Enrolment at Canadian Rocky Public Schools (CRPS) has seen an increase overall in students from 2013-14, but is a dozen shy of previous projections for this year.
Enrolment statistics from the end of September show there are 2,180 students enrolled at CRPS schools, which includes Morley and international students in the stats. The number is up 11 students from last year. The division, however, missed its mark by 12 among government-funded students, but is still guaranteed provincial backing because it was a flood-affected division.
CRPS Superintendent Chris MacPhee is satisfied with the numbers as they are now, and says there are a number of various factors as to why the projected enrolment didn’t meet its point, such as high Grade 12 graduation rates and a hot, but expensive, housing market in the valley.
“We’re always monitoring our enrolment trends year-to-year and in an over-time period,” MacPhee said. “I would say I’m always concerned when I see the socioeconomic conditions that are prevalent right now in the Bow Valley and where enrolment will go in the future.”
According to MoneySense, which dubs itself “Canada’s leading personal finance” magazine and website, there was over a $100,000 differential in Canmore’s average housing costs from 2013 to 2014. In its annual feature, “Canada’s best places to live,” published in March, the average Canmore house price in 2013 was $610,282 (data numbers were crunched in 2012), and in 2014, it elevated to a stunning $710,673. Canmore ranks at sixth in the country for highest in average house prices, which was the same place as 2013.
“It makes it a challenge for young families with children to stay or to enter the valley,” MacPhee said. “So where our numbers are right now I would say I’m pleased.”
Both Banff schools and Canmore Collegiate High School saw a small bump up in numbers. No major declines were seen throughout the division.
