Rocky View Schools (RVS) is pleased to share progress on a new Kindergarten – Grade 8 school planned for the Rivercrest community in Cochrane. Construction of this new school – expected to begin in the spring of 2026 with completion in fall 2028 – will bring much-needed learning spaces to the growing town and help ease enrolment pressures in surrounding RVS schools. Construction of the school was approved by the provincial government in Budget 2024.

“Our existing schools in Cochrane are full and the need for additional spaces is urgent – we are excited to see movement on this important project,” said Board Chair, Fiona Gilbert. “Once open, this new school will bring much-needed relief to our existing schools and help create improved learning and working environments for our students and staff.”

The development permit application for the Rivercrest school has been submitted. Once this step is complete, the provincial government will begin the process of selecting a P3 (public-private partnership) consortium. The school is the second of three new RVS schools to use the same design, a practice which can significantly speed up the blueprint to construction process. The school was thoughtfully designed to make the most of available space, supporting meaningful student learning while meeting Alberta Education’s programming expectations.

This new school is one of several capital projects underway across the division as RVS works to meet the needs of its rapidly growing communities. It typically takes three to four years to build a school and open it for learning once approved for construction by the provincial government. RVS is appreciative of the Town of Cochrane’s ongoing collaboration to ensure the site for this school and others in the community are shovel ready, an important decision factor for the provincial government when it determines which new schools will be approved for construction.

The population of Cochrane grew by 65 per cent from 2004 to 2024, bringing many new residents – and RVS students – to the community; however, approval for the construction of new schools has not kept pace with this growth. Following years of strong Board and community advocacy efforts, construction of this new school project will provide critically important student spaces on the town’s south side.

“RVS can’t wait to celebrate the opening of this much-needed Kindergarten – Grade 8 school,” said Gilbert. “With 905 new student spaces, it will help address ongoing space pressures in our schools and support the growing public education needs of families in Cochrane.”

Modular classrooms could help with overcrowding in the short term until this new school can be built and opened for learning.  RVS is hopeful Alberta Education will proceed with additional modular classroom approvals.

There will be future opportunities for the community to provide input on the school’s attendance area and to suggest a name for this important new school. RVS will continue to provide updates as the project progresses.

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