Academic Overview
French Education System
École Maternelle (PK & K)
France’s renowned École Maternelle has been imitated in many countries. The French preschool is an integrated and essential first phase of the educational system. Maternelle teachers carry the same education background as primary teachers while also having trained in child psychology and physical development, as well as education. This is where young students (three to six years old) learn habits that will be fundamental to their future education.
École Élémentaire (Grades 1-5)
The education provided in École Élémentaire (elementary school) ensures students build basic fundamental knowledge tools like oral and written expression, literacy, numeracy and problem solving, while fostering development in other ways.
Élémentaire provides the elements of a historic, geographic, scientific, and technical culture while offering education in visual arts and music. It ensures the teaching of a foreign modern language and can include an introduction into cultural diversity. We focus on students developing and understanding the respect due to individuals for their origins and differences, and the need to respect children’s rights and gender equality.
Collège (Grades 6–9)
6th grade is the last year of Cycle 3 and serves as the bridge between elementary and middle school. Beginning with 6th grade, each subject is taught by a specialist whose educational background differs from that of their colleagues who teach primary grades, and there is the equivalent of a homeroom teacher/advisor for each class.
Lycée (Grades 10-12)
French High School covers the last three years of secondary education (Grades 10-12). The curricula are designed and issued by the French Ministry of National Education and most subjects are taught in French. At the end of the 11th grade (première) and 12th grade (terminale), students sit for a series of extensive national exams, covering all areas of study - this is known as the French Baccalauréat.