French School System:  Modern Grade Levels (1969- )

AMERICAN

FRENCH

AGE

Pre-Kindergarten

Maternelle, moyenne section

4 years

Kindergarten

Maternelle, grande section

5 years

PRIMARY

1st Grade

Cours préparatoire (CP)

6 years

2nd Grade

Cours élémentaire, 1ère année (CE1)

7 years

3rd Grade

Cours élémentaire, 2ème année (CE2)

8 years

4th Grade

Cours moyen, 1ère année (CM1)

9 years

5th Grade

Cours moyen, 2ème année (CM2)

10 years

SECONDARY

6th Grade*

Sixième

11 years

7th Grade

Cinquième

12 years

8th Grade

Quatrième

13 years

9th Grade

Troisième

14 years

10th Grade

Seconde

15 years

11th Grade

Première

16 years

12th Grade

Terminale

17 years

Notes

* 6th grade is still primary school in many American states

The differet grade levels in various countries often make it difficult to compare the different accounts because it is not always clear just how they compare. This is complicated by the different terms used for the schools in various countries. Grammar schools and public schools in America and Britain are very different types of schools. Lycee in France has been used differently, meaning a prinmary school in the 19th century and a secondary school in the 20th century. Here we have detailed the different school levels in France to help clarify how they compare with American schools.

Paris School Riots

The May 1968 Paris student riots had a fundamental impact on French and Wider European society. A part of the impact was on fashion. Just as the War in Viet Nam was having a major imact on American society. The Paris Student Riots are now seen as a major watershead event in France. As Charles Dickens put it about an earlier French Revolution, "They were the best of times, they were the worst of times. Surely the virtual open warfare in the strrets of Paris during those May days shattered the old order in France more surely than any popular uprising since the Great revolution of 1789. Students and police clashed around burning cars and barricades. Half the French work force struck in solidarity-freezing the gears of a society which at the time was enjoying record prosperity. As a result, the mighty Charles de Gaulle fell from what had seemed a presidency for life. Other popular movements were underway that Spring. The U.S. anti-War movement, the Prague Spring, and violence on campuses from Japan to Italy to Mexico. A new world order seemed at hand. The events are relatively unrecognized in America as we were in the grips of our own national upheaval.

American Grades

The American equivalent grades here are a little difficult to represent in the table. This is because elementary or primary schools in America were traditionally grades 1-6 and secondary schools grades 7-12. Secondary school was usually divided into junior high grades 7-8/9 and senior high grades 9/10-12. There were many variations. Some small rural primary schools went hrough grade 8. Some states replaced junir highs with middle schools beginning with grade 6. In most states, however, primary school is through grde six. Thus generally speaking French children begin secondary school a year earlier than American children. A California reader, however, takes issue with this. He writes, " If you consider middle schools as being secondary schools, then in many school districts they begin at the same age as in France. But in the US it is high schools that are condidered secondary schools, so French secondary schools begin *three* years earlier than American secondary schools. In the minds of Americans there is a larger break between middle school and high school than between elementary and middle school. I think that this comes from the 19th century tradition of a basic education extending to 8th grade, with only middle and upper class kids going on to high school. Where I live each town has its own school district, going up to 8th grade. The high school district is separate, with its own school board, and is fed by a half-dozen local elementary/intermediate districts."

Children's Ages

The French schools require a child be the indicated age for the school year on the 1st of September or by the 31st of December. Thus some of the children by thge end of the year or a year earlier. And of course some children are head back or advanced based on their academic abilities. A child can enter , or passed over a class , if his capacity are very good. The head of the school must prepared a file to the Academy for a decision.

Modern School System

The moderm French school system is as follows: Primary school is divided into Cours préparatoire, Cours élémentaire, and Cours Moyen. Secondary education is conducted at Collèges and Lycées. Collèges are generally private schools. Lycées are state schools.

Cours Préparatoire

CP1

Children begin school in CP1 6 years of age. Cours Préparatoire translates as Prparatory course, mean prepartory for formal school studies. This compares to American grade 1 in primary schools which are also called grade, elementary, and grammar schools. Elementary schools are probably the most common term in America while primaryschool is commonly used in France and other European countries.

CP2

One source indicated that there was a CP2, but other sources indicate that there was only a CP1.

Cours élémentaire

CE1

Children begin CE1 at 7 years of age. This would be grade 2 in American primary schools. Normaly a child who can write and read can obtain permission to begin CE1 without CP.

CE2

Children begin CE2 at 8 years of age. This would be grade 3 in American primary schools.

Cours Moyen

CM1

Children begin CM1 at 9 years of age. This would be grade 4 in American primary schools.

CM2

Children begin CM2 at 10 years of age. This would be grade 5 in American primary schools.

Secondary Schools

Secondary schools include both collèges and lycées.

6 ème

Pupils begin 6 ème at 11 years of age. This would be grade 6 in American primary schools. There is no national American education system. Each state has a separate system as well as various entities (Washington DC, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, ect.) Some states include grade 6 in middle schools, similar to a junior high school.

5 ème

Pupils begin 5 ème at 12 years of age. This would be grade 7 in American middle or junior high schools.

4 ème

Pupils begin 4 ème at 13 years of age. This would be grade 8 in American middle or junior high schools.

3 ème

Pupils begin 3 ème at 14 years of age. This would be grade 9 in American high schools. The students are called "freshmen". (These terms such as freshmen, sophmores, juniors, and seniors are repeated for university--often termed college, undergraduate studies.) French children at this stage receive their first diploma which is called the ????? (BEPC).

Seconde

Pupils begin seconde at 15 years of age. This would be grade 10 in American high schools. The students are called "sophmores".

1ère

Pupils begin 1ère at 16 years of age. This would be grade 11 in American high schools. The students are called "juniors".

Terminale

Pupils begin terminale at 17 years of age. This would be grade 12 in American high schools. The students are called "seniors". Here French students receive their second diploma hich is called a " Baccalaurèat ".







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Created: December 12, 2003
Last updated: December 14, 2003