The Lycée Henri-IV[1] is a public secondary school located in Paris. Along with Louis-le-Grand it is widely regarded as one of the most demanding sixth-form colleges (lycées) in France.
The school has more than 2,500 pupils from collège (the first four years of secondary education in France) to classes préparatoires (classes to prepare students for entrance to the elite Grandes écoles).[1]
Its motto is "Domus Omnibus Una" ("One House For All").
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Lycée Henri-IV is located in the former royal Abbey of St Genevieve, in the heart of the Latin Quarter on the left bank of the river Seine, near the Panthéon, the church Saint-Étienne-du-Mont, and the rue Mouffetard.[1] Rich in history, architecture, and culture, the Latin Quarter encompasses France's oldest and the most prestigious educational establishments: the École Normale Supérieure, the Sorbonne, the Collège de France and the Lycée Louis-le-Grand.
The abbey was first established in 506; it flourished as a consequence of royal patronage, becoming an integral part of the Sorbonne and housing a great library.[1] The abbey was suppressed during the French Revolution and, in October 1796, the site became the École Centrale du Panthéon, the first of many public schools in France.[1] The lycée has changed its name several times since its inception – École Centrale du Panthéon (1794–1804); Lycée Napoléon (1804–1815); Collège Henri IV,(1815–1848); Lycée Napoléon (1848–1870) and Lycée Corneille (1870–1872) – before its current name was settled on in 1973.[1]
Today the lycée retains many features of the former abbey. The former abbey's library, which had the third largest collection of books in Europe (transferred to the nearby Bibliothèque Sainte-Geneviève during the 19th century), is composed of four aisles forming a cross with a cupola in the intersection. It is one of the main features of the Lycée with its 18th century boiseries and pavement as well as a cupola frescoed and carved by the painter Jean II Restout in the 1730s. Two aisles of the library are now used as libraries for Lycée and Classes Préparatoires levels and the two other aisles are used as rooms for conferences and exams. Another highlight of the lycée is the Salle des médailles (Room of the medals), a long gallery once used as a cabinet of curiosities (a room used to display natural curiosities and artworks). It has richly decorated and carved baroque boiseries and mirrors dating back to 18th century. The chapel of the Lycée dates back to middle-ages as well as the cloister and the Clovis tower, which is perhaps the most famous symbol of the Lycée. The Salle des Actes displays medieval effigies of dead priests of the Abbey which have been found during restoration campaigns in the 1990s. Another feature of the Lycée is the main staircase, named the escalier de la Vierge (Virgin Mary's staircase), which has a 17th century statue of the Virgin Mary as its centrepiece.[1]
Admissions at Henri IV are very competitive. Prospective students are selected based on grades. Students may come from middle schools throughout France. This cosmopolitan philosophy enables the school to have a large and strong range of cultural values. The education is highly rated and the conditions of work are optimal due to the diverse qualities of the teachers. Henri IV students generally achieve high marks and results for the baccalauréat, with a pass rate of 100% in most years, against a national pass rate of about 80%. The Concours général (national competition for brilliant students) and the examinations to enter the grandes écoles are considered more difficult. Overall, Henri IV provides a high level education due to its rigorous selection process and the quality of its teachers.