March 25, 2026

Edmonton Catholic School Division’s Board of Trustees has approved the Division’s Three-Year Capital Plan (2027–2030). It will now be submitted to Alberta Education and Childcare for consideration. 

The Capital Plan outlines ECSD’s most urgent school infrastructure priorities over the next three years, with a focus on responding to sustained enrolment growth, significant overcrowding, and aging school facilities across Edmonton.

"The recent Schools Now announcement addressed several urgent priorities identified in our previous capital plan. Our Three-Year Capital Plan (2027-2030) builds on that progress by clearly identifying the pressures that remain, and the additional schools and solutions still needed to keep pace with enrolment growth and aging infrastructure,” shared Board Chair, Sandra Palazzo.

Over the past decade, Edmonton Catholic Schools has experienced enrolment growth of nearly 24%. Enrolment has now surpassed 51,000 students, pushing many schools beyond their intended capacity. Overall Division utilization is 102%, with high schools experiencing the highest pressure at 112% and projected to rise further in the coming years.

More than 44% of ECSD schools are operating beyond capacity, and many have no physical space to support additional growth. Temporary measures, including student redirection and program relocations, are increasing travel times and reducing families' access to neighbourhood schools.

New Schools are the Only Long-Term Solution

New school construction is the only sustainable, long-term solution to ongoing enrolment growth, particularly in high-growth areas where most ECSD students live.

Year 1 priorities in the Capital Plan include:

• Construction approval for 6 projects that have received planning commitment from Alberta Education and Childcare through the School Accelerator Program (SCAP)
• New Catholic K–6 school in Chambery and K–9 schools in Grieshbach as part of the Northwest Solution Phase 2
• New Catholic K–9 schools in Big Lake (Starling), Decoteau (Meltwater), and Windermere (Kendal) 
• A Division high school capacity solution to help relieve pressure across the system and improve access to programming at J.H. Picard
• New schools in growing communities fill quickly. St. Josephine Bakhita Catholic Elementary and Junior High School opened in 2025 at 114% utilization, demonstrating how rapidly demand can exceed available space as communities continue to build out.

Even with recent approvals and the addition of modular classrooms, enrolment projections indicate the need for thousands of additional student spaces over the next decade, particularly at the high school level.

Investing in Established Neighbourhoods

The Capital Plan includes investments in established neighbourhoods focused on renewing school facilities to support safe, accessible learning environments.

Year 1 priorities include construction approval for a replacement school at the St. Alphonsus site as part of the 118 Avenue–West solution, serving the communities of St. Alphonsus and St. Gerard, as well as the demolition of two unoccupied buildings that no longer meet safety requirements.

Years 2 and 3 include planning for future investments at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary and Junior High School and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Elementary School. St. Francis of Assisi is identified for future replacement or modernization planning, while Our Lady of Mount Carmel is identified for future modernization as it marks its 100th anniversary.

What is the School Construction Accelerator Program?

Approval of the Three-Year Capital Plan allows Edmonton Catholic Schools to continue advocating to the provincial government for funding and to advance planning work for priority projects. Planning approval does not mean construction begins immediately. School construction is a multi-year process that includes design, site readiness, community engagement, and further government approvals.
Some projects identified in the Capital Plan are already approved for planning through the Province’s School Construction Accelerator Program, while others require additional analysis and engagement before advancing.

With recent approvals, Edmonton Catholic Schools now has thirteen school projects at various stages of planning, design, construction, or opening, reflecting both the scale of enrolment growth and the renewal needs of aging schools across the city.