🎓 Educational System French vs English vs American
| Age | French Class | French School | English (UK) | UK School | American | US School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3–4 | Petite Section (PS) | École Maternelle | Nursery | Foundation Stage (EYFS) | Pre-K | Preschool |
| 4–5 | Moyenne Section (MS) | École Maternelle | Reception (Year R) | Foundation Stage (EYFS) | Pre-K / Junior K | Preschool |
| 5–6 | Grande Section (GS) | École Maternelle | Year 1 | Primary (KS1) | Kindergarten | Elementary |
| 6–7 | CP | École Élémentaire | Year 2 | Primary (KS1) | 1st Grade | Elementary |
| 7–8 | CE1 | École Élémentaire | Year 3 | Primary (KS2) | 2nd Grade | Elementary |
| 8–9 | CE2 | École Élémentaire | Year 4 | Primary (KS2) | 3rd Grade | Elementary |
| 9–10 | CM1 | École Élémentaire | Year 5 | Primary (KS2) | 4th Grade | Elementary |
| 10–11 | CM2 | École Élémentaire | Year 6 | Primary (KS2) | 5th Grade | Elementary |
| 11–12 | 6ème | Collège | Year 7 | Secondary (KS3) | 6th Grade | Middle |
| 12–13 | 5ème | Collège | Year 8 | Secondary (KS3) | 7th Grade | Middle |
| 13–14 | 4ème | Collège | Year 9 | Secondary (KS3) | 8th Grade | Middle |
| 14–15 | 3ème | Collège | Year 10 | Secondary (KS4 / GCSEs) | 9th Grade (Freshman) | High School |
| 15–16 | Seconde (2nde) | Lycée | Year 11 | Secondary (KS4 / GCSEs) | 10th Grade (Sophomore) | High School |
| 16–17 | Première (1ère) | Lycée | Year 12 (Lower Sixth) | Sixth Form / College (A-Levels) | 11th Grade (Junior) | High School |
| 17–18 | Terminale | Lycée | Year 13 (Upper Sixth) | Sixth Form / College (A-Levels) | 12th Grade (Senior) | High School |
Key Structural Differences
France
- Pre-school (maternelle) is non-compulsory but near-universal from age 3.
-
Secondary splits into two distinct institutions:
- Collège (4 years, compulsory) — 6ème through 3ème
- Lycée (3 years) — leads to the Baccalauréat
- Note: Collège class numbers count down (6ème → 3ème).
United Kingdom
- Primary runs straight through Years 1–6 in the same school.
- Secondary covers Years 7–11, ending with GCSEs.
- Sixth Form (Years 12–13, A-Levels) is optional and post-compulsory.
- Key Stages (KS1–4) are curriculum groupings, not school names.
United States
-
Structure varies by district:
- Elementary: K–5 or K–6
- Middle School: 6–8 or 7–8
- High School runs Grades 9–12 and remains compulsory through age 16–18 depending on the state, unlike the UK Sixth Form.
- Grade 9–12 students are informally called Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, Senior.