In French, different words are used for school depending on the age group and level of education:
- École: Refers to primary school (children about 6-11 years old).
- Collège: Is middle school or junior high (students about 11-15 years old).
- Lycée: Is high school (students about 15-18 years old).
This reflects the French educational system's division into distinct stages, each with its own institution name.
École refers to primary school for children aged about 6-11.
'Collège' is the French term for middle school.
'Collège' covers middle school and 'lycée' covers high school.
Students are typically 11-15 in collège and 15-18 in lycée.
'École' specifically means primary school, not any level.
École: Primary School
École specifically means primary school, where children typically attend from ages 6 to 11. The full term is école primaire, though école alone is often sufficient in context.
- Students learn basics: reading, writing, math, and foundational knowledge.
- The system here is highly structured and centralized.
Primary school (école primaire) is for ages 6-11.
Primary school focuses on reading, writing, and math.
'École' refers specifically to primary school.
Primary school is 'école primaire'.
Collège: Middle School
Collège marks the beginning of secondary education for children around 11 to 15 years old. It is equivalent to middle school or junior high in other systems.
- Students progress through four years labeled 6e, 5e, 4e, and 3e.
- Education becomes more departmentalized with separate teachers for subjects.
- At the end of collège, students take the brevet exam.
Collège is for ages 11-15.
Collège has multiple subjects, different teachers, and covers grades 6e to 3e.
Students earn the 'brevet' at the end of collège.
In collège, students have specialized teachers for each subject.
Lycée: High School
Lycée is for students aged about 15 to 18 and corresponds to high school. It prepares students either for university or vocational paths.
- The three years are called seconde, première, and terminale.
- Students can choose general (scientific, literary, economic), technological, or vocational tracks.
- The final exam, the baccalauréat (or bac), grants access to higher education.
Lycée serves students aged 15-18.
Lycée offers general, technological, and vocational tracks.
Students earn the baccalauréat after lycée.
Lycée includes the years seconde, première, and terminale.
Lycée focuses on preparing students for university or careers.
Conclusion
The French school system is tiered with specific terms for each educational stage:
- École is for primary school (6-11 years).
- Collège is middle school (11-15 years).
- Lycée is high school (15-18 years).
Understanding these distinctions helps grasp both the language and the culture of education in France.