Calgary Schools Face Overcrowding as City Expands
Calgary's rapid population boom has placed immense pressure on the city's schools, leading to a concerning trend of overcrowding in educational facilities. With the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) operating at 95% capacity, and some high schools exceeding 100%, local families are struggling with the impact on daily life. Many students face lengthy commutes and large class sizes as schools attempt to accommodate the burgeoning numbers.
This ongoing challenge is reflected in the City's "Schools in Communities" dataset, which, although detailing the static locations of schools, highlights the dynamic and growing needs of the community. The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) also sees its share of strain, with a substantial student body of 64,000 spread across 120 schools.
Advocacy groups like "Support Our Students" argue that provincial funding remains inadequate, leaving schools to grapple with high utilization rates. Meanwhile, school boards and city planners continue to navigate complex processes involving stakeholders to plan and build new schools. Legislative changes, like Bill 51, add further complexity to discussions about land use and funding.
As Calgary's educational infrastructure reaches its limits, the city must find ways to balance urgent demographic demands with sustainable planning solutions, ensuring that every student can access quality education close to home.
This Article Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
