The political group Les Républicains has proposed a new education policy designed to increase the freedom of choice for families, encourage school autonomy, and reinforce merit-based selection. The reforms are presented as a means to build a more rigorous and republican school system. One key element of this proposal is moving away from the "unique college" model, which Les Républicains argue promised equality but resulted in student disengagement. Research has shown that academic success gaps are closely tied to students' social backgrounds and the composition of the schools they attend. For instance, an analysis of middle schools in Paris found that 75% of the differences in performance at the national certificate exam could be attributed to the social makeup of the schools. Similarly, the French National Education Research and Documentation Centre (DEPP) found that students in priority education areas (REP) often make more progress in early schooling, especially in subjects like French and mathematics, compared to those in other areas. The debate over the "unique college" model is not simply about balancing diversity with academic performance. It also raises questions about how schools address resource disparities among students and how students are distributed across different schools. International data suggests that how students are directed to different educational tracks is important. According to PISA 2025 results, socioeconomic status accounts for 14% of the variation in science performance in France, with a notable 100-point gap between the most and least advantaged 25% of students. The proposal to give families more choice in selecting schools has raised concerns about the potential for segregation. Not all families have the same resources or access to information to make informed decisions. The OECD has pointed out that school choice policies can have varying impacts depending on how well families can access and use information. In France, existing segregation between schools is already significant, influenced by factors such as family decisions, school assignment systems, and the coexistence of public and private education. The private education sector in France, which operates under government contract, is particularly relevant in this context, as it increasingly serves a more privileged population. The challenge is ensuring that increased freedom of choice does not worsen existing inequalities, as families with similar resources may end up making similar choices, leading to schools that are socially divided. Les Républicains also aim to make "fundamental knowledge" the main focus of schools and to ensure that grades accurately reflect student performance. However, the emphasis on core subjects is already strong in the French curriculum, with 59% of compulsory education time in primary school dedicated to reading, writing, literature, and mathematics. Despite this focus, France's PISA 2025 results in mathematics (458 points) and reading (456 points) are among the lowest ever recorded. Standardized evaluations have been developed by the National Education system to provide common benchmarks for student performance. These evaluations, which involved over seven million students in 2025, aim to give teachers comparable references for certain learning outcomes. It is important to distinguish between evaluating student work, measuring knowledge gained, and using these results for orientation or selection, especially as merit-based differentiation becomes more prominent in educational pathways.