France spends 28% more per high school student than the average of OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, but critics argue that this money is not being used effectively. Despite this higher investment, French high schools face challenges such as aging infrastructure, lower teacher salaries compared to other developed nations, and a shortage of qualified educators. Recent student protests have brought renewed attention to the underfunding of the National Education system, even though it remains the largest single item in the French state budget, excluding debt payments. According to the 2027 budget bill, the sector is expected to receive 90.9 billion euros next year, with 64 billion euros allocated to operating expenses excluding staff pensions. In 2023, France invested 19,527 dollars per high school student in purchasing power parity, which is 28% more than the OECD average of 15,288 dollars. Public spending alone reached 16,311 dollars per student, which is 24% above the OECD average. General high schools received 16,674 dollars per student, a 34% increase, while technical high schools received 15,638 dollars, which is 12% above the average. This places France in ninth place among OECD countries, just behind the United States. However, in elementary and middle schools, France spends less than the OECD average, with resources 11% and 4% lower, respectively. Eric Charbonnier, an OECD education analyst, notes that these disparities are more pronounced in France than in many other countries. The concentration of resources on high schools does not eliminate the shortcomings highlighted by students and teachers. Eric Charbonnier calls the situation "paradoxical," attributing it to "a poor allocation of spending" and "crippling inequalities between schools." He explains that France spends heavily on high schools but fails to achieve the desired results partly because there are too many high schools, especially small ones. About 11% of high schools have fewer than 100 students, increasing operating costs. Additionally, France's high volume of class hours—1,200 per year compared to an OECD average of 1,000—requires more teachers, which adds to the financial burden. Another factor is the higher proportion of "agregated" teachers, who are better paid but spend less time with students. They have weekly obligations of 15 hours, compared to 18 hours for certified teachers. The country's well-developed vocational education tracks also contribute to higher costs due to the need for specialized equipment. Eric Charbonnier suggests that to improve effectiveness, France must rethink its spending priorities, especially increasing teacher salaries to attract more qualified individuals. Currently, French teachers earn 15 to 20% less than the OECD average after 15 years of experience, and no improvements have been made in this area in 25 years. International comparisons of education spending must be interpreted cautiously, as the French state compensates for a pension system deficit by applying a higher employer contribution to civil servant salaries. This results in inflated education budgets. The Institute of Public Policies estimates that the corrected per-student spending in secondary education was 10,334 euros in 2021, not 11,320 euros, a 9.54% decrease. Similar overestimations apply to primary and higher education. Eric Charbonnier notes that the OECD and the European Commission are working to include both corrected and uncorrected figures in future reports. He believes this highlights the need to rethink how to use resources more effectively to reduce the system's deficit.