I'm trying to retrieve a value from my database and put it as a selected value in my <select> element, but the problem is that it is not showing the value retrieved in the <select> menu.

The variable $level contains the value "6ème", so the problem is not from an empty variable but from the select menu and the selected option I guess. Here is my code :

<select name="level" class="form-control selectpicker" value="05">
    <?php if($level="") {?> 
         <option value=" " > Please choose your level </option>
    <?php  }
    else {?> 

    <option selected="selected" value=" " > <?php echo $level; ?>  </option> <?php } ?>

    <option value="01">1st</option>
    <option value="02">2nd</option>

</select>

When I'm putting text instead of $level, it's showing it.