Mar. 20, 2026
Recognizing the growing pressures on schools across Calgary, the CBE Board of Trustees has approved the 2027–2030 Three-Year School Capital Plan.
The plan incorporates existing school projects in addition to new school construction to ensure that existing schools with high enrolment continue to meet the programming needs of students.
Together, these projects could add nearly 18,000 student spaces, ensure more students can learn closer to home, address aging facilities in older communities, support current and future programming and serve Calgary’s rapidly growing communities.
Among the 27 projects included in the submission are:
- 21 new schools in high growth areas
- one addition adding 700 high school student spaces
- two replacements (one high school and one for high school upgrading programming)
- two modernizations to address aging facilities
- one solution project to support two aging elementary schools in NW Calgary
Specifically, projects in Year One of the Plan would create nearly 8,000 student spaces. This includes new schools in rapidly growing communities including Legacy, Livingston, Seton, Belmont, Carrington, Pine Creek and Glacier Ridge.
In addition to new schools, Year One also includes modernizations and replacements to ensure aging buildings can continue to support high quality programming. More than 60% of CBE schools are now over 50 years old and require significant investment. The plan also includes a solution project for Bowcroft and Belvedere Parkway schools to address aging facilities and support their programming needs by replacing both buildings with a single modern facility.
While enrolment growth slowed this school year, the majority of CBE schools are full or over capacity. CBE’s current enrolment of over 142,000 students is forecast to rise to 150,700 by 2030, an increase of nearly 8,500 students. The CBE is grateful for 24 new capital projects since 2024 that will add much needed capacity to the system. However, without further capital approvals for new and modernized spaces, the overall system utilization rate will remain at nearly 90% through to 2031.
Until new schools are approved and built, the CBE will continue to make the best use of our existing spaces.
“Schools are the heart of a community. Our goal is for generations of students to attend a school close to home, learn alongside neighbours in modern learning spaces and avoid long bus rides,” said Laura Hack, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
