lycée

A lycée is a French secondary school that follows the collège in the education system and serves students roughly aged 15 to 18. It forms the final stage of secondary education and is the main pathway to higher education. Lycées can be public or private and are sometimes specialized to reflect regional needs or interests. The core purpose of a lycée is to prepare students for the baccalauréat, a nationwide diploma that grants access to most universities and many other post-secondary programs.

Structure and tracks: The standard program covers three years, named seconde, première, and terminale. In the first two years, students choose a track within the general, technological, or vocational streams. Since recent reforms, the general and technological tracks emphasize a common core and include students selecting “enseignements de spécialité” (specialist subjects) in première and terminale to shape their baccalauréat subjects and focus.

Types of lycée: Lycée général et technologique offers the general or technological baccalaureates, preparing for higher education and professional fields. Lycée professionnel focuses on vocational training and leads to the baccalauréat professionnel, with a direct link to work-based qualifications.

International and regional context: The term “lycée” is used in several Francophone countries to denote upper secondary schools with similarities to the French model, though curricula and titles vary by country.

Outcome: Completion of the baccalauréat enables entrance to higher education, while the breadth of tracks also supports vocational pathways, preparatory classes, or further professional training. The lycée thus serves as the primary bridge between secondary schooling and higher education or careers in French-speaking education systems.