2027-2028 Applications

Who is this program for?

Alberta Classical Academy schools are intended for learners who are committed to seeking moral, intellectual, athletic and artistic excellence, and who wish to partake in a community of friendship, conversation, respect for human dignity, and a shared pursuit of truth, wisdom, and beauty. 

Our program is demanding, both academically and in its standards for behaviour. Pupils are expected to follow the school’s code of conduct, support the school’s philosophy and charter, apply themselves diligently and conscientiously to their studies, and seek to better themselves morally. Families and pupils applying to the academy also expected to have a demonstrated interest in the classical liberal arts tradition.

When will the application portal open?

The application portal is open as of November 9. Please visit the link above to apply.

What is the deadline to apply?

Our lottery will run on February 1. To ensure entry into the lottery, please ensure your application is submitted by January 25.

If space is available through other admissions streams, late applications may still be considered past this date.

What are the different admissions streams?

Alberta Classical Academy has several admissions streams:

• a general lottery;

• priority categories for siblings of current students, staff families, and those demonstrating exceptional accomplishments in the liberal arts;

• a geographic catchment category for students residing near the school site (typically within ~2.5km)

How does the waitlist work?

Should eligible applicants exceed the space available for a given grade, pupils will be entered into a lottery, which will determine their position on a waitlist. Each grade has its own waitlist, and waitlists are reset every year.

Students with a sufficiently high place in the waitlist will be invited to the school to attend a family interview / grade placement assessment. Formal admission offers will follow.

When will I hear if my child is admitted?

Most enrolment offers are made in the early Spring (March/April). Due to the volume of applications received, families will only be contacted if they have a sufficiently high place in the waitlist. Email inquiries related to application or lottery number status will not be answered.

The Classical Academy is the nearest public school to my home. Does my child get to attend?

20% of vacancies in the school are reserved for students living within the immediate geographical vicinity of the school (typically ~2.5km, depending on campus).

If you live near the school but apply after the lottery date, your application may still have priority if the 20% allocation has not yet been filled.

Families applying in this category will be asked to provide proof of their residential address (e.g. a utility bill or Notice of Assessment, or similar).

Which grades are offered at each campus?

The Calgary Bridgeland Campus offers grades K-4. After grade 4, enrolled students transfer to the Currie campus.

The Calgary Currie Campus will offer grades K-12 in the upcoming school year.

The Edmonton Campus will offer grades K-11 in the upcoming school year.

I applied last year. Do I need to re-apply?

We do not carry over our waitlists from year to year. If you applied last year but did not receive a place in the school, you will need to apply again.

If you were offered a space in a previous year but declined the offer, you will similarly need to re-apply.

How old does my child have to be to apply?

To be eligible to apply, your child must turn five years old by December 31st of the school year for which you are applying.

What is the Statement of Interest?

When you apply, you will be asked to provide a written statement of interest (max: 500 words). This requirement applies to all parents of children from Kindergarten to Grade 8, and all students entering Grade 5 and above. Applicants will also be asked to choose at least one additional written question in the application portal.

The written component of the application is mandatory, and is intended to ensure that applicants have made a sincere effort to understand our program. Before writing your statement, we strongly encourage you to attend an open house at the school, read our website, and watch informational videos about the school.

Please do not use AI tools such as ChatGPT to generate your Statement of Interest. If fraud or plagiarism is detected, your application will be voided.

What supporting documents will I need to apply?

When you apply, you will be asked to upload the following documents:

• Proof of Canadian citizenship or valid immigration status (e.g. birth certificate, passport, permanent residency card, etc.)

• Parent’s Statement of Interest (parents of children entering Kindergarten to Grade 8; should not exceed 500 words)

• Student’s Statement of Interest (for students entering grade 5 and above. Must be handwritten and scanned, and should not exceed 500 words)

• Copy of two most recent report cards (for children transferring from other schools or homeschooling programs)

• Copy of Provincial Achievement Test results (if applicable)

• Copy of Individual Program Plan (IPP) (if applicable)

• Copy of Psycho-Educational Assessment (if applicable)

• Legal documentation pertaining to custody orders or court protection orders (if applicable)

Do you select students based on academic ability?

Students admitted to the Alberta Classical Academy must demonstrate an ability and willingness to meet grade-level expectations. We ask that parents provide their child’s most recent report cards for the purpose of determining the most appropriate grade placement for the child.

What's involved in the family / grade placement meeting?

Prospective pupils with a sufficiently high waitlist position will be asked to attend a family meeting with the principal and to complete an assessment to determine the appropriate academic grade level and placement. Students entering Grade 5 and above are also expected to demonstrate their personal interest in attending the school by answering essay questions.

Families asked to attend an interview and academic screening may be required to pay a non-refundable $35.00 administrative fee.

What if I have more questions, or need to update my application?

All questions about the application process or the status of a pending application should be directed to applications@classicalacademy.ca . Please include the applicant’s name, grade, city, and preferred campus (if known) in the subject line of the email. Please do not call the school office for an update.

Can I attend an open house or book a tour?

We strongly encourage prospective families to attend an open house. Due to a high volume of inquiries, we are generally unable to facilitate private tours for parents, but do consider such requests on a case-by-case basis.

Is Kindergarten full-day or half-day?

We offer full-day and half-day Kindergarten options. Because Alberta Education only funds half-day kindergarten, families choosing the full-day option are expected to subsidize a portion of the program. Full-day Kindergarten fees in the 2026-2027 academic year are set at $230/month in Calgary and $484/month in Edmonton.

Can I apply for both the Currie campus and the Bridgeland campus?

Yes: if you have a child entering Kindergarten to Grade 4, you may submit applications to both Calgary campuses. This will require you to create two separate Powerschool Enrollment accounts with different email addresses (we recommend one parent/guardian apply at one campus, and the other parent/guardian at the other campus).

Please note that bus service is not guaranteed, particularly if your child is attending the campus that is farther from their home (e.g. busing may not be available to a student residing near the Currie campus but attending the Bridgeland campus, and vice versa).

If I withdraw my child from the Classical Academy, will you hold a spot for them in case they wish to return in the future?

Unless otherwise approved in advance, we will not hold a space for a child who withdraws from the school. Families who choose to un-enrol a child from one campus forfeit their child's seat at that campus and will need to re-apply if interested.

When my grade 4 student transfers to the Currie campus for grade 5, do younger siblings get priority status in the lottery to move to Currie as well?

Sibling priority does not apply to transfers between ACA campuses located in the same city.