EIPS Transition Plan Engagement
EIPS has developed a transition plan for students impacted by the decision to relocate the senior high French Immersion program and balance senior high enrolment in Sherwood Park. Throughout 2024-25, several consultation phases were conducted to ensure a smooth and successful transition for everyone involved.
Where are we now:
Latest Update
Thank you to all the families and students who attended the public information session about the draft transition plan. Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) reviewed the feedback collected and used it to finalize the transition plan for those impacted by the decision to relocate the senior high French Immersion program to Salisbury Composite High and balance senior high enrolment in Sherwood Park. Overall, the feedback was positive and supported the draft transition plan. As such, no changes were made. EIPS encourages everyone to read the transition plan before completing the returning student registration process—open on February 10-24.
EIPS Transition Plan – updated Feb. 7, 2025
All impacted students can register to attend the applicable school. Registration takes place during the returning student registration process, February 10-24. After the returning student registration process closes, schools will contact families directly to confirm registration and provide more detailed information about the school.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the public engagement process. EIPS appreciates the time and thought put into the feedback provided throughout the engagement effort. The goal: To ensure smooth transitions for everyone.
Learn More
Questions & Answers: Transition Planning Engagement
Transition Plan Highlights: For senior high French Immersion
The senior high French Immersion program will relocate to Salisbury Composite High, grades 10-12—using a phased-in approach.
2025-26
- Students entering Grade 10 French Immersion can choose to attend Salisbury Composite High or Ardrossan Junior Senior High—during the returning student registration process, February 10-24.
- The goal: To give students entering Grade 10 a choice in where they want to start and finish senior high.
- New in 2025-26, starting with students going into Grade 10, French Immersion senior high students must take 45 credits in courses taught in French over the three years to graduate with a French Immersion certificate.
2026-27
- Grade 12 students remain at Ardrossan Junior Senior High to complete their French Immersion programming.
- The school will offer the minimum requirement of courses so Grade 12 students can complete their French Immersion certificate.
- Salisbury Composite High will offer French Immersion programming for grades 10 and 11.
- Any student currently attending Ardrossan Junior Senior High can remain at the school for the regular English program.
2027-28
- All senior high French Immersion programming will be offered at Salisbury Composite High.
- To earn a French Immersion certificate, students must earn 45 credits in courses taught in French—15 at the 30 level.
Transition Plan Highlights: For balancing senior high in Sherwood Park
To balance senior high enrolment in Sherwood Park, students living in the junior high Lakeland Ridge attendance area will be redesignated to Bev Facey Community High for grades 10-12—effective in the 2026-27 school year.
2025-26 – The Sherwood Park senior high attendance boundaries remain unchanged. Meaning, senior high students living in the Lakeland Ridge junior high attendance boundary area are designated to Salisbury Composite High. If these students want to attend Bev Facey, they can do so. Simply request to attend the school during the returning student registration process, which takes place February 10-24—acceptance is subject to available space. Once enrolled at the school, the student can remain at the school until graduating.
2026-27 – The new Sherwood Park senior high attendance boundaries take effect. Meaning, senior high students living in the Lakeland Ridge junior high attendance area are redesignated to Bev Facey Community High. If these students want to attend Salisbury Composite, they can do so. Simply request to attend the school during the returning student registration process, which takes place in February 2026—acceptance is subject to available space. Once enrolled at the school, the student can remain at the school until graduating.
Background & Project History
Last year, Elk Island Public Schools (EIPS) finalized the last project listed within its three-year public engagement plan, which aimed to enhance programming offered throughout the Division. One of the four projects listed within the initiative, Project 1, involved engaging Strathcona County school communities about how best to accommodate students with the Division’s existing infrastructure. Specifically, how to address school capacity issues, improve attendance areas for junior high, balance senior high enrolment in Sherwood Park and enhance accommodations for French Immersion programming.
Between 2022 and 2024, significant work went into engaging stakeholders to determine the best solutions. After an exhaustive review of the stakeholder feedback, background information, trends, facts and figures, enrolment projections, attendance boundaries, available infrastructure, and input from working-group meetings with principals and staff, the Board determined how best to address the anticipated enrolment pressures in Ardrossan, enhance French Immersion program retention and balance senior high enrolment in Sherwood Park. The solution:
- To relocate EIPS’ senior high French Immersion program, grades 10 to 12, to Salisbury Composite High—effective when the Sherwood Park replacement school opens.
- To adjust Strathcona County’s senior high attendance boundaries by redesignating students residing in Lakeland Ridge’s junior attendance area to Bev Facey Community High for grades 10 to 12—effective when the Sherwood Park replacement school opens.
Both are effective when the new Sherwood Park replacement school opens, expected in the 2026-27 school year. Overall, the solution aligns with the feedback heard, supports divisional program goals, addresses enrolment concerns and is sustainable into the future.
To ensure EIPS gets the transition supports right, the Division has several consultation phases planned. In Phase 1, EIPS developed a draft transition plan, based on survey feedback from impacted students, staff and families, which ran November 7-20. The survey asked respondents a series of questions about their individual needs, concerns, goals and suggestions to make the transition as successful as possible.
In Phase 2, EIPS finalized the draft plan—using the survey data, considering local needs, program requirements and related outcomes-oriented strategies. Then in Phase 3, the Division shared the draft plan at a public feedback session—collecting even more input from stakeholders to help fine-tune and perfect a final version—Phase 4.
At the session, EIPS shared the draft transition plan in detail with stakeholders—for Solution 1: senior high French Immersion students; and Solution 2: senior high students living in the Lakeland Ridge area. Attendees also had the chance to learn more about the senior high schools, speak with EIPS representatives, ask questions and share their thoughts.
For those who couldn’t make it, an online feedback form was available to ensure everyone had the opportunity to share their thoughts. EIPS used the stakeholder input to inform next steps and fine-tune the final version of the transition plan.
RELATED INFORMATION
Draft Transition Plan
What We Heard Report: Transition Planning Engagement Survey
Frequently Asked Questions
The Solution: An overview
French Immersion Review
Balancing Senior High Enrolment