News Archive

​The 2014-15 School Enrolment Report was presented to the Board of Trustees for information at the Nov. 25, 2014 meeting.

This report contains data which all school boards are obligated to provide to the Alberta Education annually utilizing provincial formulas for calculating enrolment and school capacity.

“This report provides a snapshot of the current accommodation situation at the CBE. Individual school data will come as no surprise to parents, as they are aware of the situation at their children’s schools,” says Frank Coppinger, superintendent facilities and environmental services.

The information contained in the report is also used throughout the year by CBE administration to prepare other key documents such as the Three-Year School Capital Plan and the 10-Year System Student Accommodation and Facilities Strategy.

The CBE continues to need more schools in the right places; the demand for space is highest in newer communities where more young families live. The new schools which will open in 2016 and 2017 will help to address many of the pressures we are currently feeling. Until then the CBE will continue to work as effectively as possible in the best interests of students and families with the space we have.

2014 Enrolment Summary:

• Total CBE student enrolment as of Sept. 30, 2014: 114,500
  This is an increase of 3,737 students. The most notable increases are in Grades 1-6.
• Enrolment in alternative programs: 22,914 students
  This is an increase of 1,629 students and represents 21 per cent of all CBE students.

The report provides detailed data measuring specific school enrolment, including:

• The number of students enrolled in each school, by grade and program, including alternative programs, specialized classes and the number of out-of-attendance area students on Sept. 30, 2014.
• Provincial capacity of the school. This includes the number of modular classrooms; the utilization rate at each school building, including lease exemptions; and the amount of instructional space available in each school based on the number of classrooms (rated room capacity).
• A list of the leases and the amount of space leased for each building.

As a system, the CBE must balance many factors when we make choices for our students. Principals also individually make choices for their schools, for instance, to accept out-of-boundary students. Every decision we make is in the best interest of students.

“Dealing with accommodation is a complex and dynamic situation. The CBE is always trying to find the right balance to meet the needs of the system as a whole working in the best interests of students,” says Coppinger.

Accommodation planning is a multi-year process that looks at the overall needs of the entire city. As a system, the CBE must balance many factors when we make choices for our students. We also need to recognize that the CBE is looking at teaching and learning differently, including looking at more flexible use of space and supporting different ways that students learn.

Coppinger added: “Despite accommodation challenges, our students continue to do well academically. CBE students demonstrated strong academic results on the 2013-14 provincial achievement tests and diploma exams.”