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Marie Curie High School à Sceaux dans les Hauts-de-Seine

Hauts-de-Seine

Marie Curie High School

    9 Rue Gaston Lévy
    92330 Sceaux
Lycée Marie Curie
Lycée Marie Curie
Lycée Marie Curie
Lycée Marie Curie
Lycée Marie Curie
Lycée Marie Curie
Lycée Marie Curie
Crédit photo : Croquant - Sous licence Creative Commons

Timeline

XIXe siècle
Époque contemporaine
1900
2000
1932-1936
Construction of high school
9 octobre 1936
Opening of the high school
19 juin 1937
Official Inauguration
1940-1944
Occupation by the Luftwaffe
octobre 1944
Post-liberation reopening
1971
Introduction of Mixity
30 mars 2001
Historical monument classification
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui

Heritage classified

The whole school; the facades, roofs and interior staircase of the former Cauchy House (Cd. K 50): inscription by order of 30 March 2001

Key figures

Marie Curie - Analogous scientist Double Nobel Prize, married to Seals in 1895.
Jean Zay - Minister of Education (1937) Present at the inauguration of the high school.
Suzanne Forfer - First Director (1936-1954) Co-founder of *World*, passive resistant.
Émile Brunet - Chief Architect Designer of the Art Deco building.
Irène Joliot-Curie - Daughter of Marie Curie Guest of honour at the inauguration of 1937.
Alain Weisz - Professor of EPS (1980s) Founder of the sports-studies basketball section.

Origin and history

The Marie Curie High School, located in Sceaux (Hautes-de-Seine), was built between 1932 and 1936 by architect Émile Brunet in an Art Deco style. Inaugurated in 1937 in the presence of Jean Zay and Irène Joliot-Curie, it was initially dedicated to the education of girls, enjoining a desire for equal access to scientific studies. Her name pays tribute to Marie Curie, double Nobel laureate, married to Seals in 1895, a symbol of women's emancipation through science.

During the Second World War (1940-1944), the high school was requisitioned by the Luftwaffe, transforming its rooms into dormitories and basements into anti-aircraft shelters. Students were relocated to Lakanal High School or to private homes. At the Liberation, the damage was estimated at more than 3 million francs, but the establishment reopened as early as October 1944. Director Suzanne Forfer, a major figure, played a key role in passive resistance and reconstruction.

The architecture of the high school, classified as a historical monument in 2001, is distinguished by its mosaics of Auguste Labouret, its ironworks of Raymond Subes and its pediment carved by Albert Chartier. These Art Deco elements, combining geometry and functionality, make it a unique example of the French school heritage. The reinforced concrete structure, dressed in ochre bricks, and the stained glass windows of Louis Barillet reinforce his visual identity.

After becoming a mixed school in 1971, Marie Curie High School is now home to nearly 2,000 students, from college to preparatory classes. Its history reflects the evolution of education in France, from girls' schooling to the democratization of higher education. The site, about 1.5 hectares, also includes a gymnasium and spaces dedicated to arts and science, perpetuating its legacy of excellence.

The school was also a filming place for films and series, such as Madame le Provisseur or Captain Marleau, and trained personalities such as philosopher Geneviève Fraisse or actress Macha Méril. Its cultural and educational influence goes far beyond the local context, making it a symbol of the educational heritage of the country.

External links