In elementary school, the school week can be either 4 days – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday – or 4 ½ days (Wednesday morning).

In elementary school, Wednesday is generally considered as a day for the children to rest and do sports or cultural activities. Working parents may wish to take their children to outdoor activity centers (called “centres aérés” in French) located in their neighborhood or town (check with your local District Hall).

In junior high/ high school, classes are held Monday through Friday and, in some cases, on Saturday mornings as well.

Recess (called “récré” in French) Recess is held in the morning and the afternoon in the school grounds. It lasts between 15 and 30 minutes and gives children a chance to relax by playing with their friends.

To stagger vacation dates around the country, the National Education Ministry has created 3 geographical areas: Zone A (including the schools of Caen, Clermont-Ferrand, Grenoble, Lyon, Montpellier, Nancy-Metz, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse); Zone B (including the schools of Aix-Marseille, Amiens, Besançon, Dijon, Lille, Nice, Orléans, Tours, Poitiers, Reims, Rouen and Strasbourg); and zone C (including the schools of Bordeaux, Créteil, Paris and Versailles). Here are the Offical school Holidays in France.

Official school holidays

January 1st (New Year’s Day)

March / April Easter Sunday and Monday*

May 1st (Labor Day), 8th (To celebrate the end of WWII), and Ascension Thursday*

July 14th (Bastille Day, the national holiday)

August 15th (the Assumption)*

November 1st (All Saints Day)*, 11th (Armistice Day)

December 25th (Christmas)*

* religious holidays

www.education.gouv.fr