STEM Collegiate plans 1,200-student charter school in southwest Edmonton

STEM Collegiate, a charter school currently located in southeast Edmonton that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math, is planning a second campus on an empty lot in southwest Edmonton to accommodate 1,200 students in grades 7 through 12.

The school has accumulated a waitlist of more than 4,000 students over the last three years — a sign of demand that founder Lisa Davis says its current campus cannot meet. "This will really help relieve some of the pressure that we have for families who want to access our programming but aren't able to," Davis said. The planned campus will offer wider programming than the current location and will include gyms, an outdoor field, and parking.

Davis emphasized that STEM Collegiate provides "a very strong academic program, but we also provide unique options programming that's not available at other schools in Alberta." In defending the charter school model, she noted that "it's often hard for big companies to innovate, and it's the small startups, it's the smaller groups that are hungrier, able to break through bureaucratic barriers and to just get things done for students."

Several Edmonton parents expressed reservations about the charter expansion. "I think there should be schools, but I still think it should be public schools," said Shabina. Others cited screening concerns: "For private or charter school, I think because of the screening, there's less students for the amount of teachers they've got available," said Dami. Roman added, "My local taxes, you have a choice whether you want them to go to public school or to a charter school. I choose public."

As of now, construction funding has not been confirmed, nor has the final design or anticipated opening date. Whether Alberta Education or Edmonton Public Schools has formally approved or commented on the expansion remains unclear.