Moroccan Preparatory Schools Shine in New Rankings
In a significant achievement for Morocco's educational landscape, Moroccan preparatory schools have dominated the first-ever ranking of foreign classes préparatoires (CPGE) by Le Figaro, which focuses on institutions feeding into France’s prestigious grandes écoles. This ranking, published on Wednesday, highlights the exceptional performance of Moroccan schools over the past three years, especially in scientific, ECG, and ECT tracks, utilizing data from École Polytechnique admissions.
Leading the scientific category by a considerable margin is Lydex (LM6E) located in Benguerir, which boasts an impressive admission rate of 17.7% to the École Polytechnique, France's premier engineering institution. The school has seen a consistent flow of successful candidates, with 17 students gaining admission in 2025, 16 in 2024, and 20 in 2023. Offering both MP and PT tracks, Lydex exemplifies the high standards and educational rigor required to excel in such competitive environments.
Following closely in the rankings is Lymed in Tetouan, which secured second place with an average integration rate of 8.8%, recording 2, 3, and 4 admissions for the years 2025, 2024, and 2023, respectively. Rabat's Lycée Al Zahrawi ranks third with a 7% admission rate, achieving 2 admissions in both 2025 and 2024, and 1 in 2023. Notably, IPEST from Tunisia is the only non-Moroccan school to break into the top four, with an overall admission rate of 4.7% across various tracks.
Moroccan institutions continue to fill the majority of the remaining top-ten positions, with Lycée Moulay Driss in Fès holding fifth place at 3.3%. Other notable schools include Esprit Prépa in Tunis, Lycée Ibn Timiya in Marrakech, Lycée Mohamed V and Lycée d’Excellence Mohammed VI in Casablanca, and Ibn Ghazi in Rabat, showcasing the strength of Morocco's educational framework in preparing students for higher education.
Investments in Quality Education Yield Results
The methodology for these rankings is rooted firmly in the results from Polytechnique, which maintains a distinct admission track for international CPGE candidates. This year, there are 45 spots available for these candidates compared to 399 for their French counterparts, highlighting the competitive nature of the admissions process. Candidates must achieve scores that meet or exceed those of the last accepted French student, and the rigorous evaluation process continues to maintain high standards for educational quality.
Approximately 10,000 students are directed into Morocco's CPGE system annually, with a selection process that emphasizes top performers from across the nation. Mohamed El Bourkadi, who oversees CPGE inspections for Morocco’s Ministry of National Education, emphasized the country's strategic approach to maintaining quality through limited enrollment. He remarked, “We send the cream of the crop,” underscoring the commitment to providing optimal conditions for students rather than merely expanding the system.
Furthermore, the long-term benefits of this investment are evident, as many students who study abroad often return to contribute to Morocco's development, while those who remain are well-integrated into diaspora networks. Halima Rahmani, a director at Lycée Al Zahrawi, expressed a commitment to prioritizing the best interests of Moroccan youth, stating that whether students attend Moroccan or French institutions is secondary to ensuring they achieve their full potential.
In the realm of business education, Casablanca's Groupe Scolaire La Résidence leads the ECG rankings with a perfect score of 20/20, having successfully admitted 19 students to French institutions. This is followed by La Résidence Bouskoura and Lycée Ibn Al Ghazi, highlighting the competitive landscape within business preparatory schools. The ECT rankings also see Casablanca's ESTEM achieving a perfect score, indicating a robust performance in the business track sector.
In conclusion, the remarkable performance of Moroccan preparatory schools in these rankings not only reflects the quality of education being provided but also signifies the country's strategic investment in its educational infrastructure, which is yielding promising results in the international arena.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
