Capacity exceeded at 40 Calgary Board of Education schools

Dozens of Calgary schools overcapacity Bill Macfarlane reports on findings of Calgary Board of Education’s school capacity report that determined 40 schools were overcapacity.

The Calgary Board of Education’s annual school capacity report has determined 40 schools have met or exceeded 100 per cent capacity, seven of which have reached 110 per cent of capacity according to Alberta Infrastructure’s definition.

The CBE welcomed approximately 1,700 more students in 2018 than it did in 2017. Despite the demand on classrooms, CBE officials say there is reason for optimism in the findings.

The most overcapacity school in Calgary is Crossing Park in Martindale but enrollment rates are trending downward and the CBE expects the school have an acceptable student body within the next five years.  The board has also identified locations where certain grade levels can be redistributed amongst schools to accommodate an influx of attendees.

“If we’re seeing a lot of younger school age children growth in suburban areas where no schools have been built and less students in inner city areas, that also affects where we put students across the city,” explained Trina Hurdman, CBE Chair.

According to the provincial government, 26 schools have been opened in the Calgary area in recent years and nine more schools are on the verge of opening as the government continues to be ‘playing catch up after years of neglect and cuts’.

For a complete list of the capacity levels of all CBE schools visit 2018-2019 School Enrollment Report

Alphabetical list of CBE schools exceeding 100 per cent capacity according to 2018 provincial utilization numbers:

With files from CTV’s Bill Macfarlane