The Board of Trustees has approved the 2025-28 Three-Year School Capital Plan for submission to the Government of Alberta. The Capital Plan outlines a ranked list of requests for new schools and major modernization over the next three years. The 2025-28 Capital Plan almost quadruples the number of new schools requested from last year's capital plan, growing from six to 21 new schools requested this year.
"Over the past two years, the Calgary Board of Education has welcomed more than 13,000 additional students into our system. That is enough to fill 22 new elementary schools, and we are enrolling new students daily. We will continue to advocate strongly for the government to build the schools we need as soon as possible," said Laura Hack, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Addressing Enrolment Growth
For the second consecutive year, the CBE has experienced a record increase in enrolment and we expect this growth to continue in the 2024-25 school year. This growth has led to a significant increase in the CBE's utilization rate, from 87 per cent in 2022-23 to 92 per cent in 2023-24. If the government does not approve any new schools or modernizations identified on this capital plan next spring, the CBE could reach 100 per cent by 2025 and close to 110 per cent in the next six years. Building schools where students live enables them to attend school closer to home and reduces the need for busing.
Although modernization requests now make up a more modest portion of the 2025-28 Capital Plan, they are still critical. More than 56 per cent of CBE schools are over 50 years old, and that number is set to climb to over 70 per cent over the next decade. Modernizations ensure that schools can optimize student space and support the latest educational programming requirements. They are essential to maintaining excellent learning environments for students.
Adding modular classrooms to a school is one way to provide short-term relief to enrolment pressures. Last fall the CBE requested 68 additional modular classrooms. On Mar. 14, 2024, CBE received approval from Alberta Education for 12 new classrooms.
"While we appreciate the funding for these new modular classrooms it falls short of our need. Twelve classrooms create about 360 new learning spaces. The CBE continues to register around 400 students per month. More schools are in overflow and students are being bused to other schools," said Chair Hack. "CBE is continuing to explore other opportunities to create additional student space. While we explore solutions, families can remain confident that students will receive high-quality education at all our schools."
