March 9, 2026

Edmonton Catholic Schools has received approval from the Government of Alberta for three priority school projects, supporting both growth in developing communities and renewal in established neighbourhoods. The capital announcement was made on March 9 at St. Carlo Acutis Catholic High School, which will welcome students this September.

The projects were announced for the planning phase, which allows Edmonton Catholic Schools to begin essential work so projects are ready to move forward.

“These projects reflect the real pressures families are experiencing across our city,” said Sandra Palazzo, Board Chair of Edmonton Catholic Schools. “This planning funding represents a clear commitment to delivering Catholic education close to home and allows us to move these priority projects forward with confidence.”

Planning was announced for the following projects:

• a new Catholic high school in Windermere to support families in southwest Edmonton
• a new Catholic Kindergarten to Grade 9 school in Kirkness to serve northeast Edmonton
• planning for a replacement school at the St. Alphonsus site, supporting long-term renewal along 118 Avenue
  

Catholic High School in Windermere

The new Catholic high school planned for Windermere will open with space for approximately 1,800 students, with the ability to grow to about 2,400 as the community continues to develop. Located in Southwest Edmonton near Rabbit Hill Road and 21 Avenue SW, the school will serve one of the city’s fastest‑growing areas, where families need long‑term access to Catholic high school space close to home. Currently, students in this area attend Mother Margaret Mary Catholic High School or Father Michael McCaffery Catholic High School.

Catholic K–9 in Kirkness

A new Catholic K–9 school planned for Kirkness will serve families in the Kirkness and Horse Hill area and help relieve enrolment pressures across Northeast Edmonton. The Northeast sector is one of the fastest‑growing areas of the city, with 2,490 new homes built in the past five years, and while much of the area is nearing build‑out, Horse Hill is expected to see significant development in the years ahead.

Even with the planned opening of Crystallina Nera Catholic Elementary/Junior High School in 2028, the Northeast planning sector is projected to remain at or near full utilization. With the Kirkness K–9 school in place, utilization would improve to a more sustainable level, helping ensure families have local access to Catholic education close to home.

Replacement School at St. Alphonsus Site

Planning has also been approved for the 118 Avenue West Solution, which includes a replacement Catholic K–9 school at the St. Alphonsus site. This project focuses on renewing aging infrastructure in a mature community and ensuring students can learn in a modern, accessible environment designed to meet today’s educational needs.

New Schools in Edmonton Catholic Schools

While planning does not allow construction to begin, it is a critical first step in the process. It enables the Division to advance site work, design, and readiness so projects can move efficiently toward construction through provincial programs such as Schools Now.

With this announcement, 13 new school projects across the city are currently in planning, design, or construction, reflecting the scale of growth and renewal underway across the Division.

As Edmonton continues to grow, so does the demand for Catholic education. Enrolment at Edmonton Catholic Schools has surpassed 51,000 students, an increase of more than 17% over the past five years. Nearly half of the Division’s schools are operating beyond their intended capacity, with high schools under the greatest strain. Division-wide high school utilization is now 112%.

Edmonton Catholic Schools remains committed to working with the province to ensure students have access to modern, faith-filled learning environments that support learning, belonging, and strong communities, today and into the future.

More Information:

• Alberta Budget 2026
• March 9, 2026 Capital Announcement
• School construction accelerator program
• ECSD Three-Year Capital Plan
• ECSD New School Project Updates