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Founded in accordance to the Guizot Law (1833), higher primary schools constituted the second degree of French primary instruction geared towards the lower classes during the July Monarchy. In 1839, the City of Paris opened a higher primary school, with the intention of training pupils to the needs of industry or trade. Based on documents coming from the French National Archives and the Archives of the City of Paris, and on published administrative reports, the article studies how the school was founded, how its pupils were recruited, and takes a look at the educational model and the nature of the teachings set up by its first director under the authority of the central committee of primary instruction of Paris. Because of the cost and duration of studying, the school was mainly frequented by pupils belonging to the upper working classes and the petite bourgeoisie. Nevertheless, an analysis of their professional profile as well as of the contents and aims of their teaching shows that the school can be firmly situated as belonging to the realm of popular schooling.