Every year, the rankings of preparatory classes for grandes écoles make headlines on Parcoursup, at student fairs, and around family tables. The ranking of CPGE 2025 is no exception, with notable movements in scientific fields as well as in economic and commercial fields. Understanding what these rankings really measure, and especially what they do not reveal, allows for a more informed choice.
Why the same high school changes rank depending on the ranking consulted
You may have noticed that an institution ranks first with one publisher and five ranks lower with another. This is not an error. There is no unique official ranking of CPGE. Each media outlet (L’Étudiant, Major Prépa, DAUR Rankings, Virage Prépa) constructs its own framework.
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One prioritizes the integration rate into the top 5 schools (Polytechnique, ENS). Another weighs the selectivity at entry on Parcoursup. A third includes attractiveness, meaning the proportion of candidates who actually accept their place. The recent trend is towards performance indicators “downstream” (results in competitions) rather than simple historical reputation.
In practical terms, a provincial high school with an excellent integration rate relative to the number of candidates presented can surpass a prestigious Parisian institution in certain rankings. By consulting the CPGE 2025 ranking, one gains an overview that intersects several of these criteria by field.
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Scientific Prepas MPSI and MP: the leading high schools in 2025
In the MP (Mathematics-Physics) field, the top trio remains stable. Sainte-Geneviève in Versailles, Stanislas, and Henri IV in Paris occupy the top spots in most rankings, with very close scores. The Blaise Pascal high school in Orsay and the Lazarists in Lyon complete the top of the table.
The geographical concentration is striking: Paris, Versailles, and Lyon capture the majority of places in the top 10. High schools like Hoche in Versailles, Saint-Louis in Paris, or Louis Pasteur in Neuilly-sur-Seine form a solid second group, with consistent results in the Centrale-Mines and Mines-Ponts competitions.
What Parcoursup selectivity reveals
One figure illustrates the pressure at entry into these fields. In PTSI, Sainte-Geneviève admitted only less than 6% of candidates for 36 places, facing over 600 applications. This level of selection means that even excellent final-year applications can be rejected.
In PCSI, the observation is confirmed: Sainte-Geneviève, Louis-le-Grand, Stanislas, and Henri IV dominate the top of the rankings targeting X and ENS. The dominance of Parisian and Versailles institutions remains clear in these scientific fields.
ECG Prepas 2025: a more fluid ranking than in sciences
The ECG (economic and commercial, general pathway) field holds more surprises. While Sainte-Geneviève also dominates this ranking, positions change more rapidly from year to year. Why this volatility? Because class sizes are often smaller, and a good or bad year of about twenty students can shift the integration rate.
In 2025, marked progress is observed for certain provincial high schools:
- The Chateaubriand high school in Rennes gains several places, boosted by solid results in the top 5 business school competitions.
- The Pierre de Fermat high school in Toulouse also progresses, confirming that the best ECG prepas are no longer limited to Île-de-France.
- In Lyon, Sainte-Marie and the Institution of the Chartreux maintain their position at the top of the ranking, with various options (ESH, HGG).
ESH or HGG options: an often-overlooked parameter
Comparing two ECG prepas without looking at the dominant option makes little sense. A high school may excel in “advanced mathematics – HGG” and be more modest in “applied mathematics – ESH”. Overall rankings sometimes obscure these differences. Always check which combination of options is offered before applying.
Concrete criteria for choosing your CPGE beyond the ranking
A ranking does not measure everything. Two students with the same application can have radically different experiences depending on the chosen high school. Here are the parameters that escape ranking tables:
- The success rate relative to the entry level: a prep that admits less selected profiles but achieves good results in competitions provides real educational added value.
- Support and individualized follow-up: in a class of 20 students, oral quizzes are more frequent than in a class of 48.
- Boarding and living environment: two years of prep in Lyon or Nantes do not cost the same rent as in Paris, and the daily environment affects performance.
- The proximity of a target school ecosystem: preparing for Centrale Lyon from a Lyon high school allows for campus visits, meeting students, and better projecting one’s choice.
The CPGE rankings in France remain a tool for orientation, not a verdict. A high school ranked fifteenth in a national ranking may be the best choice for a given profile, depending on the targeted option, field, and school project. Cross-referencing several sources and visiting open house days remains the most reliable method for making a decision.