Calgary Board of Education Demographic Analysis

By: Kate L, Celia N, Kate M, Nicole P, Katelyn W, Erin Y

Geographical location of the district​:

● Located in South-Central Alberta, Calgary is the largest city in Alberta

Calgary Information
● Population 2016: 1 498 778 (most aged 15-64)
○ Average age of population: 37.6
○ Population Distribution by age in 2014:
■ 0-4 years 7%
■ 5-14 years 12%
■ 15-19 years 6%
■ 20-64 years 66%
■ 65+ years 10%
● Average size of census families: 3
● Average household income: $67 700
○ Can see large variations in this between neighbourhoods
● Language most spoken: English
○ Official language language minority percentage: 1.8%
○ Percent of people who speak neither English nor French: 2%
○ English: 79%
○ French: 1%
○ Top 5 Non-Official Languages Spoken:
■ Punjabi: 12%
■ Chinese: 10%
■ Tagalog: 8%
■ Cantonese: 8%
■ Spanish: 8%
■ Multiple Languages: 5%
● Median total income in 2015: 43 833, most earn over 80 000
● Canadian citizens:1 318 760
○ Immigrants: 415 930 (most from 2001-2010, most commonly from the
Philippines)
○ Identify as Aboriginal: 46 280
○ Most Visible Minority Population: South Asian
● High School Diploma or Equivalent = 25%
● No Certificate, Diploma, or Degree = 15%
● Post-Secondary certificate, Diploma, or Degree = 60%
 ● http://www.compareschoolrankings.org​ ←-Where to find Calgary school ratings!
● District initiatives/priorities prospective teachers in that district should be aware of.
○ The Calgary Board of Education is dedicated to creating inclusive learning
environments to all students regardless of physical ability, mental ability, gender
identity and gender expression, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic
diversity, race, ancestry, gender, religious beliefs, socioeconomic status, and
family composition.
○ The Calgary Board of Education is dedicated to creating “safe and caring
enviroments for LGBTQ youth.” (cbe.ca) Many staff have created gay-straight
alliances as peer and staff support for students struggling with their gender or
identity.
○ The Calgary Board of Education offers diverse programs throughout the district
including: assistance for English Language Learners, cultural and linguistic
support, exceptional and special needs, Indigenous education (k-12),
interpretation and translation, psychological services, reconnect with learning,
specialized services. (cbe.ca)

Calgary Board of Education Information:

● Location of the district’s head office (district superintendent’s office):
○ 1221 8 St SW, Calgary, AB T2L 0L4
● All Catholic schools in Calgary are covered under a separate district
● 246 Total Schools
● Total Staff Employed: 14 000
○ Roughly 5 000 teachers
● 121 000 students

Calgary Board of Education is split into 7 areas with specific offices:

Area 1: Parkdale Centre 728-32 Street NW
Area 2: Mount View Centre 2004-4 Street NE
Area 3: Forest Lawn High School 1304-44 Street SE
Area 4: Marlborough Centre 4711 Maryvale Drive NE
Area 5: Douglasdale School 390 Douglas Park Blvd SE
Area 6: Haysboro Centre 1123-87 Avenue SW
Area 7: A.E. Cross School 3445-37 Street SW
Social Issues Affecting Calgary Area:
● Growing immigrant and ELL population
● Affluence differences within schools and areas of the city
● Diverse learning needs within integrated classrooms
● Wide range of demographic differences within the city (economics, religion, race,
cultural background, socio-economic background)
● Bus budget cuts affecting students ability to attend school

In the news:
● “​40 Calgary public schools are over 100% capacity​” - CBC News, December 4, 2018
● “The CBE released standardized-test results showing more than 40 per cent of Grade 9
students failed their math exams last year, while officials also confirmed that acceptable
standards were much lower than 50 per cent” Calgary Herald, January 2019
● “​Calgary school board defends controversial Indigenous student art piece​”: “Junior High
School student Jay Crann said she was shocked to see a piece of art that read, “Kill the
Indian inside of you,” in the school’s library.” - Global News, December 24, 2018
 Location Number Special Programs Other?
in the of schools
city

Area NW -35 -Home Education Schools -Issues with

1 Calgary schools -German Bilingual School integration
total -Therapeutic Schools for those with -Issues with
wage
-Mostly moderate to severe cognitive disabilities
discrepancies
K-6 and/or complex learning, medical, -Mental Health
schools (9) emotional, sensory or behavioural needs focus
averaging -​Dr. Gordon Townsend School: in the -Sports focus
401 Alberta Children’s Hospital -Louise Dean
students -Mandarin Bilingual School School offers a
each -National Sports School program
focused towards
-3 10-12 -West View School: Calgary Young pregnant and
schools Offender Center parenting
(averaging -Wood’s Homes - William Taylor teenagers who
1460 Learning Centre: educational and are pursuing a
students) therapeutic opportunities for students who High School
have severe behavioural/emotional diploma.
difficulties
-Young Adult Program/Adolescent Day
Treatment Program: for those with severe
mental health issues at the Foothills
hospital

Area NE -33 -Traditional Learning Centres (TLC) (4 -23% of

2 Calgary Schools Schools) residents are
-22 -Early and Late French Immersion (5 immigrants
Elementar Schools) -7% of residents
y Schools -Spanish Bilingual (3 Schools) identify as
-8 Junior -Chinese (Mandarin Immersion/bilingual) Indigenous
High (2 Schools) -Median
Schools -Advanced Placement (AP) High School household
-3 High opportunities (2 schools) income is
Schools -Dual Credit High School opportunities (3 $63 129
-Averaging Schools) -Other
17 028 -International baccalaureate (IB) High non-official
students School opportunities (1 School) languages in
-Arts-centered (1 School) this area are:
-Therapeutic treatment alongside Cantonese,
 schooling (1 school) Chinese,
Mandarin and
Spanish
-Children’s
Village K-6
Elementary
School, with 64
students in
attendance,
combines
therapeutic
treatment
alongside
Elementary
education.

Area NE & SE -37 -4 Outreach Schools -High

3 Calgary Schools -3 Early French Immersion immigrant rate
-7 High -3 Science -Niitsitapi
Schools -2 Indigenous Focus Learning Centre
-2 AP (K-3)
-3 Dual Credit Indigenous
-3 Off Campus Work Experience Focus
-Piitoayis
Family School
(K-6)
Indigenous
Focus

Area NE -31 -L.E.A.D programs to support ELL -High

4 Calgary Schools -CSSI program for kids with ASD and immigrant rate.
-2 High PLP for older children with with 20% of
Schools cognitive disability/ADHD/ASD population
-29 -1 AP school considered “low
Elementar -2 French Immersion income.”
y/Junior
High
Schools

Area SE -34 -1 CSSI -Cranston has

5 Calgary Schools -1 French Immersion + TLC the largest
-24 -1 Montessori population of
Elementar -1 Chinese Bilingual toddler aged
y schools -1 Fine Arts children in the
-3 middle city. New
 schools Brighton and
-2 Jr High McKenzie
schools Town are not
-5 High far behind
Schools -Average
median
outcome of
$122, 229.
-19% of
residence are of
a visible
minority.
-9% of
residences
speak a
non-official
language

Area SW -37 total -6 Spanish Bilingual Schools -School

6 Calgary schools -1 Alternative High School designed for
-21 -2 AP Schools students with
Elementar
-Center for Performing and Visual Arts complex
y Schools
-11 Jr. -2 Career and Technology Programs learning needs
Highs -Automotive studies --Emily
-4 High -Off-Campus Work and RAP Follensbee
Schools -7 Early French Immersion Schools School
-1 K-12 -2 Dual-Credit Programs -Science
School -2 Early work experience programs Alternative
-1 School designed for students with Program
complex learning needs --Louis Riel
-1 Mandarin Bilingual School School
-1 International Baccalaureate -Science
-1 GATE school Alternative
-1 Science Alternative Program Program
-1 designed for students with emotional -- Louis Riel
and behavioural needs School
-1 Complete French Immersion School -School
designed for
students with
emotional and
behavioural
 needs --
William Roper
Hull

Area SW -37 total -5 Early French Immersion -All Boys

7 Calgary Schools: -3 Late French Immersion Program (an all
(~ 18 000 -1 Spanish Bilingual boys school)
students) -2 ESL/ELL school
-23 K-6 -1 school for complex learning disabilities
Schools -2 FSL School
(average -3 AP school
329 -3 Dual credit school
students) -3 Off-campus work experience
-3 10-12 -1 with unique career and technology
schools courses
(average -1 TLC
2068 -2 GATE school
student) -2 Deaf and hard of hearing classes
-​1 Montessori
-1 Special education mental health
-1 IB
-1 IB in French

Links to Check:
https://www.cbe.ab.ca/about-us/leadership/Pages/schools-by-area.aspx
https://www.cbe.ab.ca/programs/supports-for-students/Pages/English-Language-Learners.aspx
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Documents/community_social_statistics/
http://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/CNS/Pages/Social-research-policy-and-resources/Community-profiles/
http://www.compareschoolrankings.org
https://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/find-a-school/Pages/default.aspx
https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/vague-report-cards-frustrate-parents-as-cbe-admits-teacher-assessments-dont-match-test-results
https://www.calgary-real-estate.com/area5-public-schools.php