Successful completion of the academic journey at Lycée Calgary confers upon our graduates a globally recognized diploma that sets them apart: the French Baccalauréat (Le Bac). Alongside the standard Alberta High School Diploma, the Bac is an international credential that serves as a powerful passport to the world's most competitive universities.
More Than a Diploma:
A 200-Year Tradition of Excellence
The French Baccalauréat is not just a high school certificate; it is the oldest and one of the most respected pre-university qualifications in the world.
A Legacy of Excellence : Established by Napoleon in 1808, Le Bac has been the consistent standard for intellectual maturity in France for over two centuries. Its lasting reputation for rigour is why universities worldwide trust it implicitly.
Rigour and Breadth: Students are required to demonstrate deep knowledge across humanities (including philosophy and at least two foreign languages), sciences, and mathematics. This broad and balanced curriculum fosters the critical thinking skills demanded by university-level study.
A Club of Achievers: Lycée Calgary graduates join a select group of global thinkers who have earned the Bac through the AEFE network demonstrating the diploma’s reach across science, technology, and academia, including:
- Jodie Foster (American, Oscar-winning Actress and Yale Graduate)
- Dr. Elias Zerhouni (Algerian-American, former Director of the US National Institutes of Health – Medicine)
- Carlos Ghosn (Lebanese-Brazilian, Global Business Executive)
- Marjane Satrapi (Iranian-French Author and Filmmaker of Persepolis)
- Ingrid Betancourt (Colombian Author and Advocate)
- Anthony Duclair (Canadian, Professional Hockey Player)
- Rami Atallah (Canadian, CEO & Founder of SSENSE)
- Charles Gonthier (Canadian, Former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada)
- Gavin Salam (British, Theoretical Particle Physicist)
- Jonathan Littell (American-French, Goncourt Prize-winning Author)
- Tahar Ben Jelloun (Moroccan, Goncourt Prize-winning Author)
The Competitive Edge:
Why Universities Value the Bac
For a university admissions officer, the French Baccalauréat is a clear signal of academic potential. It provides distinct, competitive advantages that elevate our graduates above their peers:
Global Recognition and Direct Access
Le Bac is recognized as a high-level, pre-university qualification by virtually all major universities worldwide.
European Universities: It grants direct access to universities across France and the rest of Europe, simplifying the admission process significantly.
North American Universities: It is treated as an excellence credential, often equating to the academic challenge and preparation level of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program or multiple Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
Advanced Standing and Course Credit
In Canada and the United States, Le Bac is frequently given weight equivalent to passing multiple AP exams or high-level IB courses.
University Course Credit: Your child may receive university course credits for their Baccalauréat results. This allows them to skip introductory classes or potentially even graduate early, saving time and tuition fees.
Enhanced Admissions: The diploma provides a crucial competitive edge on applications, particularly to highly selective universities that value students with diverse, rigorous academic backgrounds.
Intellectual Maturity and Work Ethic
The depth of study required to succeed in Le Bac attests to the student’s readiness for higher education. Graduates possess:
- Exceptional Work Ethic: The proven ability to handle complex subjects and extensive workloads under pressure.
- Critical Thinking Mastery: Training in analysis, synthesis, and formal reasoning, anchored by the compulsory philosophy course.
- Multilingual Competence: Strong abilities in multiple languages are inherent to the program, making them immediately valuable in a globalized job market.
Preparing Global Citizens
Earning the French Baccalauréat at Lycée Calgary is the culmination of a truly bilingual and intercultural education. It doesn't just certify what your child knows; it certifies who they are: a multilingual, critical-thinking global citizen ready to thrive in any academic or professional environment.