We offer an educational experience for children from all backgrounds that is unparalleled in Western Canada. Our commitment is to academic excellence, global citizenship, and bilingualism to the highest standard.
The Lycée Calgary Difference: Global Rigour, Local Roots
What sets Lycée Calgary apart is the quality and portability of our education. While your child will thrive in the vibrant Calgary community, they will be following the exact same demanding curriculum taught in France and in over 600 French schools worldwide.
Think of it this way: our program combines the rigorous, internationally-respected standards of European academics with the local flexibility and roots of the Calgary community, creating a learning environment that truly opens doors.
Beyond Immersion:
Our Truly Bilingual Approach
In Canada, families typically encounter two paths for French learning:
- French Immersion: Designed for an introduction to the language for families who don’t speak French at home. While good, it often does not result in native-level proficiency in all subjects.
- Francophone Education: Intended for families with an existing familial connection to the language.
At Lycée Calgary, we combine the best of both worlds. We offer a Francophone-level program (the highest standard), yet it is accessible to all members of our community—whether your family speaks no French, some, or speaks the language exclusively. We focus on building not just fluency, but deep subject matter knowledge in both languages, ensuring every student is set up for success in our demanding, bilingual setting.
A Glimpse Inside the Curriculum
To give you an understanding of our structure:
- Classes and Grades: We use both the Canadian and French naming conventions for classes, from Grade 1 (CP or Cours Préparatoire) through to Grade 12 (Terminale).
- Cycles of Learning: Our system is based on the French model of educational cycles that are designed to build foundational skills early on and progressively deepen knowledge and critical thinking throughout the later years.
French Name | Canadian/Alberta Equivalent | Age Range | Focus (French “Cycles”) |
|---|---|---|---|
Maternelle | Pre-K / Kindergarten
| 3–5 years
| Language foundations, motor skills.
|
Élémentaire (CP to CM2)
| Grade 1 to Grade 5
| 6–10 years
| Core academic skills, foundational knowledge, building fluency.
|
Collège (6ème to 3ème)
| Grade 6 to Grade 9
| 11–14 years
| Deepening knowledge, critical thinking, introduction to the Brevet.
|
Lycée (2nde to Terminale) | Grade 10 to Grade 12
| 15–17 years
| Specialized pathways, advanced studies, preparation for the Baccalauréat.
|
- Certified Educators: All teachers delivering the French curriculum are certified to teach in France and in Alberta, ensuring expertise and fidelity to the curricula standards.
- Key Examinations: In secondary school, students complete two significant French national exams. These exams are essential to the program’s value:
- Le Diplôme National du Brevet (The Brevet): Completed at the end of Grade 9 (3ème), this exam certifies the student has mastered the core knowledge and skills from the first half of secondary school. This is essentially our internal, rigorous check-out process before high school.
- Le Baccalauréat (The “Bac”): Completed at the end of Grade 12 (Terminale), the Baccalauréat is the official, worldwide recognized High School Diploma from the French Ministry of Education. It is highly respected and often provides direct, preferred admission to top universities across Europe, Canada, and the US—often serving as a valuable asset above a standard Alberta High School Diploma for global applications.
At Lycée Calgary, we don't just teach French; we provide a world-class education that nurtures bilingual excellence, cultural literacy, and academic rigour, preparing your child for unlimited opportunities here and abroad.