Schooling continues in college (4 years, from 11 to 15 years old), then in high school (3 years, from 15 to 18 years old)
The college welcomes all students at the end of primary school, without passing exam and for 4 years (sixth, fifth, fourth and third grades).
The year of 6th allows to consolidate the achievements of the primary school and to initiate the pupils to the working methods of the college. In 5th and 4th , the objective is to allow students to deepen “their knowledge and know-how”. The 3rd makes it possible to complete the acquisitions of the college and to prepare the passage to the high school.
Middle school lessons are structured into disciplines : French, mathematics, history-geography, civic education, life and earth sciences, physics-chemistry, technology, visual arts, music education, physical education and sports. Added to this is the teaching of languages : English, taught in groups of skills to adapt to the real level of the student, and, from the 5th year, the teaching of a 2nd living language to choose between Spanish and German.
At the Lycée Denis Diderot, middle school students benefit from privileged learning conditions, with in particular a staff-to-staff ratio much higher than the usual standards. In 2022, there were an average of 20 students per class.
At the end of the third year, students present the national patent diploma .
Obtaining the national patent diploma (DNB) is based on continuous assessment and three compulsory tests passed at the end of third class:
- An oral test during which the student presents a project worked within the framework of interdisciplinary practical teaching (EPI) or one of the educational paths, allowing in particular to assess the quality of oral expression
- A written test on French, history-geography and moral and civic education
- A written test covering mathematics, life and earth sciences, physics-chemistry and technology
The success of the college student at the DNB attests to his mastery of the common base of knowledge, skills and culture.
High school education takes place over 3 years (second, first, final classes). At the end of the second year, students choose majors, in addition to the core subjects, leading them to sit the French baccalaureate exam that prepares them for their higher studies.
Here again, the working conditions at the Denis Diderot high school are very favorable to educational success, with 17 students per class on average (2022 data), and even smaller numbers for certain optional or specialized courses.
The baccalaureate is the French national diploma attesting to the end of secondary studies. It corresponds to the international level CITE/ISCED 3.
Passing this exam is the standard for access to higher education . The French baccalaureate is recognized internationally and allows you to continue these studies, under certain conditions, in most countries (see post-baccalaureate orientation )
The Denis Diderot high school prepares for the three series of the general baccalaureate:
- The economic and social baccalaureate, or “ES” , which offers particular attention to the socio-economic environment and current events as well as a strong taste for history and geography, mathematics.
- The literary baccalaureate, or “L” , which develops a spirit of analysis and synthesis as well as a strong taste for literature, languages, history and geography, the arts.
The scientific baccalaureate, or “S” , which involves capacities for abstraction, rigor, reasoning, a taste for experimentation, and helps nurture a real scientific culture.