A Buyer’s Guide to Edmonton’s School Systems
Edmonton School System Guide for Buyers
For many families, the home search isn’t about finding a house, it’s about finding a school, and a house that comes with it. The right school can be a deciding factor that shapes your entire neighbourhood search, and navigating the options in a large city like Edmonton can seem daunting.
This guide will demystify Edmonton’s school systems and give you a simple, 3-step process to research schools so you can make a confident choice for your family.
Understanding Edmonton’s School Boards
Edmonton is home to several excellent, publicly funded school systems. The two largest are:
- Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB): The city’s largest board, offering a diverse range of programming in secular schools.
- Edmonton Catholic School District (ECSD): The second-largest board, offering education within a Catholic faith-based framework. Catholic schools generally accept students of all faiths.
Additionally, there are Francophone school boards for families seeking a full French-language immersion education.
How to Research Schools: A 3-Step Process
Step 1: Check Rankings and Performance
A good starting point for evaluating academic performance is to consult the annual school rankings published by the Fraser Institute. This non-partisan organization compiles report cards on schools across Alberta based on standardized testing data. While it’s not the only measure of a good school, it provides a useful, data-driven overview.
Step 2: Verify Catchment Areas (This is Crucial!)
A “catchment area” or “designated boundary” is the geographic area that determines which school your child will attend. It is absolutely critical to verify this for any specific address you are considering. Never assume a home is designated for the school that is closest.
Use the official “Find a School” tools from the school boards to check any address:
Step 3: Look Beyond the Numbers
The “best” school is about more than just test scores. Look at the specific programs a school offers, such as International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), sports academies, or arts-focused programming. A school that is a perfect fit for one child might not be for another.
Your Next Step
Choosing a school is a key part of choosing a neighbourhood. Once you have identified one or more schools that are a great fit for your family, you can focus your home search on the specific communities within those catchment areas.
See how this research fits into the bigger picture in our complete Guide to Choosing an Edmonton Neighbourhood →
Ready to Start Looking?
Each step in the home-buying journey is an important one. To see how this topic fits into the complete process, review our Ultimate Guide to Buying a Home in Edmonton.
Edmonton School Market Stats & FAQs
Which Edmonton schools have the highest Fraser Institute rankings?
As of the most recent reports (2024), Old Scona Academic consistently ranks #1 for high schools with a perfect 10.0 score. Other top performers include Archbishop MacDonald (Catholic) and Millwoods Christian. For elementary schools, Stratford, Grandview Heights, and Mount Pleasant frequently score between 9.5 and 9.8, placing them in the top percentile of Alberta schools.
What is the average class size in Edmonton Public Schools?
According to 2024/2025 data, the average class size for Kindergarten to Grade 3 is 23.0 students (above the recommended 17). For High School (Grades 10–12), the average rises to 27.7 students. However, in high-demand “lottery” schools, parents should be prepared for outliers, with some core classes exceeding 35+ students.
What are the high school graduation rates for Edmonton?
Edmonton Catholic Schools (ECSD) currently reports a 3-year graduation rate of 80.7% and a 5-year rate of 88.6%, slightly outperforming the provincial average. Edmonton Public Schools (EPSB) reports a 3-year rate of ~76.5% and a 5-year rate of ~86.6%, though this varies significantly by individual high school.
What are the “hidden costs” of public school in Edmonton?
While tuition is free, you should budget for the following 2025/2026 fees:
Yellow Bus Service: $50.00/month (per student).
Lunch Supervision: ~$15.00–$18.00/month (if your child stays on campus).
ETS Bus Pass: $60.00/month (for Junior/Senior High students).
What are the chances of getting into a “Lottery” school?
Competition is fierce. Edmonton Public Schools grew by over 5.5% last year (adding ~6,000 students). If a school is at Level 3 (Lottery), living in the catchment does not guarantee a spot. Students not selected in the random lottery are redirected to an overflow school, which can be 15–20 minutes away by bus.
Do I need to be Catholic to attend Edmonton Catholic Schools?
Technically, yes for primary priority. Non-Catholic students are only admitted if there is “adequate space and resources.” In high-growth areas like Windermere or Secord, schools are often at or near capacity, meaning non-Catholic registration is effectively closed.
