Opening Dates & Timelines
Q. When will the school open and what is the expected timeframe for the project?
The opening dates have not yet been finalized. Once design and construction timelines are confirmed, the opening year will be shared with the community.
Building a school is a complex process that typically takes several years. On average:
- Elementary and middle schools: 3–4 years from provincial approval to opening
- High schools: 4–5 years from provincial approval to opening
The full project schedule, including design completion, construction start, and projected opening, will be communicated once planning milestones are confirmed.
To learn more about how school capital projects are planned, funded, and built in Alberta, please visit the Government of Alberta website.
Q. When do you expect to break ground on a new school?
Groundbreaking dates depend on completion of the design phase and necessary approvals. On average, groundbreaking happens approximately 2-3 years after government approval.
Q. Why does it take so long to design and build a school?
School construction is very complex and involves multiple phases: site assessments, project planning, design, municipal approvals, procurement/tendering, construction, commissioning, and fit-up/furnishing. Each phase requires careful consideration as it all ensures safety, accessibility, and long-term functionality.
To learn more about how school capital projects are planned, funded, and built in Alberta, please visit the Government of Alberta website.
Q. Can the construction process be accelerated?
All opportunities to streamline the schedule are evaluated by the Government of Alberta; however, the process must still meet regulatory, safety, and quality requirements. When Alberta school jurisdictions prepare and submit their annual Three-Year School Capital Plan, one of the key criteria for prioritization is that the site is nearing “site readiness” which depends on the specific neighbourhood build out phasing strategy determined by the community developer.
To learn more about the CBE capital planning priorities, please visit Criteria for School Capital Planning Priorities.
In addition, in fall 2024 the Alberta Government introduced the Schools Now Program (formerly School Construction Accelerator Program). Under this program, all approved school capital projects are provided ‘just in time’ funding once they are ready to proceed to the next approval stage, saving time over previous approval models and opening schools sooner.
To learn more about Schools Now, please visit the Government of Alberta website.
Attendance Areas & Registration
Q. When does registration begin for new schools, and how do I register?
Students already attending their designated regular program school will automatically move to the new school when it opens. However, new schools typically open without the final grade in its first year and expand to the final grade configuration in year two.
For example, K-5 may open as a K-4 in its first year and become a K-5 in year two. In this case, Grade 5 students would stay at their exisiting school to finish elementary school and would not be automatically designated over. This approach helps reduce the number of unnecessary transitions for students.
Registration for the upcoming school year begins in January for all CBE schools. New school opening dates will be announced in the fall (9-12 months), before the upcoming school year. New students to the CBE may register for the school in January prior to the new school year (e.g. January 2027 for the 2027-28 school year). Families are encouraged to register early to support planning. Transfers or registrations for the new school are not accepted until the principal is in place at the new school.
For more information about Registration, visit: New Student Registration.
Q. Who is eligible to attend new schools?
Eligibility is determined by the attendance boundary, which is set closer to opening. Registration is not first-come, first-served. In the first year of the school opening, only students who live within the attendance area will be able to attend the school.
Attendance areas are based on enrolment projections from community populations, school capacity, and community distribution. Some boundaries include multiple neighbouring communities. Close to the new school’s opening date, designation notices will be published identifying which neighbourhoods will be designated to attend the school.
To find which school you are currently assigned to, visit the Find A School Tool.
Q. Will CBE students get priority over students coming from the Catholic system?
CBE prioritizes students who are resident to CBE within the school’s attendance area, in alignment with Administrative Regulation 6090. A student is considered non resident to CBE when both parents are of the Roman Catholic faith, and these students are intended to attend the Catholic school system. As a result, they are prioritized lower for placement in CBE schools.
Students currently attending the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) may be considered resident to CBE if at least one parent is not Roman Catholic, and would therefore be prioritized at the same level as other CBE resident students. However, these students are not automatically transferred to the new school, as they must complete the registration process.
CBE prioritizes students who are resident to CBE (living within the CBE’s geographical boundary and not identified to be of the Roman Catholic faith) within the school’s attendance area, aligning with Administrative Regulation 6090 | Child and Student Registration.
Q. Will a lottery be used?
If projected enrolment exceeds available space, a lottery process may be used. If required, information will be shared before opening.
To learn more about the lottery process, please visit Lottery | Registration.
Q. Will students automatically transfer to the new school?
Students attending their designated regular program school will automatically be transferred to the new school when it opens. Transition planning will consider grade level, boundaries, and timing.
Q. Will students be allowed to remain at their current school once the new school opens?
Students who are in the final grade of the new school will need to stay because that grade will not be included until the second year the new school is open. Other students may apply to stay, but they will be considered out-of-attendance-area. Acceptance is at the discretion of the principal, in consultation with the education director, based on space and resources. Transportation is not provided to out-of-attendance-area students. Designation notices, typically sent the fall before the next school year, will outline which grades will be at the new school and which students will need to stay at their current school.
Q. Our home is not within the walk zone. Can my child still attend the new school?
Attendance areas are what determines eligibility to attend the school. Unless the school is in lottery or overflow, you will be able to attend the school if you live in the designated attendance area. “Walk zones” are typically smaller than the attendance area and the 2024-25 school year walk zones are currently used to determine priorities should the school need to go into lottery. If the school is in lottery, those students living closest to the school within the walk zone are given a higher priority than those living further away, walk zones also determine transportation eligibility.
To learn more about the lottery process and eligibility, visit our CBE Lottery page.
To learn more about walk zones visit our School Walk Zones page.
Q. How are school boundaries determined?
Boundaries are centred on the community where the school is located. School boundaries may include or exclude neighbouring communities based on community populations and current enrolment pressures. School boundaries and designations for new schools are provided closer to the schools opening date.
To explore existing school boundaries, visit the Find A School Tool.
Grade Configuration & Student Transitions
Q. How is the grade configuration of a new school determined?
School grade configurations are submitted with the Three-Year School Capital Plan, based on standard school grade configurations and the size of the school. Closer to the school's opening date, the CBE Planning team analyze community populations and enrolment at nearby schools to determine the school's opening grade configuration, that best balances enrolment between schools
Grade configurations align with CBE’s system-wide approach and long-term accommodation strategy. Decisions are based on space, enrolment projections, and the goal of serving the greatest number of students.
Q. What will happen if the elementary and middle school grade configurations do not align?
To reduce any potential impact to students during school transitions, the CBE may make grade configurations that could include the new school and nearby schools, before the opening date. All plans will be shared with families in advance of the new school opening (e.g. Communicated fall 2026 for the following 2027-2028 school year).
Q. Will students who are designated to attend the school, automatically move into the new school?
Students residing within the attendance area for the new school will typically attend once it opens. Transition plans will minimize disruption where possible.
Q. If my child is overflowed to a different school, will they automatically be transferred to the new school when it opens?
Yes. If a student is attending the designated overflow receiver for a school in overflow and they live within the attendance area of the new school, they will be automatically designated to the new school when it opens.
Students who are in the final grade of the new school will remain at their current school, as new schools typically open without the final grade in their first year.
If the number of students living in the designated attendance area exceeds the available space, a lottery process may be required. This is unlikely, as CBE’s planning processes determine expected community enrolment and size schools accordingly.
Q. Why are Grade 4, Grade 9 and Grade 12 typically not included until the second year after a new school opens?
To minimize transition points for students, we typically do not open a new school with the final grade configuration. Whenever possible, we try to avoid moving students two years in a row. This permits students to finish the final grade in their current school with their peer group.
Program Offerings
Q. What programs will be offered at the new school?
New schools generally open with the regular program. Programming decisions are based on student needs, available space, and system planning.
Q. Will the school offer alternative programs such as TLC, French Immersion, STEM, IB, or GATE?
To accommodate all regular program students in high-density areas, alternative programs are not typically offered in new schools at opening. Any future program decisions will be reviewed and evaluated as space and resources allow.
Q. Will the school have technology rooms, food rooms, or other specialty learning spaces?
Yes. New schools include a variety of learning spaces appropriate to their grade configuration, such as Career and Technology Foundations spaces, Learning Commons, and inclusive learning supports.
Q. Will the school include spaces for diverse learning needs?
All new CBE schools meet current accessibility codes and include spaces designed to support a range of learning needs, including low-stimulation environments where appropriate.
Traffic, Parking & Drop off / Site Access
Q. What is being done to manage traffic, parking, and drop-off safety?
The CBE works with The City of Calgary when identifying new school sites. New school sites are located with collector streets, which have a width of 22.5 m and are used to connect local streets within a community. Collector streets are on two sides of the school site to ensure there is enough space for bus and parent drop-off/pick-up zones and for traffic.
Traffic is an issue at every school. Concerns are addressed by the school principal working with the parents, community and students.
Principals can also reach out to CBE Transportation for referral to the Safe Student Travel Advisory Group (SSTAG).
Q. Will the design consider concerns about congestion in cul-de-sacs or narrow residential streets?
Yes. Community feedback regarding access routes will be reviewed as part of the design refinement process.
Q. Can the parking lot be built along the back of the school so the view along the Boulevard remains enjoyable?
School parking lots are generally located at the front of the building to allow greater space for playfields.
Q. How do you decide where the school bus and parent drop-off locations will be?
Bus Zones and Parent drop-off zones are determined by CBE Transportation and The City of Calgary.
Developers are asked to develop roads on two connecting sides of the school suitable for separate bus and parent pick-up and drop-off, but this is not always possible.
Q. Will traffic controls or pedestrian safety features be added?
Required traffic controls will be determined through The City’s transportation review process.
Design & Construction (Including Site Concerns)
Q. How does the CBE plan for new schools and modernizations?
Each year, CBE submits a plan to Alberta Education & Childcare that outlines the top priorities for new schools and major modernizations. These priorities are determined by analyzing various factors including population data, educational needs, school condition, community demographics, school enrolment, transportation times, and the economic and growth outlook for Calgary. Alberta Education & Childcare receives about 400 capital requests annually from school boards across the province.
To learn more about how school capital projects are planned, funded, and built in Alberta, please visit the Government of Alberta website.
Q. How are sites chosen for new schools?
The Municipal Government Act requires 10 per cent of new development areas to be designated for amenities: parks, public space, community association sites, and school sites. At the initial stage of community development, the developer offers land parcels for schools. CBE and Calgary Catholic School Board, together with City of Calgary planning, select from the offered sites in general locations for future schools.
Q. Why is the school oriented or positioned the way it is?
Site design is shaped by land constraints, existing infrastructure, City requirements, traffic flow, and safety considerations. Orientation may be adjusted during the detailed design phase.
Q. What about concerns around parking lot size, noise, elevation, and privacy?
Feedback about the scale and placement of parking has been noted and will be reviewed through the design development stage.
Q. Will the school include multiple floors or be expandable?
Schools are designed based on projected long-term enrolment and available funding. Space for the future placement of modular classrooms might be considered at some future schools where warranted to accommodate fluctuations in long-term enrolment.
Q. Why do some site plans include space for modular classrooms and others do not?
Space for modular classrooms is included on some site plans to provide long-term flexibility. Modulars are only installed if needed. Future modular capacity may not be included on some sites if the permanent capacity being built is already at what CBE views to be the maximum for the given grade configuration and site considerations.
Q. Will the school include appropriate accessibility features (elevators, inclusive spaces, ASD supports)?
All new CBE schools meet current accessibility codes and include dedicated spaces for diverse learning needs.
Q. What about the playground and outdoor spaces?
All schools that include elementary grades (K-6) receive dedicated grant funding for outdoor play structures. Playgrounds are developed with community partners and may evolve based on funding and consultation.
Q. Is it possible to add more trees around the perimeter to block the view of the parking lot from nearby residents?
- All school designs must include a City-approved landscape design plan.
- The City of Calgary has a process for construction around city-owned trees. Every effort is made to preserve existing trees. Any trees that need to be moved will be relocated or replaced; replacement occurs only when the age and condition of trees, or the cost of working around them, warrants replacement.
- There is a two-year construction window, so some trees will be removed and relocated away from the property to preserve them, then replaced at the completion of construction.
Q. What is the purpose of modernizations, and why are they necessary?
Modernizations are essential for ensuring that school facilities remain safe, reliable, effective and can support the latest educational programming requirements and maximize space for students. These upgrades may include mechanical, electrical, security & fire system improvements, creating barrier-free access, structural enhancements and/or renovations to interior spaces. With more than half of CBE's schools being over 50 years old, modernizations are crucial for providing students in established neighbourhoods with a learning environment that meets modern standards.
Q. Can local groups partner on sports field design or storage facilities?
Partnership opportunities may be explored if they align with the City of Calgary and CBE policies and project timelines.
Community Concerns & General Feedback
Q. Many families express frustration about delays. Is anything being done to expedite the project?
The CBE continues to advocate for timely funding and moves each project forward as quickly as possible within provincial and municipal requirements.
Q. How is CBE addressing concerns about distance to designated schools?
Designations are reviewed regularly to balance enrolment, capacity, program distributions, and transportation ride times across the city. CBE strives to keep students as close to home as possible. The recent surge in student enrolment growth has resulted in increased travel distance for some students. As new schools they will help reduce travel times and support more students being able to learn and play closer to home.
Q. Will the school design reflect Indigenous or local history?
CBE is committed to meaningful Indigenous acknowledgement. Opportunities for cultural integration are explored during design. The CBE works closely with our Indigenous Education team to identify opportunities and incorporate appropriate and meaningful features that support learning.
Q. How can residents provide further feedback?
Community engagement opportunities are shared through CBE channels as each project progresses. Capital Projects are funded by the Government of Alberta and managed by Alberta Infrastructure. The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) works closely with Alberta Infrastructure to share updates as soon as they are available. If you have questions or concerns about a specific school project, please reach out to Facility Projects and further clarification or direction can be provided.
Other
Q. Can I sign up for an email list to receive announcements/news about the new schools?
There is no notification system available for new schools, however the CBE works closely with Alberta Infrastructure to share updates through our internal project webpages as soon as they are available.
Q. What is the process for naming the new schools?
Please visit the Naming the New Schools page for more information.
Q. Why does the CBE lease schools to Charter schools when there is a shortage of space?
Lease arrangements with charter schools are mandated by Alberta Education; the CBE cannot terminate a charter school lease unless approved by the Minister of Education & Childcare. Charter schools are public schools supported by Alberta Education & Childcare. As such, the ministry would be reluctant to approve the termination of a charter school lease unless an alternate school property is provided for the charter school program. School buildings currently leased to charter schools are located within older, established communities, where other existing CBE schools continue to serve the needs of students in these areas. The location of these schools does not align with the areas of greatest need for student spaces, which are in new and developing communities. The CBE continues to focus on requesting new schools to meet demand in these communities.
Q. Will there be before and after school care in new schools?
Like existing schools, before and after-school care programs may be offered by a third-party operator in new schools where space permits. The CBE works with the school community and third-party operators regarding interest in childcare programs in all of the new elementary schools.
Parents should continue to check the construction project page for the school in their community for updates and information on this topic.
Interested operators must submit an application to Property, Leasing & Rentals. For the application form, please contact the office directly at Leasing@cbe.ab.ca.
Q. How are school times and days off determined?
The CBE sets non-instruction days for all schools in our system. The school principal, in discussion with the school council, determines additional days off.
Bell times are aligned at all schools that use transportation services. Yellow school buses can complete at least two routes each morning and two each afternoon.
For current bell times, please visit: CBE Bell Times.
For additional information on CBE transportation services, please visit: Busing & Transportation.
