The Parkland School Division is launching an international student program for the 2026-2027 school year, welcoming students from other countries into classrooms in Spruce Grove and Stony Plain.
The program aims to bring 10 to 20 international students to the division. These students will attend classes at two local high schools: Spruce Grove Composite High School and Memorial Composite High School in Stony Plain. The initiative is designed to provide cultural exchange opportunities for local students while giving international learners access to Alberta’s education system.
To support the new arrivals, the school division has partnered with the Canada Homestay Network. This organization is responsible for recruiting, screening, and supporting local host families. Each international student will live with one host family during their stay to encourage cultural immersion. Recruitment for these families is currently underway.
This program announcement follows a leadership transition for the school division. On March 24, 2026, the Parkland School Division Board of Trustees officially appointed Mark Francis as the permanent superintendent of schools. Francis had been serving as the acting superintendent since November 2025.
The Parkland School Division operates 23 schools serving approximately 12,650 students in the region west of Edmonton. The division conducts its work on the traditional territories of Treaty No. 6 and Treaty No. 8, including neighbors from the Alexander Cree Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Enoch Cree Nation, and Paul First Nation.
