lack of public investment.
Teaching
General
The school uses active methods of teaching. Therefore, the growth of the child is placed at the heart of the education system, even to the detriment of spaces. Teaching of sport, plastic arts, and music is central, including in the creation of a classe à horaires aménagés musique in the college. In order to empower students and their families, the school practices education without punishment or reward. Languages take an important role in the education. German is taught in the first years in the school, but Chinese has been taught since 1963. English courses are obligatory from the beginning of elementary school, and leads to intensive language courses in college and lycée, particularly in the European and Oriental sections. Since the 2000s, the Ecole alsacienne has offered exchange programs with some partner schools which includes St. Paul's School, Hotchkiss School, The Dalton School, Lakefield College School, Ashbury College.
Cost
As the establishment is a private school, education is paid for 1001 euros per trimester; there are also scholarships. Entrance is selective: in 2014, there were 300 applications for entry to the 6th Form, for 60 places.
Languages studied
German
English
Chinese
Spanish
Greek
Italian
Latin
Russian
Lycée ranking
In 2015, the lycée was ranked 12th of 109 at departmental level in terms of teaching quality, and 130th at national level. The ranking was based on three criteria: baccalauréat results, the proportion of students who obtain their baccalauréat having studied at the school for their last two years, and "added value". The Ecole alsacienne is ranked 7th in Paris, and 11th in nationwide for 2020.
As well as those students of the École alsacienne who are known in the cultural, media, political spheres, children of the CAC 40CEO, the establishment is known for taking children of celebrities in the public and private spheres.
