Spruce Avenue School Replacement Project
BACKGROUND
Spruce Avenue School (Grades 7 to 9) has been on the Division’s Three-Year Capital Plan since 2008. In the fall of 2024, Spruce Avenue School was funded as a full replacement school as part of the new school construction accelerator program.
Edmonton Public Schools supports this direction as it will provide the best learning environment for students.
Community engagement
Families of Spruce Avenue School, families of students who attend the designated K to 6 schools (Delton, Norwood, John A. McDougall, Riverdale), and members of the Spruce Avenue community were invited to an in-person information session held on May 14, 2025.
At the in-person session, attendees joined small group discussions to share their hopes and fears about the new school. They also had a chance to ask questions.
An online survey was available from May 5 to 28, 2025 for members of the public who could not attend the meetings to share their thoughts.
A presentation was shared (both online and in-person) about the background of the Spruce Avenue School project, and what we currently know about the project.
Answers to common questions
Does Spruce Avenue School have a historical designation?
Spruce Avenue School is listed on the Inventory of Historic Resources in Edmonton, but is not designated as a Municipal Historic Resource. This means that it is recognized for its heritage value, but isn’t legally protected under the Alberta Historical Resources Act.
Why isn’t the building being modernized?
A third-party firm conducted a cost-benefit analysis of Spruce Avenue School for both a full replacement and modernization.
Of the two options, the replacement school offers the best value for money. The replacement school will provide students with improved learning spaces and a better overall student experience.
Modernization projects upgrade things like plumbing, wiring, and heating and ventilation—all important, but the work is limited to structural, electrical and mechanical changes. The structural concerns noted would require total replacement of the foundational structure.
A full replacement, as funded by the provincial government and supported by the Division, gives students the best opportunity to learn in a modern, high-quality, 21st century learning environment.
Can the Division keep the school building and use it for something else?
Due to costly upgrades and maintenance, Edmonton Public Schools is unable to keep the original school building once the new one opens.
Where will the new school be located?
The replacement school will be located west of the existing school. The Division and the provincial government will work with the City of Edmonton to assess any impact to bike paths, sidewalks, traffic, parking, roadways and bus zones.
What will the capacity of the new school be?
It will continue to be a Grades 7 to 9 school and will be built for 605 students, compared to the current school capacity of 460.
NEXT STEPS
Alberta Infrastructure is managing this project. Edmonton Public Schools wanted to give the school community a chance to share their thoughts about the replacement school.
All feedback collected from the online survey and the information session will be shared with the provincial government team leading the project.
The next phase in the process is to design and construct the replacement school. Construction of the new building is expected to begin in March of 2026 and the school is expected to open in January 2028.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information, contact the Division Infrastructure department at 780-429-8539 or planning@epsb.ca.
