Students in high schools in Seine-Saint-Denis, a department on the outskirts of Paris, have reported worsening learning conditions, including collapsed ceilings, broken windows, flooded rooms, and even rats in hallways. These students, who have been organizing protests since late September, argue that their schools are underfunded compared to those in Paris. James Chéron, vice president of the UDI in the Île-de-France region, disputes this, saying that Seine-Saint-Denis receives more resources due to its greater needs and delays in infrastructure improvements. In France, public high school funding is divided between the central government and regional authorities, with the former responsible for teacher salaries and training, and the latter handling building maintenance and non-teaching staff. Edouard Geffray, the Minister of National Education, stated that the cost per student in Seine-Saint-Denis is 13% higher at the primary level. This includes funding for priority education programs, teacher loyalty bonuses, and class doubling in certain grades. On average, the cost per student is 9,080 euros for primary school, 10,450 euros for middle school, and 13,020 euros for high school. However, some claim that students in Seine-Saint-Denis receive 2,000 euros less funding than those in Paris, potentially due to lower salaries for contractual teachers compared to permanent ones. The region has invested nearly 500 million euros in recent years to renovate high schools in Seine-Saint-Denis, with 45 million euros specifically allocated for the Paul-Éluard high school. An exceptional budget of 1.9 billion euros was set aside by the region for education this year, though some question whether the funds will be sufficient. Céline Malaisé, a regional councilor, notes that funding for high schools in Seine-Saint-Denis has generally decreased, with 60% of schools in the department facing reduced funding, compared to 40% in Paris. Seine-Saint-Denis is less attractive to teachers, as evidenced by unfilled positions in teacher competitions. In the Créteil academy, 118 primary-level positions remained vacant in 2026. Despite reforms, there are still not enough candidates for certain subjects. In 2023, only 31 teachers requested transfers to Seine-Saint-Denis, compared to over 1,000 in other departments. Simon Duteil, a history teacher in Seine-Saint-Denis, notes that teachers in the department often seek to leave due to the challenges in the educational environment. Seine-Saint-Denis has a higher proportion of young teachers, with 44% under 35 in secondary education, compared to 42% over 50 in Paris. Teachers in Seine-Saint-Denis are also less experienced, with 56% having less than five years of experience. The share of agrégés teachers—those with advanced qualifications—is lower in Seine-Saint-Denis (7%) compared to Paris (16%), while the share of contractual teachers is higher (10% vs. 8%). Class sizes in Seine-Saint-Denis high schools average 28.6 students per class, compared to the national average of 30.2. However, class sizes in Paris have decreased more significantly due to demographic changes. Seine-Saint-Denis has a high number of schools classified in priority education (Rep and Rep+), with 577 out of 993 public institutions, compared to 242 out of 740 in Paris. This overrepresentation contributes to a higher need for resources. The department also has fewer school doctors and assistants for students with disabilities (AESH) compared to Paris. Seine-Saint-Denis is the poorest department in Metropolitan France, with a poverty rate of over 28%, compared to 16.8% in Paris. This economic disparity exacerbates the challenges in providing adequate educational resources. An intersyndical organization estimates the need for 358 million euros in additional funding to address the educational gap.