French education is structured into several stages, starting with école maternelle for preschool children, followed by école élémentaire for primary education. Students then progress to collège, which covers four years of education, and finally to lycée, where they prepare for the baccalauréat exam, a key requirement for university admission. The French education system is known for its centralized approach, with the Ministère de l'Éducation nationale overseeing curricula and standards. Education is compulsory from ages 3 to 16, and public schools are free, promoting equal access to education for all children in France.