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Collegiate schools

Learn about collegiate schools and how to establish a collegiate school in Alberta.

Important dates

The application intake process is now open for schools aiming to open in September 2026.
The next collegiate school application deadline is January 31, 2026.

Overview

In partnership with publicly funded post-secondary institutions and industry partners, collegiate schools bring together students with similar interests to benefit from enriched programming, specialized facilities and enhanced learning opportunities through a unique delivery model.

Collegiate schools offer specialized programming in a particular subject or field and provide all students with a clear pathway into post-secondary education and careers in their chosen field.

The schools can be public (public, separate, francophone, public charter) or accredited funded independent (private).

They are given special approval and startup funding, if applicable, by the Minister of Education and Childcare.

A collegiate school must continue to meet the requirements of its original school type.

Essential components

Collegiate schools are intended to provide specialized programming in a particular subject area or field and to provide students clearer pathways into post-secondary education and careers in their chosen field.

Essential components of a collegiate include:

  • specific subject area(s) or field(s) of focus
  • formal agreement with a publicly funded post-secondary institution(s) and industry partner(s)
  • provision of experiential learning opportunities and work experience
  • dual credit programming and/or bridging opportunities into post-secondary

How to establish a collegiate school

Interested applicants can contact the department to request an application package.

Applications for new public charter schools and accredited funded independent schools may be completed and submitted simultaneously with the collegiate status application.

However, approval of the school application does not guarantee approval of the collegiate status application.

Post-secondary institutions interested in partnering with an existing or new school authority to operate a collegiate school can initiate the collegiate school status application process.

Collegiate schools

Calgary Area

Collegiate NameSchool AuthorityOpening Date
STAND (ST&)Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (Okotoks)2023-24
CBE Digital Futures Pathway & Calgary Trades & Technologies CollegiateCalgary School Division (Calgary)2024-25
Fusion CollegiateFusion Education Association (Calgary)2024-25
Our Lady of the Rockies/St. Mary’s High SchoolCalgary Roman Catholic Separate School Division (Calgary)2024-25

Central Alberta

Collegiate NameSchool AuthorityOpening Date
Central Alberta Collegiate Institute (CACI)Chinook’s Edge School Division, Red Deer Catholic Separate School Division, Red Deer School Division, and Wolf Creek School Division (Red Deer, Olds, Sylvan Lake)2023-24
Calmar Secondary Collegiate SchoolBlack Gold School Division (Calmar)2024-25
Human Services CollegiateBuffalo Trail School Division (Central East)2025-26
Prairie Land CollegiatePrairie Land School Division (Hanna, Cessford, Altario, Youngstown, Virtual)2025-26
STAR Catholic CollegiateSt. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Separate School Division (Drayton Valley, Ponoka, Leduc)2025-26

Edmonton Area

Collegiate NameSchool AuthorityOpening Date
STEM CollegiateSTEM Collegiate Canada Society (Edmonton)2023-24
Heartland CollegiateElk Island School Division (Fort Saskatchewan)2025-26
PSD CollegiateParkland School Division (Stony Plain)2025-26
Skilled Trades and Technology CollegiateEdmonton School Division (Edmonton)2025-26
St. Eligius Catholic CollegiateEdmonton Catholic Separate School Division (Edmonton)2025-26
St. Albert Collegiate PathwaysSt. Albert School Division (St. Albert)2025-26
Sturgeon CollegiateSturgeon School Division (Sturgeon County)2025-26

Northern Alberta

Collegiate NameSchool AuthorityOpening Date
Building Futures Collegiate SchoolFort Vermilion School Division (Fort Vermilion, La Crete, High Level)2023-24
North Peace Commercial Driving AcademyPeace River School Division (Peace River, Grimshaw)2024-25
HPSD Pathways SchoolHigh Prairie School Division (High Prairie)2025-26
Northeastern Alberta
Collegiate Institute (NACI)
Northern Lights School Division, and St. Paul Education Regional Division (North-East Alberta)2025-26
Northland Collegiate SchoolNorthland School Division (North-West Alberta)2025-26

Southern Alberta

Collegiate NameSchool AuthorityOpening Date
Southern Alberta Collegiate Institute (SACI)Palliser School Division, Lethbridge School Division, 
Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate School Division, 
Horizon School Division, Westwind School Division, and
Livingstone Range School Division (Lethbridge)
2023-24
PEAKS Collegiate CampusLivingstone Range School Division (Coleman)2024-25
The Southern Alberta Flight Academy & South Alberta School of AgriculturePrairie Rose School Division (Dunmore)2024-25
GHSD Collegiate of Digital Arts and EsportsGolden Hills School Division (Strathmore)2025-26
Monsignor McCoy First RespondersMedicine Hat Roman Catholic Separate School Division (Medicine Hat)2025-26
Prairie Sky CollegiateMedicine Hat School Division and Grasslands School Division (Medicine Hat, Brooks)2025-26
The Canadian Rockies Collegiate InstituteCanadian Rockies School Division (Banff)2025-26

Contact

For more information regarding the collegiate school status application process and requirements, to request an application package, or to receive feedback on a draft application package, contact Alberta Education and Childcare:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-422-9423
Toll free: 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta)
Email: [email protected]

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