A recent study published in the journal Nature has shed light on the early emergence of a gender gap in mathematics among French primary school students. The research, based on an exceptionally large dataset from EvalAide, reveals that while girls and boys start school with nearly identical math skills, a significant disparity favoring boys appears within just four months of starting school. This gap continues to widen throughout primary education, making France the country with the highest gender disparity in math and science skills in the European Union by the end of primary school.

The study's findings are based on evaluations of nearly three million students, tracking their progress from the beginning of CP (the first year of primary school in France) through to CE1 (the second year). The data not only confirms the significant impact of family and school socioeconomic status on children's performance but also highlights a small yet statistically significant advantage for boys in math after only a few months of schooling. By the end of the first year, boys are more than twice as likely as girls to be among the top 5% of students in math tests.

In response to these findings, the Académie of Bordeaux has announced the opening of four specialized math and science classes starting in the 2025-2026 school year. These classes, modeled after the Cham music program, aim to address the gender gap by ensuring at least 50% female enrollment. The initiative includes partnerships with university laboratories and tech companies to provide students with a robust scientific curriculum and real-world experience.

The recteur of the Académie, Jean-Marc Huart, emphasized the importance of addressing the gender disparity early on, noting that while the overall success rate of students in the Académie is higher than the national average, the gap in math performance between girls and boys is more pronounced. The specialized classes represent a step forward in promoting gender equality in STEM fields, aiming to inspire more girls to pursue careers in science and technology.