School Viability Improvement Process
Each year, Edmonton Catholic Schools conducts a review of school viability to assess the long-term sustainability of all schools across the Division. The review takes place at the beginning of the calendar year and considers factors such as:
- Student enrolment and school utilization
- Educational programs and offerings
- Facility condition and infrastructure needs
- Operating and maintenance costs
The review helps identify schools that may require additional support through the Viability Improvement Process (VIP).
How School Viability is Assessed
Schools are reviewed annually based on a variety of factors, including:
- High utilization (more than 120% capacity)
- Low utilization (less than 60% capacity)
- Facility condition and associated costs
- Trends and changes over time
The Division monitors these factors each year to measure progress and identify opportunities for improvement.
Viability Improvement Process (VIP)
A Viability Improvement Process (VIP) may be implemented when a school is identified as having low or high utilization. The goal of VIP is to strengthen the school's long-term sustainability through a targeted action plan that is developed, implemented, and monitored over several years.
What Strategies May Be Considered?
Action plans are tailored to each school and may include:
- Adjustments to attendance boundaries
- New programs or site enhancements
- Marketing and community awareness initiatives
- Capacity optimization and leasing opportunities
- Capital planning solutions, such as:
- School modernizations
- Consolidations
- New school construction
- Modular classroom additions or removals
Because every school community is unique, action plans are developed with a thorough understanding of each school's specific needs, challenges, and opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions: Viability Improvement Process (VIP)
What is the Viability Improvement Process (VIP)?
The Viability Improvement Process (VIP) is a multi-year planning and support process used when a school is experiencing enrolment or utilization challenges. VIP helps Edmonton Catholic Schools better understand a school's needs, provide additional support where appropriate, and monitor progress over time.
Why does Edmonton Catholic Schools review school viability?
Every year, Edmonton Catholic Schools reviews enrolment trends, utilization, program offerings, facility conditions, and operating costs across the Division. This helps ensure schools are positioned to support student success now and into the future.
Why do schools enter VIP?
Schools may enter VIP for different reasons. Some schools experience low enrolment, while others experience rapid growth and enrolment pressures. The process helps the Division identify opportunities to support schools and respond to local needs.
Does entering VIP mean a school is closing?
No. Being identified for VIP does not mean a school is closing or that decisions have been made about the future of a school. VIP is a planning and support process designed to help the Division better understand a school's circumstances and identify appropriate supports.
Does entering VIP automatically mean there will be changes to programming or attendance boundaries?
No. Entering VIP does not automatically result in changes to school programming, attendance boundaries, or operations. Each school's circumstances are unique, and supports are determined based on local needs.
How are schools supported through VIP?
Supports vary based on the needs of the school community. Examples may include marketing and promotional initiatives, program enhancements, transportation solutions, facility adjustments, community engagement activities, and other strategies designed to support student success.
How long does a school remain in VIP?
VIP is a multi-year process. Schools remain in the process until the circumstances that led to their identification have improved and the additional supports are no longer required. Progress is reviewed annually.
What does it mean when a school continues in VIP?
A school may continue in VIP while strategies and supports are implemented and monitored. Continuing in VIP does not mean progress has not been made. It means additional planning, support, or monitoring is still required.
What does it mean when a school graduates from VIP?
Graduating from VIP means the circumstances that led to the school's identification have improved and the school no longer requires the additional planning and supports provided through the process. Schools continue to be monitored through the same annual review process as all other schools across the Division.
Does graduating from VIP mean every challenge has been solved?
Not necessarily. Communities continue to change and evolve. Graduation from VIP means the school no longer requires the additional planning and supports provided through the process and will continue to be monitored through the Division's regular review processes.
How will families know if their school is entering, continuing in, or graduating from VIP?
Edmonton Catholic Schools will share updated VIP information with schools that are entering, continuing in, or graduating from the process. Families will receive information directly from the Division.
Who can I contact if I have questions?
If you have questions about the Viability Improvement Process, please contact Educational Planning at ecsdplanning@ecsd.net.
What Happens if My School Becomes a VIP School?
If your school is identified for the Viability Improvement Process, it becomes a VIP school. This means the Division is committed to investing resources and support into initiatives designed to improve the school's viability.
We value collaboration with school communities and look forward to working together to identify the most effective solutions in support of our Division's goals and our shared commitment to Walking Together Towards a Glorious Future.
Viability Improvement Process School Examples
Bishop David Motiuk Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
In September 2022, Bishop David Motiuk Catholic Elementary/Junior High School was nearly 400 students over capacity. Later in the Fall, the Division conducted virtual and in-person engagement activities to explore different options to alleviate enrolment pressures at the school. Through a temporary attendance boundary change, Bishop David Motiuk School is projected to only be 100 students over capacity for the 2023-2034 school year. The reduction in student enrolment will help the school immensely by reducing class sizes, allowing for more program and support space, and improving overall school functionality.
St. Boniface Catholic Elementary School
In September 2022, St. Boniface Catholic Elementary School was struggling with enrolment, and the school was only 46% utilized. While the school offered an IB program, it was not acting as a draw for students to attend the school. Later in the Fall, the Division conducted a community engagement to explore different programs that were of interest to the school community. Through the engagement feedback, it was determined that a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) program would be implemented for the 2023-2024 school year. Registration numbers indicate a surge in student enrolment due to interest in the program.
2024-2025 Viability Improvement Process Schools
High Utilized Schools
Here is a list of schools identified as VIPs for the 2024-25 school year due to their high enrolment.
- Annunciation Catholic Elementary School
- Christ the King Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- Father Michael Mireau Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- Good Shepherd Catholic Elementary School
- Monsignor Fee Otterson Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- St. Catherine Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- St. Lucy Catholic Elementary School
- St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
Low Utilized Schools
Here is a list of schools identified as VIPs for the 2024-25 school year due to their low enrolment.
- Holy Child Catholic Elementary School
- Holy Cross Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Elementary School
- Our Lady of Peace Catholic Elementary School
- St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- St. Angela Catholic Elementary School
- St. Augustine Catholic Elementary School
- St. Boniface Catholic Elementary School
- St. Cecilia Catholic Junior High School
- St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School
- St. Leo Catholic Elementary School
- St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School
2023-2024 Viability Improvement Process Schools
High Utilized Schools
Here is a list of schools identified as VIPs for the 2023-24 school year due to their high enrolment.
- Bishop David Motiuk Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- Christ the King Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- Father Michael Mireau Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- Monsignor Fee Otterson Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- St. Lucy Catholic Elementary School
- St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
Low Utilized Schools
Here is a list of schools identified as VIPs for the 2023-24 school year due to their low enrolment.
- Holy Child Catholic Elementary School
- J.H. Picard Catholic Elementary/Junior/Senior High School
- Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- Our Lady of Peace Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- St. Angela Catholic Elementary School
- St. Augustine Catholic Elementary School
- St. Boniface Catholic Elementary School
- St. Cecilia Catholic Junior High School
- St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary School
- St. Gerard Catholic Elementary School
- St. Leo Catholic Elementary School
- St. Timothy Catholic Elementary School
Presentations to Schools
2024-2025
- St. Lucy Catholic Elementary
- On November 20, 2024, ECSD presented information on the Viability Improvement Process to the St. Lucy School Advisory Council. If you were unable to attend the session, you can view the presentation through the following link:
2023-2024
- Father Michael Mireau Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- On November 22, 2023, ECSD presented information on the Viability Improvement Process to Father Michael Mireau School Advisory Council. If you were unable to attend the session, you can view the presentation through the following link:
- St. Lucy Catholic Elementary School
- On November 22, 2023, ECSD presented information on the Viability Improvement Process to the St. Lucy School Advisory Council. If you were unable to attend the session, you can view the presentation through the following link:
- Corpus Christi Catholic Elementary/Junior High School
- On December 4, 2023, ECSD presented information on the Viability Improvement Process to the Corpus Christi School Advisory Council. If you were unable to attend the session, you can view the presentation through the following link:
Questions?
For more information about the School Viability Improvement Process, please email ecsdplanning@ecsd.net.