France Reveals 2025 High School Performance Indicators

On April 2, 2025, the French Ministry of National Education unveiled the much-anticipated performance indicators for high schools and colleges throughout the country. This annual release offers valuable insights into the effectiveness of educational institutions based on their results in the 2024 baccalaureate and brevet examinations. The indicators, known as the "indicators of added value" (IVAL), aim to provide a nuanced understanding of how well schools support their students in achieving academic success.

The IVAL measures the difference between the actual results achieved by students and the expected results, considering various academic and socio-demographic characteristics. According to the DEPP (Direction de l’évaluation, de la prospective et de la performance), this added value is essential for evaluating a school’s effectiveness. It acknowledges that not all schools face the same challenges or serve students with identical backgrounds.

Among the key metrics published are the baccalaureate success rate, the access rate, and the mention rate. For the 2024 baccalaureate session, the overall success rate was reported at an impressive 91.4%. Furthermore, 58.4% of those who passed received a mention, with 30.1% achieving an "assez bien" mention (averaging between 12 and 14 out of 20), 19.5% receiving a "bien" mention (averaging between 14 and 16), and 8.8% earning a "très bien" mention (averaging above 16).

As parents and students navigate the often stressful process of selecting a high school, these performance indicators become crucial. They help assess whether a school is adequately preparing students for their diplomas. The Ministry emphasizes that relying solely on the success rates can be misleading, as they do not fully capture a school’s contributions to student development.

In addition to the baccalaureate indicators, the Ministry also released data for colleges, including the success rate in the brevet, the added value of the college, and the access rate from sixth to third grade. The results indicate that in Picardie, the brevet success rate dipped to 83.8%, with 20,239 students admitted out of 24,206 candidates, marking a decrease of 2 percentage points from the previous year.

The baccalaureate results in the Amiens academy showed a slight increase, reaching a success rate of 89.5% after the catch-up exams, which is a 0.6% rise compared to the previous year. This year’s rankings also highlighted the performance of specific schools. The LIEP high school in Noisy-le-Grand emerged as the top institution, achieving a score of 16.1 out of 20, dethroning the previously dominant Lycée Thiers in Marseille.

Following closely behind are the prestigious Lycée Condorcet and Lycée Henri IV, both located in Paris. The rankings reflect a blend of factors, including the excellence of results, the mention rates, and the schools’ abilities to support students from diverse backgrounds. The methodology for these rankings considers not only raw success rates but also how well schools perform relative to the demographics of their student bodies.

In the latest rankings, the private Lycée Stanislas in Paris claimed the title of the best high school in France with a score of 19.95 out of 20. It was followed closely by the Lycée Maison de la Légion d'honneur in Saint-Denis, which scored 19.9, and the Lycée Henri IV, which achieved 19.75. The ranking also includes top private institutions like the Ecole active bilingue Jeannine Manuel and Lycée Saint-Dominique, both scoring 19.75 and 19.7, respectively.

Interestingly, the rankings did not only favor well-known institutions; they also recognized schools that excelled in supporting students from less privileged backgrounds. The methodology used to evaluate these schools is designed to encourage inclusivity and diversity, rewarding those that provide equal opportunities for all students.

While the Ministry emphasizes that these indicators should not be used to create a strict ranking system, they do provide a comprehensive overview of school performance. Critics argue that focusing solely on academic success overlooks other important factors such as student well-being and the overall quality of the educational environment.

As the education sector continues to evolve, the Ministry's indicators will remain a key tool for assessing and improving the quality of education in France. They serve as a guide for parents and students alike in their quest for the best educational opportunities.

In summary, the publication of the IVAL on April 2, 2025, sheds light on the performance of high schools and colleges across France, revealing both successes and areas for improvement. As families make decisions about their children's education, these indicators will play a crucial role in guiding them toward institutions that best meet their needs.