To address growing classrooms in Cochrane, the Rocky View Schools board of trustees are addressing the immediate student space challenges by adding modular classrooms, while continuing to advocate for a new high school and additional school approvals to support the community’s needs.
Board chair, Fiona Gilbert, explained that the Cochrane is one of Alberta’s fastest growing communities, with its population growing more than 34 per cent over the last five years.
“There is an urgent need for additional student spaces and the Board will not slow our advocacy efforts until the provincial government approves all our priority schools,” Gilbert said.
In the coming years, Cochrane will see relief via several outlets.
First, the 2024 provincial budget included funding or a new Kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Rivercrest, which is anticipated to be open in 2028.
Over the summer, the government approved 12 new modular classrooms and funding to relocate 12 existing modular classrooms across RVS. Of these. Cochrane will receive six new modulars at Fireside School and two modulars at Cochrane Chistian Academy.
And finally, the expansion and modernization of Bow Valley High School is currently underway. It is expected to be completed in fall of 2026, and will add 485 student spaces.
With rising student enrollment to support Cochrane’s growing population, RVS has secured the necessary land for a new high school north of Heritage Hills and off Horse Creek Road. For now, the project cannot advance until the Town of Cochrane completes servicing of the site.
The new high school will not be completed until 2030 at the earliest. The projected high school population at that time 2,913, and high school student spaces will be 2,465. This will mean that there will be 448 more students than open spaces by that year alone.
“We are working with the Town to ensure they begin the important work on this site and prioritize getting suitable school sites ready in a timely manner to assist with future approvals," said Gilbert. "Once this school site is fully serviced by the Town of Cochrane the government can consider the project."
A utilization review by an RVS working group was conducted last year. The board considered the information from the review, and additional modular classrooms, where it was decided that they would support the administrations decision to maintain the current boundaries and grade configurations in Cochrane at this time.
The community of Southbow Landing will need to be designated to a school in Cochrane by spring of fall of 2025.
“A larger student accommodation review will likely be necessary in early 2027 as we determine the areas that will attend the new school in the Rivercrest community and to ensure we meet the needs of this growing community effectively,” said Gilbert. “Rather than make smaller student accommodation changes now and again a few years out, we believe we can manage high utilizations with temporary modular classrooms for now and reduce the number of transitions for our students, families and staff.”
Trustees will be sharing this information and encouraging discussion at school council meeting and other opportunities to connect with families throughout the year. More information about Cochrane student spaces is available on RVSEngage.
