In fall 2022, Edmonton Public Schools took a key step towards better understanding the diversity of the students we serve by inviting Grades 4 to 12 students to participate in a demographic survey.
Thank you to all students who participated in the survey. Read the questions.
The below video is presented in English with captioning in:
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Why the survey is important
Edmonton Public Schools is committed to anti-racism and equity. Student responses to the survey will help inform our actions to make school a welcoming and safe place for all students.
The results of this survey will help us:
better understand how to honour and respect students’ identities
identify and reduce barriers that impact groups of students
inform action to help all students feel safe, have a sense of belonging and experience success
About the survey
In fall 2022, Edmonton Public Schools did a student demographic survey for the first time. Participating students in Grades 4 to 12 had the opportunity to share more information about their identity with the Division.
The questions on the survey addressed the following:
Indigenous identity
racial identity
ethnicity
religion or spiritual affiliation
gender identity
sexual orientation (Grades 7 to 12 only)
Student privacy
As good stewards of information, Edmonton Public Schools follows the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP) and best practices to collect, store and protect student information and data.
The information students shared is on a secure central server and only accessed by a small number of Division staff who are responsible for data management and privacy. Individual student responses are confidential and will not be shared with school staff, families or the public at large. After the initial work to analyze the data, it will be made anonymous.
All findings will be reported at the Division level. No individuals or schools will be identified.
Completing the survey
The survey was open for students between November 1 and December 16, 2022. At least one day prior to completing the survey, students participated in an orientation session. The survey was completed during instructional time and under the support of a school staff member.
All survey questions were voluntary, which meant students could respond to the questions they felt comfortable answering.
Parents who did not want their child to participate in the orientation or the survey could opt their child out by contacting their school.
Letter from the Superintendent
On October 24, 2022, the Superintendent shared the following letter about the survey with families.
Hearing from students was the first step in a multi-year journey. We will begin work to report on the information shared by students and the work to further analyze this data over the coming weeks and months. Information from the survey will help identify steps the Division can take to support greater success for students.
We anticipate having preliminary demographic results ready to share this spring. All reporting will be at the Division level and will not identify individual schools or students.
Families can expect to see this information on epsb.ca later this school year.
