CBE uses lotteries when the number of students registering for a school, program, or grade is greater than the available space. Lotteries ensure fair and consistent access for all families and follow the
Education Act and CBE’s registration policies. School lotteries take place each February for the following school year.
You may review the Schools with A Program in Lottery page before beginning registration.
The list for the upcoming school year is updated each December, before registration opens in early January.
Note | A school may be listed as running a lottery, but depending on the number of registrations received, a lottery may not be required. It is important to register or submit an expression of interest before the lottery deadline to be included in the lottery. Please review the lottery process page for key dates.
Schools will notify families in one of the following ways:
SchoolEngage:
If you submitted an Expression of Interest or Registration form through SchoolEngage, your notification will be sent through the online system. Some schools may also follow up by phone or email if they do not receive a response within a few days.
Middle or High Schools in Lottery:
For some middle and high schools, placements may occur through PowerSchool rather than SchoolEngage, as students may be designated from their current school. In these cases, the school will send accept/decline notifications through email.
You have 10 days to respond to an offer by completing an Acceptance Form in SchoolEngage or contacting the school directly; however, schools with high demand may reach out to confirm sooner. Families are reminded to wait until they have received all offers or waitlist notices before accepting a placement.
If you miss the lottery deadline, you can still register or submit an expression of interest. However, you will not be included in the lottery and are unlikely to receive a spot immediately. Your name will be placed on the callback list, and the school may offer you a spot if one becomes available.
Yes. When a school runs a lottery, students are placed in priority groups:
Priority One
- Students who live within the lottery zone; and
- have a sibling (including half or step-siblings, but not cousins) attending the same program and school at the same time.
Priority Two
- Students living outside the lottery zone but in the designated attendance area for the school who will have a sibling in the same school at the same time; or
- students living within the walk zone who do not have a sibling in the school.
Priority Three
- All other students living within the designated attendance area.
Lottery zones determine which students live close enough to the school to receive higher priority in a lottery. These students are typically within walking distance and would not qualify for transportation.
Because provincial transportation rules changed for 2025–26, CBE is updating how lottery zones are determined. For the 2026-2027 lottery, we will use lottery zone maps based on the old CBE-created walk zones, developed by a committee, considering walking paths.
If the school or program you are registering for is running a lottery, you can view your school’s lottery zone map.
A walk zone identifies students who are considered within walking distance of a school and therefore not eligible for CBE transportation services. Walk zones for each school can be viewed using the Find A School tool. You can also learn more about how walk zones are determined in alignment with provincial guidelines.
A lottery zone identifies students who live close to the school to establish priority levels in a lottery draw. These zones are currently based on the 2024–2025 walk zones, which measured walking distance to the school by examining community context, including walking paths, parks, and school fields. The CBE is reviewing how we determine lottery zones in response to provincial changes to walk zone legislation, with updated lottery zones expected to roll out for the 2027-2028 lottery.
You can download lottery zone maps.
Yes. If one twin or same-grade sibling is drawn in the lottery, both will be offered a space.
The Regular Program follows Alberta Education’s mandated curriculum and is designed to support students in achieving their individual potential and building a positive future. More than 80% of CBE students are enrolled in the Regular Program.
Alternative Programs also follow the Alberta Education curriculum, but include a specific emphasis on a language, subject area, or teaching philosophy. Examples include language immersion, Arts-Centred learning, Montessori, and Science programs.
Families must submit an expression of interest when registering or when requesting a transfer to an Alternative Program. Every student has both a designated Regular Program and an Alternative Program school. You can find these by using the Find a School tool.
Yes. You may:
- Submit up to three expressions of interest for alternative programs.
- Stay at your regular program school until you accept an offer from another school.
- Be included in an alternative school’s lottery only if you submit your expression of interest before the lottery deadline.
Let your current school know if you are interested in exploring alternative program options or if you plan to transfer to another school. Once you accept an offer, your child will be enrolled in that school for the following school year.
Helpful Resources
If your child is already a CBE student:
- You can follow the transfer process to express your interest in attending an out-of-area CBE school.
- Approval depends on space and resources, is for one school year, and no transportation is provided.
If your child is new to the CBE:
- Enrol in your designated regular program school.
- Once your child enrolls in a CBE school, you can follow the transfer process to express interest in attending an out-of-area CBE school.
- Once enrolled at the out-of-area school, get in touch with the principal for annual enrolment requirements for your child.
- Approval depends on space and resources, is for one school year, and no transportation is provided.
The callback process begins after the lottery is completed and all available spaces have been offered.
During the lottery draw, any students who are not offered a space are placed on the callback list in priority order and in the order their names were drawn.
Families are contacted directly by the school if a space becomes available. Openings can occur when a student declines their offer, moves, or transfers to another school or program.
If you decline a callback offer, your child will be removed from the list.
Yes. Schools maintain a waitlist (also called a callback list) after the lottery.
- Regular programs keep their waitlists until they are no longer needed (for example, once all spaces are filled or the school determines no further movement is expected).
- Alternative programs keep their waitlists until the last Friday in September.
If you are not called back for an alternative program by the end of September, you must submit a new expression of interest for the following school year.
Yes. Students may stay at their current school for the remainder of the school year.
For future years:
- Your child may be able to remain at the school only if there is space and resources available.
- If the school is full and running a lottery, your child may need to transfer to the newly designated school for the next school year.
The principal can advise on space and enrolment status for the upcoming year.
Reference |
Administrative Regulation 6091
Possibly.
If modulars are installed before September, more spaces may be available, allowing more names to be drawn during the February lottery.
If modulars arrive during the school year, additional spaces may open mid-year through the call-back process.
No. Schools at capacity or running lotteries cannot accept non-resident students.
A resident student of CBE, as defined by the Education Act and AR 6090 | Student and Child Registration and Admission, is:
- a student with at least one parent physically residing within the geographical boundary of CBE; and
- at least one parent is not of the Roman Catholic faith.
Students, by definition, are those between the ages of 6 and 19 and enrolled in school. Students do not include a child younger than 6 years of age. A child under 6 years of age may enrol in any kindergarten (or Early Childhood Services) program at any school with space available.
All children whose parents reside in Alberta may be enrolled in a CBE ECS program and should be included in the lottery. The priority order for admission of a child is as follows:
- Priority One – a child residing in the attendance area of the school;
- Priority Two – older siblings enrolled at the school or in the program concurrently;
- Priority Three – other Alberta child; and
- Priority Four – other Canadian child
Yes, if the overflow school has space and resources. Please let your current principal know your preference. If you decline the call-back offer:
- Your child will be removed from the call-back list for your designated school and considered an out-of-area student at the overflow school.
- You may be asked to return to your designated school if space becomes limited at the overflow school.
- If your designated school is no longer in overflow, you may lose eligibility for transportation.
