For the last 5 years, at Cheylard, in Ardèche, not a single student failed high school. For the last 3 years, 70% of them obtained their degree with honorary mention. In 2008 and 2009, students from the 4 terminal classes (Sciences, Electrotechnical genius, Latin and Linguistics) had a 100% success rate.

Cheylard, situated "about 500 turns" from the Rhône valley, is a little industrial niche of 3500 inhabitants in the Ardèche mountains.

A small society revolving around farmers and 3 big familial businesses; A world exempt of globalized and multi-cultural France; A microcosm that no immigration wave has ever reached. "Another planet", "an island" : those are the words of the teachers working there.

They don't talk that much about their isolation or the environment - school windows open on miles of forest - but see it as a good factor: they spend 100% of their time educating. The disciplinary board, to this day, never had to even be formed. Everywhere in the hall, bags lie around in total confidence.

"We have friendly kids, 'normal' kids" says the principal teacher, M.H André-Veglio, a young math teacher. "We don't have the usual problems of violence and bullying" says the mayor, Jacques Chabal.

"Security wise, we have a few students smoking pot here and there but it's usually just harmless kid's stuff". On the 12 teachers who helped opening the school in 1998, 8 are still there, 12 years later.

(College & Emblem)

Fifteen years ago, in 1995, the national education committee tried to ban the opening of that school, claiming it wouldn't meet "equality quotas" and thus lose public support. After suffering public outrage and the embarrassment of private businesses offering to pay for the entire operation, claiming a better education would produce better workers and secure the future economical status of the region, they finally dropped the case and allowed the opening.

Source: (french)
http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2009/06/18/bachotage-gagnant_1208393_3224.html
http://www.fdesouche.com

Remember: Diversity is good, white communities are evil