Macdonald-Cartier Academy is a non-denominational junior high school (Grades 7, 8) located in Ottawa. Founded in 1990 in response to a need for a challenging academic "French Immersion" program dedicated to preparing students with a broader education for life-long learning and for the reality of the contemporary Canadian society. A Macdonald-Cartier Academy education is a noble and delicate endeavour conceived, first and foremost, as preparation for continued learning throughout the years of a student's life. The Academy's motto "Discendo Discere" (learn to learn) reflects the school's commitment to developing the necessary skills and attitudes that make the learning process an enjoyable and useful one. Acceptance into the Academy is an invitation to become a vital part of a dynamic and progressive educational process.