Calgary schools welcoming nearly 2,000 new students this fall with 46 modular classrooms and one new school

Calgary's public and Catholic school boards are preparing for nearly 2,000 additional students when the morning bell rings Monday, August 31.

The Calgary Board of Education is projecting 143,475 total students for 2026-27, an increase of 1,754 students compared to 2025-26. To accommodate them, the CBE has hired over 400 teachers and more than 215 education assistants this spring, with more funded positions continuing through summer and fall.

Physically, the board is opening Evanston Heights School for grades 4–8 and installing 46 new modular classrooms across 10 CBE schools, creating over 1,100 new learning spaces. Evanston Heights will expand to grade 9 in 2027–28.

For families using bus service, costs are rising. CBE bus fees jump from $360 last year to $500 for 2026-27. Individual school fees are set by each school. The Calgary Catholic School District, projecting 64,876 students (nearly 640 more educators than last year), is not increasing transportation fees or opening new schools, though the district will name a new Chief Superintendent following Dr. Bryan Szumlas's retirement.

The expansion reflects broader growth pressures. The Calgary Catholic Education Foundation is raising funds to support the added student population; executive director Janet Lymer said the foundation awarded $100,000 in grants last year and hopes to raise over $1 million for Catholic education in 2026-27.