"École secondaire publique Omer-Deslauriers is a French-language public secondary school located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, serving students through both the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP)."
As part of the Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO), the school operates within Ontario's publicly funded French-language education system, offering families an academically rigorous environment rooted in Francophone culture and values. Founded in 2001, Omer-Deslauriers has established itself as one of Ottawa's notable destinations for French-language secondary education with an international dimension. The school's integration of the IB framework reflects a commitment to developing critical thinkers and globally minded young people, while its public school status means it remains accessible within the French-language public system rather than requiring private school tuition. French is the language of instruction throughout the school, making Omer-Deslauriers a natural choice for Francophone families, as well as for families from French-speaking countries abroad who wish to maintain their children's education in French. For expat families arriving from France, Belgium, Switzerland, North Africa, or other Francophone regions, the school offers a meaningful continuity of language and educational culture. It is worth noting that enrollment in CEPEO schools generally requires eligibility under Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which grants minority-language education rights to Canadian citizens whose first language learned and still understood is French, or who received their own primary schooling in French in Canada. Families relocating from abroad who do not hold Canadian citizenship should clarify eligibility directly with the school or board before planning around enrollment. The IB programmes at Omer-Deslauriers provide an internationally recognized academic structure that resonates strongly with mobile, internationally minded families. The Middle Years Programme supports students through the earlier secondary years with an interdisciplinary, inquiry-based approach, while the Diploma Programme in the final two years of secondary school leads to the globally recognized IB Diploma, which is accepted by universities across Canada and around the world. This dual-programme offering means students can experience continuity within the IB philosophy throughout their secondary education. Ottawa itself is a bilingual city and Canada's capital, with a large community of diplomats, federal public servants, and internationally mobile professionals. Families in this environment often place particular value on French-language education that also carries international academic credibility, and Omer-Deslauriers sits at precisely that intersection. The school's location within the national capital region means students are part of a diverse, cosmopolitan community where bilingualism and global awareness are woven into daily life. For relocating families who prioritize French-language instruction, value the IB credential, and meet the eligibility requirements for Ontario's French-language public system, École secondaire publique Omer-Deslauriers represents a distinctive and academically serious option in the Ottawa secondary school landscape.