Foothills School Division Announces Construction Funding for New High School in Okotoks

February 15, 2025

High River, AB: The Foothills School Division (FSD) is pleased to announce that on February 15, 2025, it received notice of construction funding for a new high school in Okotoks, Alberta. This news marks a significant milestone for the rapidly growing community of Okotoks, addressing the critical need for enhanced educational facilities that continue to offer choice in education.

The innovative high school will be built south of FSD’s Meadow Ridge School along 32^nd Street in Okotoks. This high school will meet the learning needs of the community with an opening capacity of 1,020 spaces for students in grades 10 to 12 who are from Okotoks and the surrounding areas, including youth from as far as Priddis. The school will be designed to support the diverse educational needs of the community, fostering both academic and personal growth among students.

Today's announcement follows the recognition and support FSD received from Alberta’s government, which allocated design funding for this high school project in the 2024 budget. This new commitment of funding is an exemplar of the Government of Alberta’s pledge to accelerate school construction projects and provide much-needed relief to the current capacity situations at several schools across Alberta including FSD’s École Secondaire Foothills Composite High School | Alberta High School of Fine Arts in Okotoks.

The Foothills School Division Board of Trustees extends its gratitude to the local MLAs and the Honourable Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides, for their continued commitment to supporting education across the province. Board Chair Theresa Letendre expressed the Board’s appreciation, stating: “We are grateful to Alberta Education for recognizing and addressing the critical need for educational infrastructure in Okotoks. Once constructed, the new high school will alleviate pressures at ÉSFCHS | ASHFA and complement our existing high school by providing additional capacity and thoughtfully designed spaces to inspire learning and support student success. On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I would also like to thank our partners in education who have steadfastly advocated for this high school since it became a capital priority for the Division in 2015.” The Division eagerly anticipates collaborating with its education partners, the Town of Okotoks, and Alberta Education to make this long-awaited vision a reality.

Drew Chipman, Assistant Superintendent of Corporate Services / Secretary Treasurer emphasized the importance of this funding, stating, “The construction funding is crucial for our division, allowing us to further the engagement, support, and success for all students. We are working with Alberta Infrastructure and the Town of Okotoks to plan the school site and consult with our partners in education to determine what the school will offer students and our community. We look forward to operating an innovative facility that enhances learning and serves as a resource that places education at the centre of a flourishing community.”

Further details about this capital project, and how the public can inform decisions will be shared on the project’s engagement website, fsdconnect.com/OkotoksHS.

 Media Contact:

Sara Fox
Manager of Communications and Community Engagement
communications@fsd38.ab.ca