New Public High School to Open in Southeast Edmonton Amidst Growing Enrollment Pressure

Elder Dr. Francis Whiskeyjack High School, a new public high school in southeast Edmonton, is set to welcome students later this week. The school, located along 17th Street at 24th Avenue, will officially open its doors on Thursday. While this marks an exciting milestone for the community, school board officials emphasize the ongoing need for more space as student enrollment numbers continue to rise.

Principal Tammy Tchir expressed her excitement as the school prepares to open. “It’s great for the southeast community, for sure. Our students are anxiously awaiting the opening of a brand-new high school,” Tchir said during a media tour of the facility. The school, spanning over 234,000 square feet, has a capacity of 2,400 students, 150 staff members, and 103 classrooms. It will initially accommodate Grade 10 and Grade 11 students, with Grade 12 being added in the 2025-26 school year. Approximately 850 students are expected to attend this year, leaving room for future growth.

Despite the school’s size, Edmonton Public Schools Board Chair Julie Kusiek highlighted the pressing need for additional educational facilities. “Over the next 10 years, we expect to need to open up 50 new schools,” Kusiek stated. She noted that the division is welcoming 6,600 more students this year compared to last fall, with no signs of slowing growth.

Kusiek also acknowledged the challenges of accommodating increasing student numbers, which may lead to larger class sizes and repurposing of spaces. “There’s a real urgency, and the numbers tell a very strong story,” she said. The division’s three-year capital plan outlines the need for nine new schools and three modernization projects to keep pace with projected enrollment growth.

The Edmonton Catholic School system is also experiencing pressure, with expectations of exceeding 50,000 students this school year. The division has outlined the need for two new high schools and four new K-9 schools to address overcrowding.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides acknowledged the rising enrollment and affirmed the government’s commitment to addressing the growth with record investments in education infrastructure and staffing.