In France, schooling is compulsory from 6 to 16. Education is free in public institutions but not in private ones, even if the curriculum is the same and decided on a national level. Most schools offer catering services at lunch. Nursery and elementary schools offer child-minding services after school.

Nursery school (from 3 years) is not compulsory. Elementary (or primary) school (from 6) includes 5 levels: the CP (cours préparatoire), CE1 and CE2 (cours élémentaires, 1st and 2nd year), and CM1 and CM2 (cours moyens, 1st and 2nd year). Secondary school (collège) includes 4 classes, from the 6th to the 3rd, which is the year when pupils take the Brevet des collèges. College (lycée) includes 3 classes: the 2nd, the 1st and the final year (Terminale), which is the year of the "baccalauréat" . Vocational diplomas such as BEPs (brevet d’études professionnelles) and baccalauréats professionnels can also be taken in vocational colleges (lycées professionnels), and baccalauréats technologiques in technical colleges (lycées techniques).