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There are different terms for school in French. These terms have been used differently over time which can be somewhat confusing. The varied usage was especially true in the 19th century. Usage has become more standardized in the 20th century. The primary term is école. This term as in English can be used to mean different types of school, indicated by a drscriptive adjetive. There are different kinds of schools. The école maternelle is a nursery school for pre-school age children 2 to 5 years of age. The école primaire is the primary school. Unlike the word school in English, the word école in French with out a descriptive adjetive can be used to mean primary school. The word école as in English can be used to mean a variety of specialized scchools when used with the appropriate descriptive adjetive. The term college is also used in France. Generally it means a private school offering both a primary and secondary program, but has come in recent years to mean more commonly the early stages of secondary education. Lycée is another common term for school. The use of the term in the 20th century is generally to designate a secondary school. In recent years in\t has come to mean the senior years of secondary education. .
Maternelle is the easiest school term in French. We are not yet sure about the history of the maternelle, but it is today a firmly vembedded segment of the French school system. It is for children 3-6 years of age. It is a nursery school or day care priogram for the younger childern, but the final year (5-6 years olds) is rather like \Kindergsrten, where reading is introduced and the vchildren are prepared for primasry school. Maternelle is optional, but most French children attend, especvially by the final year.
There are different terms for school in French. These terms have been used differently over time. This was especially true in the 19th century. Usage has become more standardized in the 20th century, especially after World War I. The primary term is école, maning 'school'. This term as in English can be used to mean different types of school, indicated by a drscriptive adjetive. There are different kinds of schools. The école maternelle is a nursery school for pre-school age children 2 to 5 years of age. The école primaire is the primary school, like an Americam elementary school. Unlike the word school in English, the word école in French with out a descriptive adjetive can be used to mean primary school. The word école as in English can be used to mean a variety of specialized schools when used with the appropriate descriptive adjetive.
The term college is also used in France. Again there seems to be some variation in usage. It has been used to mean a private school offering both a primary and secondary program. This for, examole, is also how 'college' is used in Britain. As we understand it, the term has come to be used in modern France as the early years of secondary education, the first four years of secondary education from the ages of 11 to 14 years. This would be similar, but not identical to an American junior high or middle school. In Paris one report says it refers to 'high school'. More generally college now refers to: 6e--Sixième (11-12 years old), 5e--Cinquième (12-13 years old), 4e--Quatrième (13-14 years old), and 3e--troisième (14-15 years old) years of secondary studies. Some students quit school after college, but this is now less common than it once was.
Lycée is anither common term for school. We are a little confused by the term. As far as we can tell, it seems to be a term whose meaning has changed over time. The use of the term in the 20th century is generally to designate a secondary school. We note a dictionary definition, "A French lyceum, or secondary school for students intermediate between elementary school and college, supported by the French government, for preparing students for the university. We note quite young boys attending lycées in the 19th and early-20th centuries. We think the term was used variously in the 19th century. By the late-19th and early-20th century,lycée seems to have come to mean a secondary school rather like a British British grammar (secondary) schools which children began at about age 11. In modern Francem lycée has come to mean the upper section of a secondary school, rather like a senior high school in the United States. The lycées in France today provide a 3-year course of additional secondary education for children between the ages of 15 and 18 years. The three years are: 2de--Seconde (15-16 years of age), 1e--Première (16-17 years), and 1ale--Terminale (17-18 years). Pupils are prepared for the baccalauréat, colloquially known as 'le bac'. The baccalauréat can lead to the unioversity or other higher education studies. Some graduates seek jobs after obtaining their baccalauréat.
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