Our student body is made up of more than 40 nationalities, with students living mainly between Lausanne and Nyon. Many families choose LCIS for its smaller, more personal environment where children can feel swiftly part of a welcoming community.
As an expat parent, there is a lot to manage and take on board: finding a home, learning a new language, adjusting to a new culture, new jobs, making friends and understanding how everything in your new country works. And of course top of the list is finding the right school for your children.
Our experienced Admissions team are here to help with a tailored and personalised admissions process, along with connections in the wider community to make your transition as smooth as possible.
We encourage you to join one of our Virtual Open Days and take a Virtual School Tour. This will give you a good sense of our school and how your children will fit in. When you arrive - or if you are able visit before your move - we will be ready to welcome your family in person.
As well as touring the school and meeting key teaching staff, we invite prospective students to LCIS for a ‘Discovery Day’. They spend a half or full day with their current year group, guided by carefully selected ‘buddies’ help them settle in and make connections. This gives your child the chance to meet their future classmates and teachers, experience different classes, and find out for themselves if our school feels right.
For our Early Years students, we also offer ‘Stay and Play’ sessions to support a gentle transition.
As part of our wider welcome, we can recommend a trusted relocation agent to support you. They can help as much or as little as you need, from sourcing homes and liaising with schools to helping with local administration, organising health insurance, and more.
In our beautiful location at the base of the Jura mountains, close to Lac Leman and surrounded by orchards, vineyards and chateaux, you have the choice of mountain or rural villages, mid-sized towns, or the buzzing city of Lausanne. With Switzerland’s famously efficient public transport, commuting between Lausanne and Geneva by train is easy.
Isabelle Etienne, Senior Relocation Consultant at Welcome-Service.ch has spent the last 20 years helping hundreds of families to settle into the area, including families whose children have come to La Côte International School. Having been an expat mum herself at one time, she knows exactly what her customers are going through.
“Choosing the right school is the biggest concern,” she says, “because the priority as a parent is to know that your children are happy and thriving. And then the challenge is to get a place and for the kids to get integrated. Most children don’t like leaving friends, families and getting out of their comfort zone.”
At LCIS we pride ourselves on helping families feel heard, understood, and included. With a student body of around 450 students from Early Years to International Baccalaureate, LCIS is a boutique private school that provides the personal attention every student deserves. Isabelle comments that families she has helped secure a place at LCIS praise our “warm welcome and family spirit.”
Anxiety is natural when you are making a big life change, especially relocating a family. Having a multilingual school admissions department makes the process far less stressful. We also provide individualised support with both French and English acquisition - integrating the support into mainstream classes as soon as possible.
Isabelle recommends families really think through any special needs they have prior to the move. Whether it’s specific healthcare, language or learning support, sporting activities or even space for pets. Having a clear list of requirements, and knowing which are negotiable, helps things run smoothly.
At the start of the school year, we have an Orientation Day for new students, and relaxed welcome events for parents and families. These gatherings help everyone meet and connect with the wider school community.
Our active and committed Parent Teacher Association (PTA) are a central part of LCIS life. They understand the experience of being expats in Switzerland, organising many of the social events that help build our strong network of expat parents and families, and promote cultural awareness and communication. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved - as class representatives, PTA members, audience members at performances, or participants at social events.
Of course, our teaching staff welcome regular contact with parents to keep you informed about your children’s academic progress. We are also proud of our committed pastoral care team who ensure every student feels settled, supported, and happy at school.
Moving to a new country is a big step for any family, both exciting and challenging. At LCIS, our role goes beyond education — we are here to support your whole family as you build a new life in Switzerland.
From the moment you first get in touch with us, our aim is to make your move smoother, to help your children feel secure and happy, and to ensure you all feel part of a caring and inclusive environment. Our dedicated pastoral team, counsellors, and university / careers advisors are here to support every stage of your child’s journey — academically, socially, and emotionally. We know that when children are settled and thriving, the whole family flourishes too.
Whether Switzerland becomes your long-term home or a chapter in your international journey, you will always find a warm welcome, friendly faces, and genuine support at La Côte International School.
