Things to know about French school

• In France, school is not mandatory for children under 6. It is from 6 years old to 16 years old.
• Most of the children under 6 go to school called « Maternelle » from 3 years old.
• Public school is free. All you’ll have to pay is the cafeteria (called « cantine ») if your child is staying at the school during lunchtime.
• Except if you ask to go to a different school, children are generally expected to attend the school near their place of residence.
• You’ll need to ask a « dérogation » to the town hall to dispense your child to go to the school situated in your area.

 

 

 French school system and the equivalent US/UK grades :

 

  

Petite section de maternelle or PS (3 years old)	Nursery
Moyenne section de maternelle or MS (4 years old)	Pre-K (Reception UK)
Grande section de maternelle or GS (5 years old)	Kindergarden (Year 1 UK)

 

 

 

Cours préparatoire or CP (6 years old)	1st Grade (Year 2 UK).
Cours élémentaire 1re année or CE1 (7 years old)	2nd grade (Year 3 UK)
Cours élémentaire 2e année or CE2 (8 years old)	3rd grade (Year 4 UK)
Cours moyen 1re année or CM1 (9 years old)	4th grade(Year 5 UK)
Cours moyen 2e année or CM2 (10 years old)	5th grade (Year 6 UK).

 

 

 

1. Public school :

 

There are several international schools in Grenoble. They are public, which means there are no fees to enter.
For further information, contact directly the school.
   

• École de la Houille Blanche - English, German
     7, rue de la Houille Blanche
     38 100 Grenoble
     04 76 96 51 75

 

•   École les Trembles - English
     8 allée des Frênes
     38100 Grenoble
     04 76 22 79 61

 

•    École Jules Ferry - English
     47 rue Léon Jouhaux
     38100 Grenoble
     04 76 44 71 88

 

•  École élémentaire Bizanet - Spanish
     53, avenue Maréchal Randon
     38 000 Grenoble
     04 76 42 00 66

 

•    École Jean Jaurès - Italian
     9, cours Jean Jaurès
     38 000 Grenoble
     04 76 46 41 80

 

•    École Anthoard - Portuguese
     3 rue Anthoard
     38 000 Grenoble
     04 76 96 69 34

 

•    École Menon - Arabic
     9 rue Hébert
     38 000 Grenoble
     04 76 42 70 69

About the three English school: there is a test to enter. The criterion is not only the fluency in English. Be aware that once your child has passed the test, he can be sent to any of these three schools.

 

 

2. Private international school :

 

• École Notre Dame d’Uriage - English
  307 Chemin de Luiset
  38410 Saint-Martin d’Uriage
   04 76 89 77 20
  (This school is out of Grenoble).
  

 

 

French school system and the equivalent US/UK grades :

 

La sixième (11 years old)	6th grade (Year 7 UK)
La cinquième (12 years old)	7th grade (Year 8 UK)
La quatrième (13 years old)	8th grade (Year 9 UK)
La troisième  (14 years old)	9th grade (Year 10 UK)

 

 

 

 

1. Public school :

• Cité Scolaire Internationale de Grenoble (CSI Grenoble)
   4 place de Sfax
  38012 Grenoble
  04 38 12 25 00

Your child will have to pass a test to enter this school.

 

2. Private school :

• American School of Grenoble
  Cité Scolaire Internationale
  4, Place de Sfax
  38000 Grenoble, France

They also provide a combination of partial immersion in French secondary education, and intensive French language courses, with the American core curriculum taught in English.
The main goal is to help the students reintegrate into an English speaking school system and to prepare high school students for higher education, particularly in American universities.

 

In primary schools, the French system provides help for the children who can’t speak, read or write in French for one year. A teacher will have a small group of non-speakers during few hours a week. He will help them to learn French, so they can easily be part of the class.
In « collège » or « lycée » (middle and high school), there are FLE classes (FLE means « Français Langue Étrangère », French as Second Language). The students who need FLE are together in the same class and have few hours of French lessons a week.

 

Warning: at the start of every new school year, some of these educational establishments can change their rules and close some class. To call them is the best way to have the right information!

You have heard of another school?

 

Contact me [catherine@unehistoiredeninjasetdesamourais.com] !