Decision - Jan. 23, 2025

On Jan. 23, 2025, the Board of Trustees made an important decision that will support ongoing enrolment growth and maximize learning spaces in Chestermere.

This decision includes a grade configuration change for East Lake School and attendance boundary changes for several communities. These changes will help balance student enrolments across schools, add a second school for students in Grades 7 – 9, and allow more students to attend a school closer to where they live.

Changes for September 2025

• East Lake School will expand from Kindergarten to Grade 6 (K – 6) to Kindergarten to Grade 9.
• The Christian and French Immersion programs for K – 6 will remain at East Lake School and the Christian and French Immersion programs for Grades 7 to 9 will continue to be offered at Chestermere Lake Middle School.
• The communities of Chelsea, Dawson's Landing, Bridgeport commercial, Waterford, Waterford Estates, and Paradise Meadows are redesignated from attending East Lake School to Rainbow Creek Elementary School for K – 6. Students in these communities will attend Chestermere Lake Middle School for Grades 7 to 9.
• The North Acreages area is redesignated from attending East Lake School to Prairie Waters Elementary School for K – 6. Students in these communities will attend Chestermere Lake Middle School for Grades 7 to 9.
• The Clearwater Park community is designated to attend Rainbow Creek Elementary School for K – 6. Students in these communities will attend Chestermere Lake Middle School for Grades 7 to 9.
• Bridgeport North is designated to attend Prairie Waters Elementary School for K – 6. Students in these communities will attend Chestermere Lake Middle School for Grades 7 to 9.

This decision is based on the feedback provided by the community as well as a thorough review by an RVS staff working group which identified possible solutions to address the student accommodation challenges in Chestermere including reviewing attendance areas, grade configurations, alternative schedules and modular classrooms. 

Thank you to all who participated in this engagement. Your feedback was very valuable to the Board when making this important decision.

What We Heard

The Board of Trustees appreciates the feedback gathered from the Chestermere community both online and in person. Over 200 surveys were completed and 67 people attended our in-person information session. View our Summary of Feedback from the Chestermere Student Accommodation Engagement (see page four).

Chestermere’s growth has increased student enrolment year after year, pushing most of our schools in the community to or beyond capacity. A solution is needed to help make the best use of available learning spaces and to support all students attending Chestermere schools while we wait for new schools to be built.

The Board of Trustees for Rocky View Schools (RVS) is considering potential changes to some schools and communities in Chestermere which would take effect for September 2025.

What’s Proposed

• East Lake School’s English program expands from Kindergarten to Grade 6 to Kindergarten to Grade 9 beginning September 2025.

• The Christian and French Immersion programs for Kindergarten to Grade 6 remain at East Lake School while the Christian and French Immersion programs for Grades 7 to 9 would continue to be offered at Chestermere Lake Middle School only.

• The communities of Chelsea, Dawson's Landing, Bridgeport commercial, Waterford, Waterford Estates, and Paradise Meadows are redesignated from attending East Lake School to Rainbow Creek Elementary School.

• The North Acreages area is redesignated from attending East Lake School to Prairie Waters Elementary School.

• The Clearwater Park community is designated to attend Rainbow Creek.

• Bridgeport North is designated to attend Prairie Waters Elementary School.

The Survey has now concluded.

We want to know what you think!

Please complete the survey (link is below) which will remain open until Nov. 26, 2024. Families are also encouraged to attend an in-person presentation and table discussion at Chestermere Lake Middle School on Oct. 22. The presentation begins promptly at 6:30 p.m. followed by an opportunity to share your thoughts with RVS staff.

You can also present as a delegation and provide your feedback directly to the Board at the Dec. 12 Board meeting. Requests to present must be received by noon on Dec. 4 c/o Greg Luterbach, Superintendent of Schools, at 2651 Chinook Winds Drive S.W., Airdrie, T4B 0B4 or suptoffice@rockyview.ab.ca

All online and in-person feedback is valued and considered.

The Board aims to make a decision in early 2025 with changes in place for September 2025.