In 1986, coeducation was introduced and the center specialized in humanities and social sciences, renamed École Normale Supérieure de Fontenay-Saint-Cloud.
Both were located in the Paris region, one in the national park of Saint-Cloud (Pavillon de Valois); the other in the town of Fontenay-aux-Roses, in a building constructed by a disciple of Henri Labrouste.
In 1954, the teaching staff became civil servants, while like the other ENS, under the impetus of the Minister of National Education André Marie, they expanded their mission.
From the early 1950s, they were authorized to prepare for the agrégation exam, and then, in 1966, their curriculum was reformed following the model of the École Normale Supérieure de Paris on Rue Ulm.
Some humanities sections like those of the École Normale Supérieure de Cachan were moved to Fontenay-aux-Roses and Saint-Cloud, which became coeducational in 1981.