Founding the School (1926)
Cours Molière was founded in 1926 in Paris’s 12th arrondissement by Madame Suzanne Angèle Albertine Decrouez, a former Parisian primary school teacher with a strong commitment to education and languages. Having completed her studies in Paris and at the University of Cambridge, she opened a small private primary school on Avenue Daumesnil, naming it Cours Molière.
As pupil numbers quickly increased, the school moved in 1935 to larger premises on Avenue du Général Michel Bizot. From its early years, Cours Molière welcomed pupils from Paris and the neighbouring town of Saint-Mandé, establishing a reputation for academic seriousness and openness to languages.
The School During the Second World War
The Second World War was a particularly challenging period in the school’s history. Despite the German occupation of Paris, shortages, curfews, and frequent power cuts, Cours Molière continued to operate and educate its pupils.
Madame Decrouez showed notable courage during these years. She is known to have hidden a British pilot in the school building on Boulevard Soult, where the secondary school for girls had opened in 1941. With the help of her pupils, she also organised the sending of parcels containing clothing and food to Allied soldiers and civilians affected by the war. Lessons continued under extremely difficult conditions, often by dimmed light during air raids, reflecting the school’s resilience and strong sense of solidarity.
A Pioneering First Director
Madame Suzanne Decrouez was a pioneering figure, particularly as a woman leading a school at a time when female headteachers were still rare. Widowed young and never remarrying, she devoted her life entirely to Cours Molière.
An accomplished English specialist, strengthened by her studies at Cambridge and frequent stays in England, she placed strong emphasis on language learning—especially for girls at secondary level, which was innovative for the time. She remained director and teacher until her retirement in 1955, shaping the school’s educational identity through her leadership, conviction, and personal courage.
Cours Molière Today
Since its founding, Cours Molière has continued to grow and evolve. The school has expanded to two campuses, with the senior school now located in the Marais, while maintaining its historic roots in eastern Paris.
Today, Cours Molière welcomes both French and international students, with more than 35 nationalities represented within the school community. This diversity reflects the founder’s original vision: an education open to the world, grounded in strong academic values and mutual respect.