Story no.42OngoingSocial +6SeriousParis +7024 Oct → 13 Nov867 facts · 2354 art.

Violence in high schools: principals mobilize in France

Since the start of the high school crisis, violence and blockades have disrupted establishments, and the Versailles campus of UVSQ was closed on November 10 after several weeks of disruptions. On November 13, principals across France were called to gather in front of their establishments to denounce the violence, with gatherings notably in Le Havre, Dijon, Saint-Raphaël, Nantes, and Saint-Nazaire. That day, the cost of damage in high schools was estimated at 45 million euros, with regions contesting the burden of repairs, and nine principals filed complaints. Education unions accused the Prime Minister of fueling tensions after his remarks about 'complicities', while the SNPDEN-Unsa contested the ministry's figures on blocked high schools. In Bordeaux, students gathered after the eviction of the science campus and the presidency extended its closure, while in Aix-en-Provence the leadership of the UFR ALLSH resigned en masse amid blockades.

In brief

Ongoing story bringing together 867 events in 71 departments (Paris, Nord, Rhône and 68 more), followed from 24 October 2026 to 13 November 2026. 2354 articles from 68 sources (social, politics, security and 4 more); last updated on 13 November 2026 at 23:54. Reported toll: 1 death, 609 injured, 779 arrests.

Who is covering it, and from what angle

Method

282Left15 %

1343Centre70 %

302Right16 %

1927 articles of rated outlets · 427 unrated outside the bar · 68 sources (2354 art.) · the three sides talk about it · outlets: left 12, centre 27, right 11

Angle comparison for the whole story

The three sides cover the principals' mobilization on November 13, but differ in framing: the left emphasizes government tensions and police repression, the center focuses on the experience and distress of school heads, the right on violence, sanctions, and accusations of complacency.

Left

Highlights the Prime Minister's controversial remarks about 'complicities' denounced by unions, police repression (detentions, eviction of the Bordeaux campus), and the consequences for staff and youth.

Centre

Centers the narrative on the unprecedented mobilization of principals, their exhaustion and sense of isolation, with local reports and testimonies from school heads.

Right

Emphasizes the violence (mortars, fires), school closures, police response and sanction directives, as well as accusations of complicities targeting elected officials and staff.

Written by an AI from headlines and extracts only of all events in the story · 14 Nov, 02h11

What is established

Method

Confirmed by several sources(4)

11
On November 13, principals gathered in several cities across France, including Strasbourg, Laval, Lille, Le Havre, Paris, Dijon, Saint-Raphaël, Nantes, and Saint-Nazaire.
11 independent sourcesLa Dépêche du Midi, Ouest-France, France 3 Régions, Paris-Normandie, Le Bien Public +11
7
A telegram dated November 13 from Laurent Nuñez and Édouard Geffray asks prefects and rectors to systematize arrests and disciplinary sanctions.
7 independent sourcesLe Journal du Dimanche, Sud Ouest, La Croix, 20 Minutes, Le Parisien +3
2
Education unions denounced Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's remarks about possible 'complicities' in the violence.
2 independent sourcesL'Est Républicain, Le Progrès, BFMTV / RMC
2
The SNPDEN-Unsa contests the ministry's figures on blocked high schools and claims to count 150 to 200 establishments not functioning normally.
2 independent sourcesLe Monde, Le Figaro

Sources disagree(1)

Number of blocked or disrupted high schools on November 13
- about ten blocked high schoolsaccording to La Croix
- 50 blocked high schools according to the ministry, 150 to 200 not functioning normally according to SNPDEN-Unsaaccording to Le Figaro
- around a hundred high schools closed and dozens blockedaccording to BFMTV / RMC

Single source so far(6)

The cost of damage in high schools is estimated at 45 million euros, a figure to be refined, and the Regions contest the burden of repairs. (according to Dernières Nouvelles d'Alsace)
Nine principals filed complaints. (according to La Voix du Nord)
In Muret, three gendarmes were injured and three minors were referred to prosecutors on November 13 after violence in front of the Charles-de-Gaulle high school. (according to La Dépêche du Midi)
The Brequigny high school in Rennes will be closed from November 16 to 20 after vandalism committed on Thursday. (according to franceinfo)

Updates(10)

14 Nov, 03h41New: an 18-year-old high school student released in Chelles after a mortar fire during math class.
14 Nov, 03h41New: a 16-year-old high school girl placed in police custody near Caen for an ACAB inscription on her jeans.
14 Nov, 03h41New: the Vaux-le-Pénil high school is evacuated after a bomb alert and mortar fire; two teenagers in police custody.
13 Nov, 19h15The bill for vandalism in high schools is estimated at 45 million euros.
13 Nov, 19h15In Muret, three gendarmes injured and three minors referred after violence in front of the Charles-de-Gaulle high school.
13 Nov, 19h15The announced principals' gatherings took place on November 13 in several academies.
13 Nov, 16h13Revised toll in Haute-Garonne: 16 high schools and six arrests → around twenty high schools, over 50 injured and 107 arrests.
13 Nov, 08h42New: the Sud Region announces an emergency envelope of 6 million euros for high schools.
13 Nov, 08h42New: five high schools in the Saint-Étienne metro area remained closed this week.
13 Nov, 08h42New: the executive accuses parents, supervisors, LFI elected officials, and unionists of encouraging blockades and violence.

AI cross-check of the headlines and extracts of 60 articles (27 outlets) · “confirmed” = reported by at least two independent outlets · 14 Nov, 03h41

Checked on the web(3)

Not confirmed at this stage
On November 13, principals gathered in several cities across France, including Strasbourg, Laval, Lille, Le Havre, Paris, Dijon, Saint-Raphaël, Nantes, and Saint-Nazaire.
Sources: lalsace.fr, leprogres.fr, midilibre.fr, republicain-lorrain.fr, information.tv5monde.com
14 Nov, 03h41
Not confirmed at this stage
A telegram dated November 13 from Laurent Nuñez and Édouard Geffray asks prefects and rectors to systematize arrests and disciplinary sanctions.
Sources: lalsace.fr, leprogres.fr, republicain-lorrain.fr, information.tv5monde.com, publicsenat.fr
14 Nov, 03h41
Not confirmed at this stage
The cost of damage in high schools is estimated at 45 million euros, a figure to be refined, and the Regions contest the burden of repairs.
Sources: info.gouv.fr(official), jeanmarcmorandini.com, actu.fr, lcp.fr, information.tv5monde.com
14 Nov, 03h41

Automatic web search, official sources first · “contradicted” only when an official source is cited

Checked by newsrooms(3)

« A screenshot attributed to the principal of Louis-le-Grand claims that high school students participating in a blockade risk a mention on Parcoursup. »
This claim was checked by CheckNews (Libération) · conclusion: False · 3 Nov
« In 2025, only 38 bacheliers remained without a solution on Parcoursup, as the government claims. »
This claim was checked by franceinfo – Vrai ou faux · conclusion: Misleading · 17 Oct
« The government minimizes the number of candidates without placement on Parcoursup by defending the platform with partial figures. »
This claim was checked by Les Décodeurs (Le Monde) · conclusion: Misleading · 16 Oct

AFP Factuel, Les Décodeurs, CheckNews, franceinfo “Vrai ou faux” · matched to the story automatically by an AI

Background

Method

Context and reference points, separate from the story's news. Every item links to its source; updated on 14 Nov

Context figures

Willful destruction and vandalism – Paris
« Willful destruction and vandalism » (offenses), Paris (75): 18,877 in 2025, i.e., 897 per 100,000 inhabitants (national average: 789). In 2016: 26,883, i.e., 1,227 per 100,000 inhabitants.
Paris : 897.3France : 788.7per 100,000 inhabitants, 2016–2025
SSMSI (ministère de l'Intérieur), 2025

Key terms

Complaint: A criminal complaint is an act by which a victim of an offense notifies the competent authority; it is referred to as 'against X' when the perpetrator of the offense is unknown. Wikipédia · Service-public.fr (Direction de l'information légale et administrative)
Trade union: A professional union is a professional or categorical organization of a private nature whose purpose is to 'ensure the defense of the material and moral interests of its members'; these organizations may bring together employees or members of management. Wikipédia

Useful resources

France Victimes116 006
Listening, information, and support for any victim of an offense or accident, free of charge.
Porter plainteservice-public.fr
Procedures for filing a complaint (police station, gendarmerie, prosecutor, online).

Timeline

newest first

Outlets:LeftCentreRightUncategorised· badge = severity

In figures

The activity

867 faits

Latest activity 4 hours ago

9 23 68 96 55 50 45 14 14 46 68 36 65 81

31 Oct13 Nov

Affected departments

Multiple departments (71)

Reported toll

1
mort: 609
injured: 779
interpellations

Amounts cited4 milliards d’euros · cinq milliards · 5 milliards d’euros · 4 milliards d'euro · milliards

Highest number recorded in 304 article(s), automatically extracted: please check sources.

Violence in high schools: principals mobilize in France

Who is covering it, and from what angle

What is established

Background

Timeline

In figures

Further reading