The Causes and Consequences of School Closures in Inner-City Calgary

Abstract

During the early decades of the 2000s, eleven schools closed in Calgary’s established neighbourhoods, due to declining enrolment or outdated infrastructure. The loss of a school is often devastating to a community and can lead to further population decline. A research project was commissioned by the government to investigate the causes and consequences of school closures and to make recommendations, particularly related to urban form, to address the issues. Analysis of the 500 sq km study area included historic evolution of urban form, schools mapping and data analysis, development of a typology of school buildings and grounds, mapping of school inter-relationships and closures, review of school board practices and policies, and precedent studies. A case study of the catchment area of one high school included historic evolution of urban form factors, mapping of the network of feeder schools, analysis of neighbourhood and schools socio-demographics, and a review of school program changes. The causes of school closures relate to a combination of city development processes, neighbourhood lifecycles, neighbourhood types, infill and densification processes, housing types, school sizes and building types, socio-demographic factors influencing school choice, and school board policies, and the consequences affect neighbourhoods and communities.