Haut-Lac International Bilingual School

Haut-Lac International Bilingual School, Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz

Haut-Lac has provided students with a pathway to top-tier universities in Switzerland and abroad for over three decades. This elite, family-orientated, co-ed school teaches 600 pupils aged 3-18 on its well-equipped campuses in the scenic Swiss Riviera. Boasting a stellar 100% pass rate (2025) in its International Baccalaureate Diploma programme, Haut-Lac has what it takes to set your child up for success with its personalised approach to learning and care at school and in its boutique boarding house.

Location

Located in St-Légier above the Swiss towns of Vevey and Montreux, the school sits surrounded by spectacular alpine scenery. Lausanne is only a 30-minute car trip away, and students can arrive from the Geneva International Airport in about one and a half hours.

Haut-Lac has two distinct school campuses, which are a 3-minute walk from one another – Praz-Dagoud (ages 3-12) and Roches Grises (ages 13-18) – and a modern Boutique Boarding House offering bright double rooms with private bathrooms and spacious and comfy student common rooms.

Its school campuses feature numerous state-of-the-art facilities that promote study and play. From research libraries and technology labs to full-sized football pitches and multi-sports courts, these two superb campuses are renowned in the region.

Overview

Haut-Lac was founded back in 1993 as bilingual school for local and international students. The directors’ overarching vision was to create a prestigious, international bilingual school with a warm, family feel in which pupils could thrive and develop all their talents.

The independent school welcomes students from over 60 nationalities (just 54% are locals), fostering a globally-minded community whose focus is on cultural and language exchanges and a quality all-round education.

Small class sizes (average 12) provide students with the personalised attention they need to succeed, while interactive “gamified” lesson plans, access to new technologies, and highly qualified academic staff make learning fun.

Academics

Haut-Lac is fully authorised IB World school, offering its core academic programmes truly bilingually in English and French or in English only. The school offers seven distinct academic programmes for students aged 3-18.

The Infant & Primary programme: Based on the highly acclaimed “Learning Means the World” model
The Lower Secondary programmes: The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP) with or without Swiss Option modules
Upper Secondary programmes: International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) or International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) or US High School Diploma (USHD), IB Sport & Study Programme (for young athletes) accredited by the World Academy of Sport (WAoS)

Every programme follows a holistic approach to learning, incorporating a well-rounded educational curriculum alongside sports, intercultural awareness, and transferable skills. Focus areas enable students to pursue their passions throughout each programme. Special tuition covers the arts (performance, visual, music, and film, etc.), digital education (robotics, programming, and computer science, etc.), and sports (skiing, team sports, and swimming, etc.).

As the first Athlete-Friendly Education Centre accredited by the World Academy of Sport (WAoS) in Switzerland, Haut-Lac is able to provide personalised IB Sport & Study programmes to high level athletes. A status enabling it to run a Ski Racing Academy with Ski Zenit for professional teen skiers who wish to complete their schooling and pursue their sport.

Core Values

Haut-Lac bestows students with the knowledge and skills to live, learn, and succeed in the 21st century. The warm, family-oriented spirit that founded Haut-Lac remains at the forefront of its ethos today, as it works to ensure student progress and excellent academic results. The school is built on mutual respect, a strong sense of belonging, and the formation of resilient, open-minded students who can succeed in the modern world.

Extra-curricular Activities

Extra-curricular activities are the cornerstone of the Haut-Lac experience. Over 150 artistic, sporting, cultural, and technological after-school clubs give pupils the chance to meet new people and develop their talents in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. With such stunning scenery, it’s no surprise skiing, golfing and hiking are particularly popular pastimes here.

International expeditions to nearby European nations like Italy, France, and Germany are also run for boarders who can’t return home during the holidays.

Summary