The Calgary Board of Education has experienced another year of significant growth, with student enrolment once again reaching record highs. Trustees received the 2 024-25 School Enrolment Report on Dec. 17, 2024, which highlights the increases seen in CBE schools from September 2023 to September 2024.
For the 2024-25 school year, total student enrolment as of Sept. 30, 2024 reached 142,402 students, the highest K to 12 enrolment anywhere in western Canada. This represents a year-over-year increase of 4,158 students, or three per cent. While lower than last year's growth of 7,029 students, the increase exceeds the average annual growth of 2,300 students seen between 2010 and 2019. Since September 2021, enrolment has surged by over 17,000 students.
Based on City data, the report that net migration is a significant driver of student enrolment, as an estimated 67,000 people moved to Calgary in 2023. Calgary's large geographic footprint also adds complexity, requiring thoughtful planning for both suburban growth and established neighbourhoods.
"As Calgary grows, so does our responsibility to serve its students," said Chief Superintendent Joanne Pitman. "Our schools are where families and communities come together to build a brighter future for this city.
"We're committed to making sure every student has the opportunity to thrive."
According to the report, another significant driver of enrolment growth is the influx of newcomers to Calgary, many of whom are families seeking a fresh start in Canada. The CBE plays a vital role in helping these student's transition, not only into a new school system but also into a new culture and community.
The CBE Welcome Centre is the first point of contact for many students and their families when they register with the CBE. The Welcome Centre processed a record 10,704 student registrations between July 2023 and June 2024. This marks a 35.8 per cent increase from the previous year. As of late October, the Welcome Centre processed 5,944 registrations for the 2024-25 school year and registrations were expected to continue throughout the year.
Many of these students require specialized supports, such as English as an Additional Language (EAL) programming. Meeting these needs while managing limited resources requires strategic planning and innovation.
CBE's commitment to inclusivity means ensuring these programs are available and robust enough to meet demand, which the report notes is expected to taper off due to decisions made by the federal ministry of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Despite the vibrancy brought by growth, the report underscores that pressures are mounting.
Many CBE schools are operating at or near capacity, particularly in rapidly expanding suburban areas.
At the end of September 2024, 34 schools 13.5 per cent of all CBE schools had overflow plans in place, a sharp increase from 21 schools the previous year. The system's overall utilization rate has climbed to 95 per cent, up from 92 per cent in 2023.
"This high utilization rate underscores the need for the 64 new modular classrooms that this Board requested in October, and more importantly, the dire need for the province's recently announced School Construction Accelerator Program to rapidly approve, fund and construct a large number of new schools that can accommodate these additional students as close to home as possible," Superintendent of Facilities and Environmental Services Dany Breton said at the meeting.
The CBE's Three-Year School Capital Plan highlights the need for new schools in rapidly growing communities and upgrades for aging facilities. Submitted to the government in March 2024, the plan calls for 21 new schools over the next three years.
The CBE is currently working to relocate and install 58 previously announced modular classrooms throughout the district, which will provide additional spaces for about 1,500 students.
