Rocky View Schools (RVS) has many reasons to celebrate after receiving approval for seven much-needed new school projects over the past 15 months. RVS looks forward to welcoming students and families to each of these new schools as they open over the next three to six years.

“This significant number of new school projects is good news for RVS after years of steady enrolment increases in our schools, particularly in Airdrie, Cochrane and Chestermere,” said Board Chair, Fiona Gilbert. “These new schools will provide crucial new student spaces while improving the learning and working environments for students and staff in these communities.”

The seven new approved school projects include construction funding approval for three new schools, awarded by the provincial government in Budget 2024, as well as design funding for two others. Through Alberta Education’s School Construction Accelerator Program, the two schools advanced to construction funding in February 2025. RVS received planning funding approval for two additional schools in Budget 2025.

Approved for construction: 

• Airdrie Kindergarten – Grade 9 school (South Windsong) 
• Airdrie Kindergarten – Grade 9 school (Bayview) 
• Cochrane Kindergarten – Grade 8 (Rivercrest) 
• Chestermere Kindergarten – Grade 9 (Dawson’s Landing) 
• Airdrie high school (Southwinds) 

Approved for planning:

• Airdrie Kindergarten – Grade 9 school (Lanark) 
• Chestermere high school (Chelsea) 

It is critical these new schools are designed, built and open for learning as quickly as possible, and at the same time, continued growth across RVS will require additional approvals in the coming years to keep pace with enrolment increases.

RVS’ overall enrolment has grown by more than 15 per cent over the last five years, and 44 per cent in the last 10 years. RVS’ 2026 – 2029 Capital Plan includes requests for schools in Airdrie, Chestermere and Cochrane to address this on-going need. As RVS plans for the future, a new school in Crossfield is included in year three as well as an addition and modernization of Springbank Middle School.

“We appreciate the government’s recent approvals of new schools for RVS which recognizes the significant growth across our communities,” said Gilbert. “A steady stream of new school approvals in the coming years will be necessary to ensure available spaces for students stay on pace with community growth and RVS does not experience the impacts to students and staff seen recently because of years without school approvals.”

Information about RVS’ new school projects is available on the New Schools, Modernizations and Expansions webpage.

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