The creation of a new high school in Okotoks will be expedited through accelerated funding, announced the Government of Alberta on Feb. 15.
A new high school in Okotoks has been a priority for Foothills School Division (FSD) since 2015, and design funding for the project was announced by Alberta's government in the 2024 budget as part of a $2.1 billion school capital investment.
"There is no two ways about it, Alberta is growing and growing fast, so we need to build schools now," said Minister of Education Demetrios Nicolaides. "That’s why we are making a generational investment of $8.6 billion, and fast-tracking [the] school construction process."
The new Okotoks school for Grades 10 to 12 will be built south of FSD’s Meadow Ridge School along 32nd Street in Okotoks and is expected to have an opening capacity of 1,020 spaces for students in Okotoks and surrounding area, including as far as Priddis.
The new Okotoks school is one of 11 being developed across Alberta, with five others in the Calgary area and five in Edmonton. The government aims to create more than 12,000 new student spaces in Airdrie, Calgary, Chestermere, Edmonton, and Okotoks through these projects.
Additional details such as total project costs and timelines will be available once contractors have been selected.
The 11 school projects are the start of the government's plan to kick-start the creation of up to 90 new schools and as many as 24 modernized renovations or replacements over the next three budget cycles, with the goal of creating over 200,000 student spaces across the province in the next seven years.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith first announced an $8.6-billion School Construction Accelerator Program in September 2024 to create new and modernized space for more than 200,000 students, including in Okotoks.
“The construction funding is crucial for our division, allowing us to further the engagement, support, and success for all students," said Drew Chipman, FSD's assistant superintendent of corporate services and secretary treasurer. "We are working with Alberta Infrastructure and the Town of Okotoks to plan the school site and consult with our partners in education to determine what the school will offer students and our community."
École Secondaire Foothills Composite High School/Alberta High School of Fine Arts (ÉSFCHS | ASHFA) is built to accommodate 1,184 students, yet currently has an enrolment of 130 per cent of its intended capacity.
With Okotoks' population steadily increasing and a water pipeline from the Bow River expected to be operational in 2025, Foothills School Division is preparing to accommodate a growing number of students.
“We are grateful to Alberta Education for recognizing and addressing the critical need for educational infrastructure in Okotoks," said Theresa Letendre, board chair of the FSD Board of Trustees. "Once constructed, the new high school will alleviate pressures at ÉSFCHS | ASHFA and complement our existing high school by providing additional capacity and thoughtfully designed spaces to inspire learning and support student success."
Other top priorities for FSD include the construction of a new 900-student K to 9 school in Okotoks and the modernization of Senator Riley School in High River.
- With files from Robert Korotyszyn/Western Wheel.
