Education

In France, school attendance is compulsory from the age of 6 to 16 and is provided within public institutions free of charge. There also exists fee-requiring private schools, registered by the National Ministry of Education, in which children may be enrolled. Any foreign child living in France and possessing the appropriate legal documentation is entitled to study within the French system.

Nursery School (l'école maternelle)

Although not compulsory, many children between the ages of 2 and 5 attend nursery school in accordance with the number of spaces available. This level of schooling concentrates on social integration of the pupil into a classroom environment, rather than on academics, and prepares them for their future studies.

Primary School (l'école primaire)

A child's entrance into primary school marks their commencement of the first complete level of compulsory education. Primary school students are about 6 to 11 years old and learn basic reading, writing, and mathematic skills, creating a foundation for secondary school learning.

Foreign language study often begins in primary school. In 1999, 82% of public school students in CM2 learned a foreign language.

Secondary School (enseignement secondaire)

In France, the secondary level of schooling is divided into two successive cycles: collège and lycée.

Collège

The first cycle of secondary school focuses on teaching students from the ages of 10 to 14 to manage their own time and studies. Pupils in collège work towards increased linguistic proficiency and acquire new knowledge through logic, observation, and writing. Generally at this level, pupils, who have not commenced already, begin to study foreign languages. The brevet des collèges, based on key disciplines taught throughout the level, is administered a the conclusion of collège and qualifies students to enter high school.

A number of collèges have created a section of European studies designed to facilitate a students foreign language abilities. Language classes taken at this level are intended to provide students with the comprehension ability need to pursue subject matter in a foreign language at a higher level.

Lycée

The high school level of education is usually completed in 3 years by students between the ages of 15 and 18. Following troisième, the final year of collège, the student, parents, and professors confer to decided the direction the students studies will take. At this point in their careers, students chooses between two directions:

Lycée builds upon studies established in collège throughout all 3 levels: seconde, première, and terminale. This second cycle assists students in their preparation towards their baccalauréat, known also as the 'bac,' that signifies successful completion of secondary school studies. A students decision of lycée dictates what form of bac they will pursue. In a general or technological lycée, areas of study for the bac are based on science, literature, and linguistics. Students choosing a vocational education, study toward a CAP, the nationally recognized diploma for skilled laborers and workers, or the BEP, which qualifies the recipient for a number of trades in the vocational technologies sector. Vocational students may continue on to take the Brevet de Technicien Supérieur, the vocational baccalaureate.

The baccalauréat de français, a test of a student's languages capabilities, is administered at the conclusion of première. Other tests comprising the baccalauréat are given at the end of terminale. The successful completion of the bac is an approximate equivalent the achievement of high school graduation or reception of a secondary school diploma. Acceptance of foreign diplomas as a baccalauréat equivalent is subject to an examination of corresponding course requirements.

Bilingual Schools (les écoles bilingues)

Long-established foreign communities in France provide a number of educational opportunities.

Three types of schools are available:

Often when foreign pupils are introduced into French schools with little or no prior knowledge of the language, extra tutoring is provided until the student attains a sufficient level at the lower levels of public schools and in some private schools.

international public schools in france

Information on bilingual schools [fr] 

Higher Education (enseignement supérieur)

The French system of higher education has no exact correspondence to systems within other countries, although general correlations may be made. The system is comprised of both public and private schools. Requirement specifications are set in some disciplines, such as the grandes écoles and medical or law schools.

In France, registration fees for universities are minimal. Although courses are free in public universities, some fee-requiring private institutions exist.

Both public and private grandes écoles provide education for the cadres - future leaders of administration, technology, and business. These schools focus on specific areas of study and have their own candidate selection process that is high competitive. Recruitment for the grandes écoles is done through an entrance exam that is prepared for through a special class (classe préparatoire aux grandes écoles).

In general, private schools teach primarily business curriculums and receive accreditation through the National Board of Education.

University studies are divided into three cycles:

University locations by Region [fr] 

University locations by Zone [fr]