In France, school is compulsory from ages 6 to 16; it is free and open to all children, including those in the overseas departments and territories. The curriculum is national, with no specialized tracks or differentiated pathways. As a result, all children in a given age group spend at least ten years in school. Children are admitted to preschool starting at age three, and after earning a high school diploma, numerous university programs are available. Given the number of students and the time they spend in the classroom, school is an ideal setting for developing health education initiatives. Even though the family remains the most important environment for the development of these 12 million students, the school environment plays a fundamental role in their daily lives. [article excerpt]