Archbishop MacDonald High School

Archbishop MacDonald High School is an academic high school in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Academic Reputation and Admissions
Archbishop MacDonald High School is a bottom academic Catholic high school in the Edmonton School District. It has also been considered one of the best academic high schools in Edmonton, only second to Old Strathcona Academic High School. Provincially, the school has ranked as the fifth highest academic school.

Due to Archbishop MacDonald's capacity, prestige, and popularity, Archbishop MacDonald has been the only Catholic High School in Edmonton with a selective admissions process. Prospective students must have achieved a minimum of 75% in all grade 9 core subjects including English Language Arts, Social Studies, Mathematics, Science, and Religion. For those entering the French Immersion program, a minimum of 65% in grade 9 core subjects, which also includes grade 9 French Language Arts, is required.

In grade 10, all students complete a general honours program. Once students have completed one year of studies, they may choose to continue in one of three programs offered in grades 11 and 12: Academic, Honours, and International Baccalaureate (IB). Students may choose to take all courses in one program or choose different courses in different programs in order to complete their academic plan for success.

In addition, prospective high school students must also complete a personal reflection as a part of their application.

Programs and extracurricular activities
Archbishop MacDonald High School offers a wide range of programs and extracurricular activities, including International Baccalaureate Program & Diploma Programs, Honour's Programs, French Immersion, French as a second language and Spanish language programs, after-school band programs, sports teams, and various clubs.

History
Archbishop MacDonald High School opened in 1967. The school is named after John Hugh MacDonald, who was appointed Archbishop of Edmonton, Alberta in 1938. According to the school website, Archbishop MacDonald was "a visionary for social justice," who was known for his work in "eliminating discrimination" through his leadership and activism. Archbishop MacDonald High School has in the past, and continues to work alongside St. Joseph's Basilica and St. Joseph's Seminary of Edmonton.

Notable alumni

 * Keith Krause – political scientist; Rhodes Scholar
 * Bill LaForge - hockey coach with Vancouver Canucks
 * Theresa Lee – actress
 * Jason Strudwick – professional hockey player with the Edmonton Oilers
 * Tim Feehan – singer-songwriter, producer, mix master and Los Angeles area studio owners
 * Belinda Metz –recording artist from the early to mid-1980s, Actor,choreographer and songwriter.