Lottery
When more students register for a school or program (regular or alternative) than there are available spaces, the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) uses a lottery process to determine placement. Running a lottery when capacity is limited helps ensure it is consistent for all families. The lottery process follows the Education Act and CBE’s registration policies.
A school, program (regular or alternative) or grade can be moved into lottery status when it is at or over capacity.
Registration for the upcoming school year opens each January, with the deadline to apply to a school or program in lottery and lottery results announced in February.
Please follow the process below if your school or desired alternative program is in lottery.
Lottery Priority Zones
Lottery priority zones identify students who live closest to a school and used to determine priority levels in a school lottery.
Lottery priority zone is different than the walk zone or designated attendance area;
- Lottery zones are used for lottery placement
- Walk zones are used for transportation eligibility
- Designated attendance areas identify the students that may attend a school
The CBE uses the City of Calgary’s pedestrian network system, such as sidewalks, bike paths, alleyways, etc. to determine the lottery priority zones.
Lottery Zone Maps
Review whether you are within or outside the lottery zone, and select your school from the drop-down menu.
View MapsPriority Levels
Before names are drawn, addresses are confirmed to be within the designated attendance area and grouped according to established priority criteria. Priority is based on:
- Whether the student lives within the lottery priority zone
- Whether the student has a sibling attending the school at the same time, and living at the same address
Priority 1
Lives within the lottery priority zone, has a sibling attending the same program in the same school,
concurrently,
AND
lives in the designated attendance area.
Priority 2
Lives in the designated attendance area and has a sibling attending in the same program at the same school,
concurrently
OR
Lives within the lottery priority zone and lives in the designated attendance area.
Priority 3
All other students living within the designated attendance area.
These priority factors are identified in the registration process and applied in a school’s lottery draw.
Lottery Registration
Follow the steps below to find your school, apply for a program and understand what happens if a lottery is required.
How to Apply
Find Your School
Use Find a School to identify your designated school, available program options and whether a lottery may be required.
Current CBE students are automatically designated to their next-year program by their designated school and included in the lottery where applicable.
Register or Submit an Expression of Interest
Complete registration Complete registration for a Regular Program, or submit an expression of interest for an Alternative Program, before the lottery deadline.
Applications received after the deadline are not included in the lottery.
What Happens Next
If there are more applicants than available spaces, applications move through the lottery process outlined below. All lotteries are run in accordance with AR6090 .
Students Are Assigned Priority Levels
Students are grouped according to established lottery priorities, which may include factors such as where they live and whether they have a sibling attending the school.
The Lottery Is Run
If there are more applicants than available spaces, a lottery is held in February before the upcoming school year.
Families Receive Results
Families are notified of results through SchoolEngage or direct contact, by email or phone call, from the school. This includes instructions on when and how to accept or decline the placement.
If you registered at multiple schools or programs, wait until you receive all results before making a decision. Once you accept an offer, all other applications are automatically withdrawn.
If a same-grade sibling is drawn in the lottery, both siblings will be offered a space.
Callback Lists Are Created
Students who are not offered a space are placed on a callback list and may be contacted if space becomes available. Students will be automatically enrolled in their designated school or an overflow school if they are not offered a placement.
Alternative programs maintain callback lists until the end of September each year. After that date there will be no callback offers sent. Students will attend their designated regular program school unless they receive an offer and choose to attend from another program.
Registering After a Lottery Has Been Held
Families who miss the lottery deadline can still register or submit an expression of interest. While they will not be included in the lottery, they will be added to the callback list and may be offered a spot if space becomes available.
Regular Programs
If a school has reached capacity and you register after the lottery has been completed, you may be designated to attend an overflow school with available space.
Alternative and Language Programs
If you apply after a lottery has been completed, you may be placed on a callback list if space becomes available. This list remains active until the end of September.
Last modified: 2026-10-23 15:44:11.843419 +0000 UTC