Lycée Français René Descartes

The Lycée Français René Descartes is located at Rue Christopher Howes (Rue 96), Wat Phnom, BP 1132, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The campus sits in the Daun Penh district in central Phnom Penh, near the Wat Phnom area, with access to local transport such as taxis and tuk-tuks. The address is publicly listed as part of its Phnom Penh footprint.

The school serves preschool through terminale (the final year of lycée). Classes range from petite section (maternelle) to terminale, and the curriculum includes the Brevet des Collèges and the Baccalauréat.

The school is a co-educational day school; there are no public indications of boarding facilities.

The school follows an inclusive education approach. For students with special educational needs, LFRD provides three specialized teachers, an orthophoniste (speech-language pathologist), and a school psychologist who work with families to create an action plan and an individualized support arrangement.

The school is affiliated with France through the AEFE network (Agency for French Education Abroad) under agreement with the French government.

Religious affiliation is not listed; the school operates as a secular French international school.

Exact start and end times are not published publicly. The school provides on-site meals: Kindergarten meals around $3.60 per meal; Primary/Middle/High school meals around $4 per meal.

A publicly listed school bus service is not indicated on the site.

Lycée Français René Descartes (LFRD) in Phnom Penh provides the French national curriculum from preschool through terminale, aligned with AEFE standards and supported by the French Embassy. Instruction is delivered primarily in French, with English and Khmer offered as language options and language learning placed at the heart of the program. Cycle 2 (grades 1–3) covers French and mathematics, adds English and the host-country language, plus arts, physical education and civic education. Cycle 3 (grades 4–6) continues consolidation and prepares for secondary education; in the lycée, the 10th grade introduces Economics and Social Sciences (SES) and Digital Sciences and Technology (SNT) with electives and a weekly hours framework around 26–30 hours. From Seconde (10th) to Terminale (12th), core subjects include French, history-geography, sciences and modern languages, with a range of electives in 11th grade and Philosophy becoming compulsory in Terminale; final results count toward the Baccalauréat, with pathways to the Baccalauréat Français International (BFI) and a Section Internationale Américaine (SIA) available.

Lycée Français René Descartes (LFRD) promotes social and emotional development through an inclusive school culture where all pupils are treated with kindness, in their individual uniqueness, and receive support to progress. An explicit inclusive ethos aims to ensure a successful learning journey from kindergarten to lycée, with a strong emphasis on student wellbeing and belonging. The school emphasises a close school–family partnership as a fundamental lever for students' growth, flourishing, and achievement. For pupils with special educational needs, the teaching teams are assisted by three specialized teachers, a speech-language pathologist, and a school psychologist, who, with parents, propose an action plan and tailor a pedagogical setup to meet each student's needs. This framework integrates wellbeing, belonging, and tailored support within the broader educational approach.

The LFRD uses an inclusion model to support students with special educational needs. For pupils with ‘besoins éducatifs particuliers,' the pedagogy teams work with three specialized teachers, a speech-language pathologist, and a school psychologist to develop an action plan and an adapted educational arrangement in agreement with parents. The aim is to enable each student to progress and realize their full potential within the school from early years through to lycée. The site does not enumerate specific categories of SEN; the emphasis is on an inclusive, individualized approach rather than a separate SEN unit. The school describes the partnership between school and family as a fundamental lever for the wellbeing and success of students with special educational needs. The establishment is not presented as a dedicated SEN institution.

EAL support is integrated into LFRD's language pathways. The school foregrounds multilingual environments and language development as central to its identity, with explicit emphasis on English, Khmer, and other world languages. AEFE-initiated PARLE (Parcours Adaptés et Renforcés de Langues Étrangères) aims to strengthen foreign-language proficiency through EMILE (integrated content in a foreign language) in the first cycle or DNL (discipline non linguistique) in the second cycle. In the lycée, students can choose a fourth language—Spanish or Chinese—as part of these language-parcours options. The Section Internationale Américaine (SIA) provides a bilingual/bi-cultural pathway focused on English language study and American culture, facilitating access to higher education in the United States and other Anglophone contexts. These provisions collectively represent formal EAL support and bilingual opportunities rather than ad hoc assistance.

Mental wellbeing is supported through an inclusive approach that emphasizes student care and a nurturing climate. The school highlights that every student is welcomed in a respectful, caring environment, with ongoing attention to progress and well‑being as part of the learning journey. The inclusion team includes a school psychologist, underscoring access to mental health–related support within the school structure. Physical education and sport are valued as vehicles for health, autonomy, discipline, teamwork, and social values, contributing to students' overall wellbeing. LFRD also notes the central role of school–family partnership in supporting students' emotional and social development.

Safeguarding and child protection are embedded in the school's safety-oriented, caring climate. The site describes the campus as safe and the environment as one where younger students learn and grow within a secure, nurturing context. The emphasis on an inclusive, respectful culture and on school–family partnerships likewise supports safeguarding by promoting oversight and supportive relationships. Explicit safeguarding policies are not itemized on the public pages, but safety and well‑being are presented as core priorities across the school's communications. The materials emphasize creating a safe, supportive setting for all students from maternelle through lycée.

Step 1. Pre-registration for new admissions is conducted online via the EDUKA platform. The pre-registration campaign for the 202502026 school year for children not currently enrolled at LFRD is closed. A strict list of criteria governs first-time enrollment due to high demand.
Step 2. Enrollment decisions for new registrations are processed online via EDUKA, with selection based on the established criteria. The school is accredited by AEFE and follows official curricula.
Step 3. Required documents for new admissions include a valid passport, an ID photo, and a vaccination record; expired documents are not accepted.
Step 4. Re-enrollment is completed in EDUKA using the Re-enrollment tab; the 202502026 re-enrollment campaign is closed. Payments must be made by May 8, balances must be zero, and scholarship applicants may have post-results payment arrangements.
Step 5. For assistance, contact the Admission office via email and phone.

Two scholarship campaigns are organized each year by the French Embassy in Cambodia, in January and September. Scholarships are awarded under conditions of resources and are available to French residents in the consular district enrolled in AEFE-homologated schools. For more information, refer to the school's scholarship details and contact the secretariat for guidance.