Facts about Education

    Facts worth knowing about Alberta's education system, 2010 

    2010 Schools

    Type Number
    Public Schools 1,436
    Separate Schools 364
    Francophone Schools 35
    Charter Schools 19
    Private Schools 152
    Private ECS Operators 113
    Total 2,119
    Source: Alberta Education, July 14, 2010

    2010 School Authorities

    Type Number
    Public 41
    Separate 17
    Francophone 5
    Charter 13
    Private Schools 129
    Private ECS Operators 102
    Total 307
    Source: Alberta Education 

    Students by Grade Level (2009/10)

    Type Number
    High School Students 157,770
    Junior High School Students 134,854
    Elementary Students 258,719
    ECS Students 50,286
    Total 601,629
    Source: Alberta Education

    Students by Type of School (2009/10)

    Type of School Number
    Public Schools 416,763
    Separate Schools 135,672
    Francophone Schools 5,563
    Charter Schools 7,550
    Private Schools 24,097
    Private ECS Schools 3,445
    Schools Operated by Other ECS to Grade 12 Education Providers 8,539
    Source: Alberta Education

    Class Sizes in 2009/10

    Grades Averages Target
    K-3 18.5 17
    4-6 21.5 23
    7-9 22.5 25
    10-12 22.8 27

    Of 62 public, separate and francophone school boards:

    • 51 exceed target in Grades K-3
    • 9 exceed target in Grades 4-6
    • 2 exceeds target in Grades 7-9
    • 0 exceed target in Grades 10-12

    Source: Alberta Education

    High School Completion Rates

    Fifth School Year After Grade 10 3-Year Rate** 5-Year Rate**
    2007/08 70.7% 79.2%
    2006/07  71.0%  79.5% 
    2005/06 70.4% 78.6%
    2004/05 70.4% 77.4%
    2003/04 69.3% 75.5%
    2002/03 67.8% 75.2%
    * % of students completing in 3 years after entering Grade 10
    ** % of students completing in 5 years after entering Grade 10
    Source: Alberta Education

    Base Funding Per Student (Grades 1-9) and Inflation

    Year Instructional Grant Inflation*
    1996/97 $3,686 1.7%
    1997/98 $3,686/$3,716 1.1%
    1998/99 $3,860 3.5%
    1999/2000 $3,976 3.7%
    2000/01 $4,096 2.8%
    2001/02 $4,239 2.9%
    2002/03 $4,367 3.4%
    2003/04 $4,454 4.4%
    2004/05 $4,963 1.4%(e)
    2005/06 $5,087 2.1%
    2006/07     $5,291 3.9%
    2007/08 $5,450 4.8%
    2008/09 $5,697 3.1%
    2009/10  $6,038  -0.1% 
    * % change based on Alberta Consumer Price Index
    Source: Alberta Education and Statistics Canada.

    Number of Teachers 1990/91-2009/10

    Year Active Full-time Active Part-time
    1988/89 24,993 2,872
    1989/90 25,899 3,042
    1990/91 26,301 3,308
    1991/92 26,977 3,245
    1992/93 27,080 3,379
    1993/94 26,569 3,560
    1994/95 25,628 3,875
    1995/96 25,357 4,116
    1996/97 25,595 3,896
    1997/98 25,467 4,142
    1998/99 26,557 4,346
    1999/2000 26,220 4,669
    2000/01 27,236 4,932
    2001/02 27,596 4,872
    2002/03 27,706 5,011
    2003/04 27,027 4,928
    2004/05 28,201 5,058
    2005/06 28,741 4,978
    2006/07 29,056 4,686
    2007/08 29,504 4,879
    2008/09 30,063 4,759
    2009/10  30,240  4,818 
    Source: The Alberta Teachers’ Association.