I studied in both the American and the French education systems. Several degrees in both. For all the gold in the world, I will never allow a kid I care for to study in the American education system. At least before the university.
When I took Physics 101 in college in the US, I had already covered the discussed topics between the age of 12 to 17-18 in France. electricity, mechanics, optics, geology, chemistry, Relativity, geography, WORLD history, geopolitics,economics, Philosophy, Literature, etc... were not optional. By the time I turned 15, I was already familiar 2 foreign languages. again, not optional.
Thats why I know a little bit about the economics of Brazil or the historical past of china, Russia or the middle east. No multiple guess tests either. It was all either essay type tests or problems in maths or physics. you miss the first answer and your whole problem is wrong, you might still get points for reasoning.
If I remember well, School was roughly from 8 to 5 with wednesday afternoon off.
About 3.5 hours of maths, 5 hours of english, 1.5 hours of physics, 1.5 hours of natural sciences, 1.5 hours of technological sciences, 3 hours of PE (some schools :5), 1 hour of music, 1 hour of arts, 3 hours of history/ geography. 3 hours of german or spanish or japanese or italian, 4 hours of French.
Thats a pretty busy schedule. and after shcool, most schools required us to study 2 hours every night.
Several of my American friends, who are nevertheless smart and had good results in school, don't know anything about the cold war for example.
I didn t go to high school in the usa, only college. Therefore I can only judge from I heard, saw in college. My first experience was in a community college, then a public university followed by a private university. I didn t see much of a difference.
I am certainly not saying that everybody in France is a Nobel Prize of Physics (who is French this year BTW), as shown by the somber idiot in youtube.
I am not saying that the French education system is perfect either. I am just saying that if I had the choice, I ll send my kids to a French (or European) middle/high school rather than to an American counterpart.