Last Updated: March 2, 2026
Continue French Immersion. Stay close to home.
Beginning in September 2026, Mother Margaret Mary Catholic High School will offer a partial French Immersion program for Grade 10 students. This new option expands French Immersion opportunities in southwest Edmonton and gives students a new pathway to continue their language learning through to graduation in their community.
The decision follows extensive engagement with families, including feedback from 450 St. John XXIII families through the November 2025 questionnaire, as well as enrolment projections, staffing considerations, and facility planning. It reflects Edmonton Catholic Schools’ commitment to strong, sustainable French Immersion programming that supports student success in high school and beyond.
Why Choose French Immersion at Mother Margaret Mary
Partial French Immersion offers balance and flexibility during the high school years. Students continue developing strong French language skills while accessing the full range of high school courses, options, and extracurricular opportunities.
At Mother Margaret Mary, students in the French Immersion program will:
- Take French Language Arts and Social Studies in French
- Complete all other required courses and options in English
- Graduate with continued French language proficiency and confidence
This model is well-suited for students who want to maintain their French while exploring academic, career, and faith-based opportunities in a comprehensive Catholic high school setting.
For answers to common questions about eligibility, courses, graduation credentials, and post‑secondary pathways, please review our French Immersion Frequently Asked Questions.
The French Immersion program at Mother Margaret Mary will be phased in to ensure quality. It will begin with Grade 10 and expand each school year:
| 2026–2027 | Grade 10 |
| 2027–2028 | Grades 10 and 11 |
| 2028–2029 | Grades 10, 11, and 12 |
If you have questions or would like more information, we encourage you to contact Mother Margaret Mary Catholic High School at 780-988-2279.
Two Strong French Immersion Pathways
Students currently enrolled in French Immersion at St. John XXIII will have access to two excellent high school options:
- Partial French Immersion at Mother Margaret Mary, where students will take French Language Arts and Social Studies in French. All other subjects and options will be in English.
- Full French Immersion at J.H. Picard where most core subjects are taught in French.
Both pathways support strong academic outcomes while allowing families to choose the learning environment that best fits their child’s needs and goals.
Who Can Register
The French Immersion program at Mother Margaret Mary will serve resident families living in southwest Edmonton and mirrors the junior high catchment area for the St. John XXIII French Immersion program. Please refer to the attendance area map below for exact boundaries.
Transportation Options
Mother Margaret Mary
Edmonton Transit Service (ETS) is the preferred method of transportation for families selecting this school.
J.H. Picard
For families choosing the full French Immersion program at J.H. Picard, the Division will continue to offer a direct shuttle service to the school:
- Pickup: St. John XXIII parking lot at 7:35 AM
- Return: St. John XXIII parking lot at 4:00 PM
- Estimated ride time: 30–50 minutes each way
- Monthly transportation fee: $50
- Minimum of 12 students per bus required
To learn more about the shuttle service click here.
Next Steps
Pre-enrolment for the 2026–2027 school year opens on Monday, February 2, 2026. Log in to PowerSchool and select your preferred school by clicking the “Pre-Enrolment for Next Year” icon.
For answers to common questions about eligibility, courses, graduation credentials, and post‑secondary pathways, please review our French Immersion Frequently Asked Questions.
We appreciate your continued support as we work together to provide an exceptional French Immersion experience for our students.
If you have any questions, please call or email the school.
How We Got Here
Background Information
In November 2025, Edmonton Catholic Schools invited families with children enrolled in the French Immersion program at St. John XXIII Catholic Elementary/Junior High School to complete a questionnaire. The purpose was to understand whether families would continue French Immersion in high school if it were available at Mother Margaret Mary Catholic High School. This work built on feedback gathered during the 2023–2024 French Immersion engagement and reflected the Division’s ongoing commitment to supporting French Immersion programming.
During this engagement, St. John XXIII families shared that many students would continue in French Immersion if a high school option was available closer to home. At that time, most French Immersion students at St. John XXIII left the program upon entering high school, highlighting a gap the Division sought to address.
Between November 7 and November 20, 2025, the Division received responses from 450 families.
Key insights included:
- Proximity to home and the availability of a French Immersion program were the most important factors in selecting a high school
- 88% of families indicated they would register in French Immersion if it were offered at Mother Margaret Mary
- 83% of families indicated they would continue if a full French Immersion program were available
- 72% of families indicated they would continue if a partial French Immersion program were available
Here’s a grade-level breakdown of students in Grades 6 to 9 whose families indicated they would continue French Immersion at Mother Margaret Mary:
| Grade Level | Number of Students Supporting French Immersion at MMM |
| Grade 9 | 66 |
| Grade 8 | 74 |
| Grade 7 | 83 |
| Grade 6 | 66 |
These numbers illustrated the potential students who could support the launch and long-term sustainability of a French Immersion program at Mother Margaret Mary.
To learn more, read the full report by clicking the button below.