[palsecam]

"I don't see how a system can be both egalitarian and meritocratic."

Egalitarian: education is free for all, and richs and poors (normally) go to the same school, the one of their town, until at least 16. Egality of chance.

Meritocratic: but after 16, you go to the university or a grande école according to your abilities/ranks. The best can go to Polytechnique, the good can go to a grande école or a good university, the rest goes to the other universities (and it's still free for all).

It doesn't matter if your parents are poor and if you were born in the country and not in Paris, if you're great you can go to Polytechnique. And no matter how rich the parents, if you suck, you won't go to Polytechnique.