Saint Louis High School (Saumur)
Institution Saint Louis de Saumur
Welcome to Saint Louis High School in Saumur. Our school stands at the crossroads of tradition and educational innovation, committed to helping students shape their future. Surrounded by trees and equipped with modern facilities, the institution brings together a primary school, middle school, general and technological high school, as well as higher education programs. It is a comprehensive educational center where every student is closely supported throughout their learning path by a community made up of teachers and a dedicated support team.
Founded in 1872, Saint Louis High School has grown into one of the most influential educational institutions in the Saumur area. Today it serves 1,650 students, supported by 120 teachers and 55 education professionals. While maintaining high academic standards, the school continuously updates its curriculum and learning spaces so that students develop the skills needed for a changing future.
Beyond core knowledge, we place particular emphasis on cultivating critical thinking, curiosity and a sense of responsibility. Building on our most recent educational plan, we aim to prepare students to become global citizens with the capacity to respond to the challenges of tomorrow.
Our team looks forward to working closely with each family, tailoring learning pathways and progression plans for every student, and accompanying them through their growth at Saint Louis High School.
History and vision of Saint Louis High School in Saumur
Saint Louis High School in Saumur (Institution Saint Louis de Saumur) was founded in 1872 with the aim of providing high-quality education for families along the Loire River. Over more than a century, the school has grown alongside the city, continuously expanding its curriculum and facilities so that students can develop in an environment that combines historical character with modern teaching spaces.
- 1902: New buildings in a Versailles-inspired style were added on campus, helping define the school’s elegant architectural identity.
- 1914–1945: Teaching continued through both World Wars, reflecting the school’s resilience and strong sense of community.
- 1957–1979: Early adoption of co-education and construction of new high school and primary school buildings established a continuous pathway from primary to upper secondary.
- 1980s: Launch of international exchange programs and the establishment of long-term partnerships with schools across Europe, giving students rich cross-cultural experiences.
- 1993–2003: Opening of a dedicated SEGPA building, introduction of BTS accounting and management programs, and a modern lecture hall. The “One person, one pathway” project supports each student with an individual development plan.
- 2023: A new multi-purpose activity center opened, upgrading facilities for sports, arts and student clubs to better support diverse interests.
Today, Saint Louis High School works closely with the city of Saumur and local companies to provide a strong support network for its 1,650 students, backed by 120 teachers and 55 professionals. The campus regularly hosts open days, work experience events and international exchanges, helping students plan their academic journeys and university goals in a safe and welcoming environment.
Curriculum
Grade 10 Curriculum (Classe de Seconde)
Grade 10 at Saint Louis High School is a key transition year. It helps students consolidate their foundations across subjects and prepares them to choose their specialist subjects (Spécialités) from Grade 11 onwards.
Core curriculum in Grade 10 (Tronc commun)
In Grade 10, students complete 26 hours and 30 minutes of core teaching per week. The curriculum is designed to build a broad foundation and key skills to support later subject choices and progression. It includes:
- Moral and civic education
- Physical education and health
- French language
- History & geography
- Foreign language A (German/English)
- Foreign language B (German/English/Spanish)
- Mathematics
- Physics and chemistry
- Life and earth sciences
- Digital sciences and technology
- Economic and social sciences
A high school where students take ownership of their choices
In the Maine-et-Loire department, Saint Louis High School offers an innovative and motivating model of individualised support. All eight Grade 10 classes follow a “project-based learning (Mode Projet)” approach that aims to:
- Identify students’ strengths and areas of interest
- Help them understand the value of teamwork
- Prepare them for subject choices in Grades 11 and 12 and for future study
- Develop written and oral expression in different contexts
Project-based learning is closely linked to the core curriculum and involves collaboration with external partners (companies, associations, public institutions and others).
Guidance and orientation (Orientation)
In Grade 10, guidance and orientation are closely integrated with project-based learning. Through individual meetings, interest assessments, careers fairs and other activities, students are supported in making informed choices that match their strengths and future plans.
Grades 11 (Première) and 12 (Terminale)
From Grade 11 onwards, students progressively specialise according to their interests and higher education goals. Saint Louis High School places strong emphasis on project-based learning and cross-disciplinary work, helping students build autonomy and critical thinking while deepening subject knowledge. In Grade 11, students choose three specialist subjects, and in Grade 12 they keep two of these to continue in-depth study to meet the requirements of the French general Baccalauréat (Baccalauréat Général).
Compulsory common subjects (ENSEIGNEMENTS COMMUNS)
| Subject (Matière) | Grade 11 (Première) | Grade 12 (Terminale) |
|---|---|---|
| French (Français) | 4 hours per week | 0 |
| Philosophy (Philosophie) | 0 | 4 hours per week |
| History and geography (Histoire – Géographie) | 3 hours per week | 3 hours per week |
| Modern languages A and B (Langues vivantes A et B) | 4 hours 30 minutes per week | 4 hours per week |
| Scientific education (Enseignement scientifique) | 2 hours per week | 2 hours per week |
| Mathematics (Mathématiques) | 1 hour 30 minutes per week | 0 (optional additional mathematics) |
| Moral and civic education (Enseignement moral et civique) | 18 hours per year | 18 hours per year |
| Physical education (Éducation physique et sportive) | 2 hours per week | 2 hours per week |
Specialist subjects (ENSEIGNEMENTS DE SPÉCIALITÉ)
Choice structure: students select three specialist subjects in Grade 11 and keep two of them in Grade 12.
| Specialist subject (Spécialité) | Grade 11 (Première) | Grade 12 (Terminale) |
|---|---|---|
| Visual arts (Arts plastiques) | 4 hours per week | 6 hours per week |
| Physical education, practice and sports culture (EPPCS) | 4 hours per week | 6 hours per week |
| History, geography, geopolitics and political science (HGGSP) | 4 hours per week | 6 hours per week |
| Humanities, literature and philosophy (HLP) | 4 hours per week | 6 hours per week |
| Mathematics (Mathématiques) | 4 hours per week | 6 hours per week |
| Physics (Sciences Physiques) | 4 hours per week | 6 hours per week |
| Economic and social sciences (SES) | 4 hours per week | 6 hours per week |
| Life and earth sciences (SVT) | 4 hours per week | 6 hours per week |
| Drama (Théâtre) | 4 hours per week | 6 hours per week |
Language advantage: Saint Louis High School offers advanced English, Spanish and German, and can provide intensive French as a foreign language support for international students so they can build a strong language profile for the Baccalauréat and university applications.
Campus highlights
Discover the beautiful campus and modern facilities at Saint Louis High School.
