France is facing an accelerating decline in student numbers, projected to be significant by the 2026 school year. This demographic shift is prompting the national education ministry and local authorities to collaborate on restructuring educational infrastructure. The primary concern is preventing the creation of “school deserts”—areas with limited or no access to schools—particularly in rural communities. Efforts are underway to re-imagine the organization of education across the country to adapt to the shrinking student population. This includes potentially consolidating schools or rethinking resource allocation to maintain equitable access. The challenge aims to balance maintaining educational opportunities with the realities of a changing population distribution. This requires careful territorial planning and innovative solutions to ensure all students have access to quality education.