Primary school: The French primary school is organized in cycles, each of them having its own predefined objectives and assigned national professional training programs, upon which teachers base their teaching, while taking into consideration each student’s learning rhythm. The cycle implementation must ensure that learning will be progressive from pre-K to Middle School.

The preschool (pre-K1, pre-K2 and K) makes up its own cycle:

Cycle 1, the basic learning cycle, which takes place over the three maternelle levels: pre-K1, pre-K2 and Kindergarten.

Elementary school
As of September 1, 2016 :
Cycle 2, the fundamentals cycle, comprises the first three years of elementary school – 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades.

Cycle 3, the reinforcement cycle, is made up of the 4th, 5th and 6th grades.
The creation of a cycle that groups together grades 4, 5 and 6 allows for better pedagogical continuity between elementary school and middle school.

Cycle 4, the in-depth learning cycle, is composed of grades 7 through 9.
In keeping with elementary school pedagogy, middle school teaching is focused upon acquiring the knowledge and skills detailed in the French common core. This instruction incorporates School’s missions : teaching and educating, integrating and furthering.

After they leave middle school, usually having obtained their Diplôme National du Brevet (at the end of 9th grade), students enroll in a general and technological high school.

The role of high school is to prepare each student for higher education.  A technological track enables some students to undertake a vocational path that will lead them to engineering and senior technician careers.