School-of-Choice

The Education Act legislates that the Board shall establish attendance areas for schools and that a board shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure that a student who is a resident student attends school.

While parents are strongly encouraged to register their children in the school that is designated for their residence, it may be possible to register at a “school-of-choice.” These requests may be granted based on capacity and proper resource stewardship. Those interested in applying to register at a school-of-choice are required to print off and submit a School-of-Choice form.

Specific details related to procedures followed when trying to register for a school-of-choice can be found in Administrative Procedure 304: Attendance Areas.

Please note:

A student is not enrolled until approved by the Principal of the School-of-Choice requested.

School-of-choice registration may only be possible IF sufficient space and resources are available. A school's population may change year to year.

By legislation, there is NO guarantee that enrolment at a school-of-choice may continue after the current enrolment year.

If a grade in a school-of-choice reaches capacity, students who do not live in the school’s attendance area may be directed back to their designated school.

School-of-Choice Now Limited

Parkland School Division Administrative Procedure 304 – Attendance Areas provides guidance and limitations with respect to student enrollment.

AP 304 s.9 states:

The Superintendent or designate may declare that a school, or schools in a specific area are open or closed to school-of-choice registration based on facility utilization or resources; notably:

9.1. Schools that are open to school-of-choice registration may have specific grades that are closed to school-of-choice due to a variety of factors, including:

9.1.1. Classroom capacity,

9.1.2 Available resources,

9.1.3 Classroom population (i.e. Teacher complement maximized), or

9.1.4 Facilities available.

Construction of new homes continues in Spruce Grove’s eastern and western regions. In Alberta, the Education Act ensures that resident students have priority for registration:

The Education Act 10(3) states:

Where a board establishes an attendance area for a school, a resident student of a board who resides in the attendance area for the school must be given priority over a student who does not reside in the attendance area.

With respect to current enrollment and for the foreseeable growth in the school-catchment areas for Copperhaven School, Prescott Learning Centre, and High Park School in Stony Plain, and therefore in anticipation of increased enrollment for resident families, the Superintendent has closed school-of-choice registration, for 2022-2023, for the following schools:

Copperhaven School: Grades 1 through 9
Prescott Learning Centre: Grades 1 through 9
High Park School: Grades 1 through 9

The Superintendent holds the authority for school-of-choice requests; specific grades closed for school-of-choice registration by the Superintendent are, therefore, not open to appeal.

Additional schools and school-specific-grades may be added to this list as enrollments continue. The Superintendent reserves the authority to change this list as resident-enrollments change within our schools.