School in France starts earlier than in the US, from ages 2-3 compared to 4-5. While grade levels are labeled descending in France and ascending in the US, both have a middle school and high school level. A key difference is that in France, students have Wednesday off while attending school Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

1. School Life
U.S. France
School starts at the age of School starts at the age of
4-5 2-3
School years are labeled School years are labeled
in ascending order (1-12) in descending order (12-1)
Students attend school Students attend school
Monday-Friday Monday-Friday, with
Wednesday off
Middle serves ages 12-14 Collèges (middle school)
serve children ages 11-15
High school serves Lycées (high school)
children ages 14-18 serves children 15-18
School in France is not so different from its American counterpart. In France pre-
school starts around the age of 2-3, while in the U.S. it doesn’t start until the age of 4-5.
France is considered “lucky,” for students that is, because the normal school week is
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, did away
with school on Saturday morning for primary schools and collèges in 2008; however, the
high school, lycée, students continue to go to school on Saturdays.
1. En France, les professeurs enseignent le leçon.
2. En France, les élèves respectent les autres.
3. En France, les professeurs donnent les devoirs.