Primary Education - France

France

Main article Education in France

Education is mandatory from 6 years old to 16 years old. Grade is determined by the age on September 1st (year ends around July 5th). Free public and free private education is offered from 3 years old (sometimes 2 years old). Home education is allowed. Occasionally classes are of a double level to make up the number of pupil per class, usually to 29.

Pré-élémentaire (day care)

• garderie (day care)
• crèche (0-4 years old)
• Élémentaire

École maternelle (pre-school)

• très petite section (2 years old) (rare)
• Cycle I

petite section (3 years old)

moyenne section (4 years old)

grande section (5 years old) (September - January)

• Cycle II

grande section (5 years old) (February - July)

École primaire (primary/elementary)

• CP (cours préparatoire) (6 years old) (may be tried a second time (7 years old) if reading and writing are not learned the first time)
• CE1 (cours élémentaire 1) (7 years old)

Cycle III

• CE2 (cours élémentaire 2) (8 years old)
• CM1 (cours moyen 1) (9 years old)
• CM2 (cours moyen 2) (10 years old)

Secondary

• Collège (11 - 15/16 years old - junior high school) Brevet diploma
• Lycèe (15/16 - 19 years old - senior high school) Baccalauréat diploma supérieur

Premier cycle (17-... years old) - Second cycle (20-... years old) - Troisième cycle (22-... years old)

Collège and Lycée are usually separate establishments, with large communes having a collège, while the Lycée are usually in the larger towns and cities.