Every year, the ranking of the best high schools in France is revealed. Often well placed but also much criticized, a private high school stands out for its exorbitant prices.
Each year, a ranking of the best high schools in France is published by several media (including Linternaute.com) based on indicators provided by the Ministry of Education. For each of the approximately 3,800 establishments in France, the latter take into account in particular the pass rate for the baccalaureate during the previous session, the rate of access of seconds to the baccalaureate and the rate of mention in the baccalaureate. In 2023, the big winner in our ranking was the public establishment Louis Le Grand followed by Henri IV and the private Lycée Stanislas. Will the private establishment keep its place this year despite the flood of criticism it suffered following the appointment of Amélie Oudéa-Castera to National Education in January?
First singled out for its very strict regulations excluding in particular “any behavior relating to intimate life” or even prohibiting slim pants and necklaces for boys and makeup for girls, the private establishment has faced several other scandals at the beginning of the year. After being highlighted by the schooling of the children of Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, former Minister of National Education, the high school was, in fact, targeted by an investigation in January for sexist and homophobic insults. A former boarding school teacher was also accused of “violence” such as “whipping, kicking, slaps behind the head, being pinned to the ground, insults, as well as psychological control”, as reported itAFP.
Under fire, the Stanislas establishment is also known for its very high registration fees. For one year of high school, you need to count on 2416 euros, according to Le Figaro Student, or more than 7,000 euros for all three years of high school studies. A very high figure compared to the first two establishments in the ranking of the best high schools in France which, being public, do not charge any tuition fees.
However, if students want to be in a boarding school, whether the establishment is public or private, they have to pay. The differences remain very significant between establishments. At Stanislas, you have to pay three times as much as at Louis Le Grand, the best high school in France, to live at the school. The year at boarding school costs 8,804 euros compared to a maximum of 2,874 at Louis Le Grand, where prices are adapted to the situation of families. The budgets for one year of an internal high school are therefore very different. Despite the criticism and such prices, will excellence in high school success be enough to keep Lycée Stanislas on the podium of the best establishments in France? Response on March 20 with the publication of the 2024 rankings.