Hi all

As we grow nearer to moving we are looking at elementary schools and areas to live. Hoping that some Calgary dwellers may know, or have some advice on Edgemont school.

The areas I've been looking at houses are mainly Edgemont, Citadel, Hawkwood, Royal Oak, Tuscany and Rocky Ridge (but more rural, but still so close to the city). Any other elementary schools around those areas anyone can recommend?

Thanks, hope the storms today haven't hit you too hard in Calgary!

Wayne

Not sure about all the areas - I know Royal Oak (which also covers Rocky Ridge) and Tuscany schools are full and hard to get in to. Even if your kids got in they might not be guaranteed to stay in.

Citadel Park has space. Again, not sure about the rest but yes to give you a heads up as it might instantly change your decision on where to live. Check with the local school board.

Hawkwood is meant to be a good school. Tuscany is a huge school and you may not get in. They send overflow kids to Silver springs.

Ditto Royal Oak/Rocky ridge.

I have heard edgemont is good; but don't know anyone who has gone there personally.

You could perhaps try looking a little more inwards from those areas e.g. Arbour Lake, Scenic Acres, Silver Springs, Varsity Estates, Varsity Acres, Dalhousie, Brentwood. These communities have some pretty good school choices. I've heard good things about the Scenic Acres School and also Silver Springs Elementary too.

Have you checked the website that shows you which communities have which schools nominated? It gives you a better idea of if kids need to be bussed, etc: http://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/community.asp

You might also want to keep an eye on which middle and high schools are nominated for your community too - its not always obvious, and some people in the past have said Bowness High isn't as great as some of the other options, so something else to bear in mind, although you can move before that happens!

Some of the older communities are having the opposite problem with schools in that they are undersubscribed. The communities here seem pretty homogenous in that, for example, Tuscany is a relatively new community, largely with families with kids, hence local schools are oversubscribed and some kids have to get bussed to other communities. Where I live in a 1970's community, occupants are in transition - quite a lot of people whose kids have grown up and are just flying the nest so new families are starting to move in. As a result, the two elementaries are at half capacity and they are currently consulting on options!

I wouldn't call any of the areas you mentioned "rural" at all. Those communities are basically the outer suburbs but different ones have a different feel according to how new they are, the trees, etc. If you want a more small town feel and the commute isn't an issue then perhaps check out Cochrane.

If you need public transit you might want to steer towards those communities with good access to the C Train or with a good bus connector to a station.

Good luck - there's a lot to choose from out there!!!

+1.

If either you or your spouse was raised Catholic you can put them into the Catholic system. You have to register with the Catholic board - not the usual Kingsland Centre.

Cochrane is very nice, we have some friends who live there (bit pricey though). Aparenlty the school is good too. Just make sure that its not too far from your place of work as it takes them over an hour to get to work (they work on the south side of the city).

We're in Cochrane. Two main elementary schools plus Catholic school etc. All have good reputations and we're happy with the one my kids have attended. Its a great town but the down side is its a longer commute for those working in Calgary (although many do commute, my husband included) plus bear in mind there's no public transport as yet into the city. There is a private commuter bus but, generally people either drive all the way or drive to NW Calgary and catch the C-train from there.