American and French Grade Level Comparison
Student Age (Approximative)
Prior to six years of age
6-11 years of age:
ELEMENTARY EDUCATION
6 years of age
7 years of age
8 years of age
9 years of age
10 years of age
11-15 years of age:
SECONDARY EDUCATION
11 years of age
12 years of age
13 years of age
14 years of age
15-18 years of age:
SECONDARY EDUCATION -
TERMINAL CYCLE
14-15 years of age
15-16 years of age
16-17 years of age
17-18 years of age
POST-SECONDARY
EDUCATION
Universities
Junior and Community
Colleges
Grandes Ecoles
American Grade Level French Grade Level Subject Matter NOTES
Preschool Ecole Maternelle Physical and sensory Instruction in both types of
exercises; exercises in school are not compulsory
language and observation at this age
Elementary school Cycle Elementaire Compulsory education
begins
1st grade Cours Prparatoire (CP) or Beginning reading, writing,
11me spelling
2nd grade Cours Elmentaire I (CE I) or Beginning history, geography,
10 me science by observation,
grammar
3rd grade Cours Elmentaire II (CE II)
or 9me
4th grade Cours Moyen I (CM I) or
8me
5th grade Cours Moyen II (CM II) or
7me
Junior High School or First Cycle
Middle School Collge
6th grade 6me Beginning foreign language Sixth grade can be in either
elementary or middle
schools in the United
States; it varies by state
and region.
7th grade 5me Beginning geometry, Latin
and algebra
8th grade 4me Fr: Beginning of second
foreign language and
Greek for students oriented
towards "Classique L"
3me
High School Lyce French Terminal Cycles
begin one grade higher
than US high schools.
While these ages are
typical, it is not uncommon
for French students to have
repeated a year and be
older than the ages listed.
9th grade ( Collge - see above)
10th grade Seconde Fr: Beginning third foreign The French Second Cycle
language for those studies are organized into
students studying neither three year tracks
mathematics nor Latin. (lenseignement long) for
US: Students begin AP Baccalaurats and the
(Advanced Placement - the Brevet de Technicien (B.T. :
ability to be placed in technicians diploma), and
higher level university one/two year tracks
classes) and Honors Level (lenseignement court) for
subject study the Certificat dAptitude
Professionnelle (C.A.P.:
certificate of vocational
competency), the Brevet
dEtudes Professionnelles
(B.E.P.: diploma of
vocational studies), and
various agricultural
diplomas.
11th grade Premire Fr: Leading to the
Baccalaurat (7 main
sections: philosophy,
mathematical science,
mathematics and
technology, economics
and humanities)
12th grade Terminale Fr: Students must pass the
Baccalaurat exam to
graduate.
Standardized Test Scores, The Baccalaurat serves
letters or recommendation, as admittance to
and grade point averages universities.
serve as primary admission
qualifications in the US
Community colleges may N/A
award of Arts (AA) or
Associate of Science (AS)
degree after two years. Those
seeking to continue their
education may transfer to a
four-year college or university
N/A Special post-Baccalaurat
schools prepare for
competitive examinations
admitting students to the
Grandes Ecoles.