The right-sizing of elementary schools in Rocky Mountain House is now “priority one” for Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) as part of its 2026-2029 capital plan.
The proposed plan involves constructing a new, consolidated elementary school that would replace both École Rocky Elementary and Lochearn Elementary, two aging schools that face significant infrastructure challenges.
École Rocky Elementary, originally built in 1948 and expanded multiple times over the years, has long struggled with maintenance issues. A structural inspection in 2021 highlighted problems with aging components such as heating boilers, air handling systems, and roofing. With a low utilization rate of approximately 46 per cent, a report shows the school is underused and requires costly renovations to keep up with modern standards.
Lochearn Elementary, built in 1960 and also expanded in the following decades, faces similar concerns, including deteriorating foundation walls and outdated mechanical systems. Despite having a higher utilization rate of about 80 per cent, the school is also seen as financially inefficient to modernize, with estimates suggesting that upgrading the building would cost up to 90 per cent of the price of constructing a new school.
The proposed solution is to build a new elementary school on the existing Lochearn site. This facility would accommodate Kindergarten to Grade 4 students, while Grade 5 students would be moved to Pioneer Middle School. The new school would replace both École Rocky and Lochearn, which would be demolished once the new facility is operational. This plan is expected to improve the overall utilization rates for elementary schools in Rocky Mountain House, while providing modern, safe, and energy-efficient facilities for students and staff.
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The WRSD’s capital plan aligns with several priorities outlined by Alberta Education, including improving building conditions, ensuring functional programming, and supporting community renewal. It says the new school would provide an opportunity to address the aging infrastructure at both existing schools and meet current educational needs.
Additionally, the report shows consolidation would help reduce operational costs, which have been higher than average due to the underutilization of both schools.
Alberta Education and Alberta Infrastructure also expect the school division’s capital plan to result in improved utilization rates approaching 90 per cent.
École Rocky Elementary, which is over 75 years old, may be consolidated with Lochearn Elementary into one, modern, state-of-the-art K-4 school. (Wild Rose School Division)
The plan has garnered support following a series of community consultations and a Value Management session held in April 2024, which included input from school principals, parents, town officials, and Alberta Education representatives.
The session identified the proposed consolidation as the most cost-effective option, with an estimated cost of $27 million, significantly lower than the estimated $45 million required for a full modernization of the existing schools. The proposal also addresses key issues such as improving space for growing student populations, ensuring the school is centrally located, and providing a modern learning environment.
Following the Rocky right-sizing proposal, the following priorities include:
- Priority 2 – Modernization of Aurora Elementary School in Drayton Valley
- Priority 3 – Modernization and Right Size of Caroline School
- Priority 4 – Modernization of Frank Maddock High School in Drayton Valley
While WRSD officials remain optimistic, the approval of the plan is contingent on funding from Alberta Education. The provincial government requires school boards to submit its capital plans as of April 1.
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