Introduction - The French Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction assessed tobacco-related policies and practices in French high schools through two rounds of surveys, which documented changes over a four-year period. Method - Two surveys using stratified random samples representative of high schools in mainland France were conducted in 2002 and 2006. Staff, students, and principals completed a self-administered questionnaire. The analysis of data on observable institutional phenomena focused on the convergent responses from these three groups. Results - The proportion of high schools enforcing a total smoking ban for students rose from 14% in 2002 to 40% in 2006. Smoking prevalence among high school students fell sharply during the period. The gradual restriction of smoking by staff within high schools was established only in teachers’ lounges. Discussion - Understanding institutional behaviors through surveys requires cross-referencing statements from multiple stakeholders regarding indicators observable by each. Conclusion - The intensity of public anti-smoking efforts in 2003 and 2004 explains the unprecedented progress in restricting smoking within high schools. (R.A.)