EPSB to phase out Nellie McClung all-girls program after 31 years

Nellie McClung Girls’ Junior High, based out of Wîhkwêntôwin School, is set to be cut after more than three decades of operation.

The Edmonton Public School Board told Postmedia in a statement Wednesday that enrolment for the all-girls program had declined to the point where it is no longer feasible for it to continue.

Currently, no students are registered in Grade 7, while grades 8 and 9 have 13 students across both classes.

“For several years, Wîhkwêntôwin School worked with the Nellie L. McClung Educational Society to increase interest in the program through advertising and promotion,” the statement said.

The division said the program will be phased out in a way that lets students complete their studies. The program will be completely cut by the end of June 2028, allowing current students the chance to finish if they choose to stay with the program.

EPSB said the school moved to the first phase of the division’s low-enrolment model in spring 2025, and then moved to the second phase this past spring. It is the only single-gender public school program for junior high girls within EPSB.

The program started at Wîhkwêntôwin School, formerly named Oliver School, in 1995 with a class of around 85 students across grades 7 and 8. It eventually expanded into Avonmore School in 1998 and then Bannerman School in 2000. Enrolment peaked at more than 450 students in 2003.

As enrolment declined, the program was cut from Bannerman in 2015 and Avonmore in 2018.

Named after Nellie McClung, a prominent Canadian suffragist, author and politician, the school gained recognition for its focus on leadership and girls’ empowerment. The school is also known for its dress code and iconic uniforms.

The program boasted an education that focused on confidence, leadership, improving knowledge of women’s issues and contributions to society, while fostering good citizenship.

It was brought into fruition after parents lobbied the school division for an all-girls option. At that time, parents argued there was strong evidence that girls perform better and develop higher self-esteem in single-gender programs. Six classrooms in an empty wing of the old elementary school were originally renovated and set aside for the program.

EPSB said the space currently being used for Nellie McClung will now be used for other programming needs at Wîhkwêntôwin School.

Bookmark our website and support our journalism:Don’t miss the news you need to know — add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here.

You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun.