Updated: November 5, 2026
Good Shepherd Catholic Elementary School continues to experience exceptional enrolment growth. As a result, Edmonton Catholic Schools is exploring temporary attendance options for the 2027-2028 school year while we await the anticipated opening of St. Patrick Catholic Elementary/Junior High School in Fall 2028.
No decision has been made.
We encourage families to review the information, consider how each option could affect their family, and share feedback through the online questionnaire.
Information and Resources
- View the November 4 Information and Engagement Session Presentation
- Complete the Online Questionnaire
- Review the attendance options below
- Review the Frequently Asked Questions below
Why Are Temporary Attendance Options Being Considered?
Good Shepherd is serving more students than the school was designed to accommodate. The school currently has 683 students enrolled and a capacity of 505. Enrolment is expected to continue growing, making it necessary to explore temporary options while additional school space is being developed.
To help address these space pressures, Edmonton Catholic Schools has requested eight additional modular classrooms from the Government of Alberta. If approved, we plan to have these modulars installed by Fall 2027.
While we are hopeful the request will be approved, we are also planning for all possible outcomes.
As part of that planning, Edmonton Catholic Schools is exploring temporary attendance options that could be considered if the request for all eight modulars is not approved.
No decision has been made about which temporary attendance option would be used if the request for all eight modular classrooms is not approved.
These options were presented at the information and engagement session and are meant to address enrolment pressures until the anticipated opening of St. Patrick Catholic Elementary/Junior High School in Fall 2028.
View the Presentation Here - primary small button - blank
Temporary Attendance Options
OPTION 1
- All K-3 students at Good Shepherd from the Uplands, Stillwater, River’s Edge, and Riverview neighbourhoods would move to Our Lady of the Prairies for the 2027-2028 school year.
In this scenario, students in K-3 from the Uplands, Stillwater, River’s Edge, and Riverview neighbourhoods would move to OLOP for one school year. The projected utilization rate at Good Shepherd would drop from 161% to 126%.
OPTION 2
- All incoming K-6 students would move to Our Lady of the Prairies for the 2027-2028 school year. Good Shepherd would become a Grade 1-6 school for approximately one year.
This option would not impact current students at Good Shepherd. Because incoming Kindergarten students would attend Our Lady of the Prairies, Good Shepherd would temporarily serve Grades 1-6. New students entering Grades 1-6 would also attend Our Lady of the Prairies. The projected utilization rate would drop from 161% to 131%.
OPTION 3
- All incoming Kindergarten students would move to Our Lady of the Prairies for the 2027-2028 school year. Good Shepherd would become a Grade 1-6 school for that year.
This option would not impact current students at Good Shepherd. In this scenario, the school would not accept any Kindergarten students for the 2027-2028 school year. Good Shepherd would operate as a Grade 1-6 school for one year and see its projected utilization rate drop from 161% to 150%.
Share Your Feedback
We know these options may affect families in different ways.
We encourage families to review the information and complete the online questionnaire. Your feedback will help the Division understand how the options being considered could affect students and families, including considerations related to transportation, siblings, child care, daily routines, and student experience.
You are asked to complete the online questionnaire by Friday, November 20, 2026.
Take the Online Questionnaire - secondary medium button - blank
Next Steps
Division administration will review feedback from the questionnaire alongside enrolment, transportation, operational, and educational planning considerations.
A What We Heard Report summarizing feedback received from the school community will be shared with families in December.
Questions?
Please reach out toengagement@ecsd.net.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if the request for eight modular classrooms is approved?
If the Government of Alberta approves ECSD’s request for all eight modular classrooms, we plan to have them installed in Fall 2027. These additional classrooms will help address enrolment pressures until the anticipated opening of St. Patrick Catholic Elementary/Junior High School in Fall 2028.
What happens if the request for all eight modular classrooms is not approved?
If ECSD’s request for all eight modular classrooms is not approved, one of the temporary attendance options being considered may be needed for the 2027-2028 school year. Families will be informed of a contingency plan in December 2026. Once the Government of Alberta’s decision on the modular classroom request is known, ECSD will confirm whether the temporary attendance plan needs to take effect.
What happens if only some of the eight modular classrooms are approved?
If fewer than eight modular classrooms are approved for Good Shepherd, ECSD would review the additional capacity provided and determine whether temporary attendance changes are still required.
When will these changes take effect, and for how long?
These temporary attendance options would only be required if the request for all eight modular classrooms is not approved. If required, the changes would take effect for the 2027-2028 school year and remain in place until the anticipated opening of St. Patrick Catholic Elementary/Junior High School in Fall 2028.
Have temporary attendance changes been used at other ECSD schools?
Yes. Edmonton Catholic Schools worked with families at Christ the King, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Monsignor Fee Otterson Catholic schools to address enrolment pressures. In each case, families were presented with options and invited to provide feedback as part of the decision-making process. These engagement processes took place during the 2023-2024 school year.
If ECSD chooses Options 1, 2, or 3, what would this mean for families who have an older child currently attending Good Shepherd and a younger child set to enter Kindergarten in 2027-2028?
If an option is selected that would result in siblings attending different schools, families could choose to keep the older sibling at Good Shepherd while the younger sibling attends Our Lady of the Prairies, or have both children attend Our Lady of the Prairies during the temporary attendance period. We would provide additional information to affected families if this occurs.
What does “incoming student” mean?
An incoming student is a student who would be new to Good Shepherd for the 2027-2028 school year. This includes students entering Kindergarten as well as new students registering in Grades1-6. Students who currently attend Good Shepherd and are returning for the 2027-2028 school year would not be considered incoming students.
Would my child have to change schools?
That would depend on which temporary attendance option is selected. Under some options, current Good Shepherd students would remain at the school. Under Option 1, some current students would temporarily attend Our Lady of the Prairies. Details about which students would be affected are outlined in each option.
How will transportation work if I have children at both Good Shepherd and Our Lady of the Prairies?
Eligible students redesignated to Our Lady of the Prairies would receive yellow bus transportation under Division transportation eligibility criteria. Because the two schools have different schedules, transportation would operate separately for each school. Families with children attending both schools would have different transportation schedules.
Why is Edmonton Catholic Schools looking at this now?
Edmonton Catholic Schools regularly reviews enrolment projections, school capacity, and future growth across the Division.
Enrolment at Good Shepherd continues to grow. ECSD has requested eight modular classrooms to help address these pressures, but the outcome of that request is not yet known. Considering temporary attendance options now ensures a plan is in place if the request for all eight modular classrooms is not approved.
How will my feedback be used?
The purpose of the engagement process is to help Edmonton Catholic Schools better understand how the options being considered could affect students and families.
Feedback received through the questionnaire will be considered alongside enrolment, transportation, operational, and educational planning considerations. A What We Heard Report summarizing feedback from the school community will be shared with families in December.
Who will make the final decision regarding a temporary attendance plan?
Division administration will determine the temporary attendance plan. Feedback from the school community will help inform the decision and will be considered alongside enrolment, transportation, operational, and educational planning considerations. The plan would only be implemented if the request for all eight modular classrooms is not approved.
How We Got Here
October 2026
Good Shepherd Catholic Elementary School is serving more students than it was designed to accommodate, and enrolment is expected to keep growing.
To help address the space pressures, Edmonton Catholic Schools has requested eight additional modular classrooms from the Government of Alberta. If approved, we plan to have these modular classrooms installed by Fall 2027.
ECSD is hopeful the modular classroom request will be approved, but continues to plan for all possible outcomes.
As part of that planning, Edmonton Catholic Schools is seeking feedback on temporary attendance options that would be considered if the request for all eight modular classrooms is not approved. These options would help address enrolment pressures for the 2027-2028 school year while we await the anticipated opening of St. Patrick Catholic Elementary/Junior High School in Fall 2028.
No decisions have been made.
When: Wednesday November 4, 2026 from 6:30 – 8:00 PM
Where: Good Shepherd Catholic Elementary School (18111 57 Ave. NW)
This session is an opportunity to learn more about school capacity, potential options, and provide feedback. Following the presentation, representatives from Student Transportation and other Division departments will be located throughout the room to answer questions or discuss topics of interest in greater detail.
Community feedback is an important part of the decision-making process and will be considered alongside operational, transportation, enrolment, and educational planning factors. While feedback will help inform the process, the final decision rests with Educational Planning and Division administration.
If you are unable to attend, the presentation will be posted here and further information will be shared with families on Thursday, November 5.