Foothills Academy

Canada, Calgary

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The school at a glance

Instructs in English

Fees CA$16,200

Ages Not listed

Pupil numbers 300

Type Co-educational

Opened 1979

Bus Service No

Availability Not shared by this school

Academic offering

Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP), SEN focussed

Taught languages French

Strengths STEM, Academic Enrichment, Outdoor Education

Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language

Stages Elementary, Middle School, Senior Secondary School

Introduction

Foothills Academy is an independent private day school in Calgary serving students in grades 3–12 with diagnosed learning disabilities. It operates as a Designated Special Education Private School, delivering the Alberta Education program with accommodations and supports to help each student succeed. In grades 3–6, core courses use Structured Literacy with Wilson Reading aligned to Orton-Gillingham and Science of Reading principles, supported by Self-Determination Theory under the motto Find Understanding; Build Confidence; Maximize Potential. In grades 7–9, courses follow the Alberta Curriculum with rotating electives; in grades 10–12, the senior program adheres to the Alberta Program of Studies with diploma exams. Class sizes are small (12–14), with a teacher and Educational Assistant, and students have access to Read/Write & Math Intervention, assistive technology, Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology; staff receive Wilson Language literacy training. The Parkdale campus features bright, welcoming spaces with outdoor classrooms and STEM labs, and bus service across Calgary and to Cochrane.

www.foothillsacademy.org

745 37 Street NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4T1

Gallery

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Vibes and Culture

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The Essentials

Location

745 37 St NW, Calgary AB T2N 4T1. The school sits in the northwest area of Calgary. It serves students from across the city and beyond and provides bus service within the Calgary city limits and to Cochrane.

Stages

Grades 3 through 12; middle and high school levels.

Type

Independent private day school; Designated Special Education Private School for students in grades 3–12 with diagnosed learning disabilities such as dyslexia.

Additional learning support

Educational Assistants, IPPs (Individualized Program Plans) and classroom design accommodations are provided to support students.

School day structure

Normal school hours are 8:30 am–3:25 pm Monday to Thursday; Friday 8:30 am–12:40 pm.

Bus service

Bus service is provided from anywhere within the Calgary city limits and Cochrane.

Diving Deeper

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Fees

Application fees

- A non-refundable application/processing fee of CAD 50 is charged when the school application is submitted.

Tuition fees (2025–26 academic year)

- Annual tuition (grades 3–12): CAD 16,200 per student for the 2025–26 school year. This single published tuition rate applies across the school's grade range (grades 3–12).

- Per-payment breakdown (equal installments based on the published annual tuition):
- Full single payment (due August 1): CAD 16,200.
- Three-installment plan (payments on Aug. 1, Oct. 1 & Dec. 1): CAD 5,400 per installment (CAD 16,200 ÷ 3).
- Ten-installment plan (monthly Aug. 1 through May 1): CAD 1,620 per month (CAD 16,200 ÷ 10).

- Sibling discount (applied to published tuition obligations):
- Two children attending: CAD 5,500 discount.
- Three children attending: CAD 9,300 discount.

- What the tuition covers:
- In-class low student-to-teacher ratio, transportation for city of Calgary and some surrounding communities, all field trip costs, daily use of a personal school device (iPad/Chromebook/laptop), onsite psychologist team and some specialized Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Therapy services, school supplies and textbook rental. There are no standard uniform costs. For gym, students require black shorts and white t-shirts; a purchased gym strip is available but optional.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Families may choose one of the published payment schedules: full payment due Aug. 1; three installments on Aug. 1, Oct. 1 and Dec. 1; or ten monthly installments from Aug. 1 through May 1. Exact due dates follow the published schedule.

- Once a family accepts enrollment, they are responsible for the full published tuition for the school year even if the student withdraws or is expelled during the school year. If notice of withdrawal is received after June 1, the family is responsible for paying the first month's tuition. A Medical Expense Receipt for the tuition paid is issued for tax purposes where applicable.

Boarding fees

- Not applicable. Foothills Academy operates as a day school for students in grades 3–12 and does not offer boarding or residential accommodation.

Other costs and optional fees

- Uniforms: There are no standard uniform costs. Gym strip is optional (black shorts and white t-shirts are required for gym; an optional purchased gym strip is available). School supplies and textbook rental fees are included in tuition.

- Program-specific deposits and fees: Some community programs and intensives (for example Read/Write & Math intensive programs and camps) use separate registration deposits and invoicing processes and have their own refund rules and deposits (example: a CAD 100 deposit for certain intensive programs; program refunds and deposit rules apply to those programs). Community-service program fees and counselling/session fees are separate from school tuition.

- Counselling and psychological services (when billed separately from full-time tuition): counselling session rates are published for the Community Services programs (example: CAD 165 per 50-minute counselling session as published for psychological services). These community-service charges are separate from the full-time school tuition.

- Family Commitment and fundraising: Families are expected to participate in the school's Family Commitment fundraising program to support the bursary fund; this is a community/fundraising expectation that supports bursaries but is distinct from published tuition.

Refund information (tuition and fees applicable to full-time school enrollment)

- Application/processing fee: non-refundable (CAD 50).

- Tuition: Families who accept placement remain contractually responsible for the full published annual tuition for the school year. Withdrawal or expulsion during the school year does not relieve the family of the obligation to pay the full tuition; if withdrawal notice is received after June 1, the family remains responsible for the first month's tuition. Separate short-term program and community-service refund rules (for camps, intensives, etc.) apply to those specific program fees.

- Bursary/tuition reduction: Tuition may be reduced through a bursary/tuition-reduction application when clear financial need is demonstrated; bursary approvals are assessed annually and require submission of supporting financial documents.

Fee payment options and invoicing

- Tuition billing and payments are managed through the school's enrollment/billing portal (Finalsite Enrollment/SchoolAdmin). The school's parent/enrollment portal is used for enrollment checklists and billing management. The Finalsite Enrollment (formerly SchoolAdmin) billing system supports saved payment methods and both credit card and bank-account payment workflows (including bank-account micro-deposit verification) as part of its billing tools; convenience or processing fees for certain payment methods may be applied according to the school's settings. Invoices for some community programs are sent by email and use a separate invoicing/payment flow.

- If an alternate payment route is required for specific community services (for example FSCD direct billing for eligible camp fees), the program pages note those options and invoicing procedures.

Contact for fee-related questions

- Admissions and billing enquiries may be directed to the Admissions Coordinator or the school's business office as appropriate; the admissions contact email and main phone number are published for enrollment and billing matters.

Academics

Curriculum

Foothills Academy serves students in grades 3–12 with diagnosed learning disabilities within a full-time school program. In grades 3–6, core courses use a Structured Literacy approach with Wilson Reading aligned to Orton-Gillingham and Science of Reading principles, and the school emphasizes Self-Determination Theory with the motto Find Understanding; Build Confidence; Maximize Potential. In grades 7–9, all courses follow the Alberta Education Curriculum, with electives rotating each term. In grades 10–12, the senior program adheres to the Alberta Education Program of Studies and diploma exams are taken by students. Classrooms are small, with 12–14 students per classroom and staffed by a teacher and an Educational Assistant; students have access to Read/Write & Math Intervention, assistive technology, and services such as Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Pathology; Wilson Language literacy training (Fundations and Just Words) is provided to staff.

Student Teacher Ratio

12–14 students per classroom; each classroom is staffed by a teacher and an Educational Assistant.

Exam Results

Diploma exams are administered in the senior high program; results are often higher than the provincial average.

Higher Education Progression

Post-secondary planning is integrated into the high school program, with a target that more than 70% of graduates transition to post-secondary education.

Wellbeing

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Parent Experience

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Facilities

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Extra-Curricular Activities

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Languages

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Reputation

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Admissions

Foothills Academy School is a Designated Special Education Private School for students in grades 3 to 12, all of whom have diagnosed Learning Disabilities such as Dyslexia. An online application is submitted to the Admissions Coordinator along with supporting documentation and a non-refundable $50 processing fee; the family is added to the queue after submission and the Admissions Committee meets regularly to decide on suitability, sometimes contacting the child's teacher for additional information. To be considered for the school program, the child must meet three criteria: a primary diagnosis of a Learning Disability (such as Dyslexia) stated in a psycho-educational assessment completed in the past two years; average to above-average intelligence; and the school cannot accept students with severe social/emotional/behavioural needs or those requiring one-to-one classroom support to be successful. Applicants with ADHD may be accepted if there is also a diagnosis of a Learning Disability or Specific Learning Disorder, and Alberta Education funding requires a psycho-educational assessment confirming a Learning Disability or Specific Learning Disorder.

Scholarships

Tuition for the 2025-26 school year is $16,200 and includes transport within Calgary and some surrounding communities, field trips, technology costs, onsite psychologist support and some Occupational Therapy and Speech-Language Therapy services, and textbook rental; there are no uniform costs. A sibling discount applies: two children receive a $5,500 discount and three children receive a $9,300 discount. Tuition may be reduced through Bursary Assistance for financial need; families must complete the Tuition Reduction Application and submit supporting documents (financial summary, pay stubs, and CRA Notice of Assessment). Approval is for one year at a time. The school strives that no child in need be turned away for financial reasons through the bursary program, which is funded to support annual tuition reductions.

Waitlist

If the applicant is deemed a suitable fit for the school program, they are placed on the Waitlist. The Admissions Committee may request additional information or assessments, and the family will be notified of the status. An offer of acceptance is made when an appropriate spot becomes available, at which point a Letter of Acceptance is issued to the family.

School Events

The school has not added events

FAQs

What grades does Foothills Academy serve, and where is it located?

Foothills Academy serves students in Grades 3–12. It is located at 745 37 St NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4T1, in the northwest part of the city. The school operates as a co‑educational independent private day school and is a designated special education private school with bus service across Calgary and to Cochrane.

Is Foothills Academy a day school or does it offer boarding?

Foothills Academy operates as a day school for students in Grades 3–12. It does not offer boarding or residential accommodation.

What is unique about Foothills Academy's approach to learning in the early grades?

In grades 3–6, core courses use Structured Literacy with Wilson Reading aligned to Orton‑Gillingham and Science of Reading principles, with an emphasis on Self‑Determination Theory: Find Understanding; Build Confidence; Maximize Potential. Class sizes are small (12–14 students per classroom) and staff include a teacher and an Educational Assistant to support learning.

What is the tuition for the 2025–26 year, and what does it include?

The annual tuition is CAD 16,200 for Grades 3–12. It includes city transport within Calgary and some surrounding areas, field trips, daily use of a personal device, onsite psychologist support and some Occupational Therapy and Speech‑Language Therapy services, and textbook rental; there are no standard uniform costs.

How does the admissions process work, and is there a waitlist?

Applications are submitted online to the Admissions Coordinator with supporting documentation and a CAD 50 processing fee. The Admissions Committee reviews each candidate; if suitable, the family is placed on a waitlist and offers are made when space becomes available.

Are there financial aid options or bursaries for families needing help with tuition?

Bursary or tuition‑reduction assistance is available for families with demonstrated financial need, requiring a Tuition Reduction Application and supporting documents. Approvals are given annually, and the school aims to ensure no child is turned away for financial reasons; there are also sibling discounts (CAD 5,500 for two children; CAD 9,300 for three).

What curriculum do students follow by grade?

Grades 3–6 follow Structured Literacy with Wilson Reading and related supports. Grades 7–9 follow the Alberta Education Curriculum with electives rotating each term. Grades 10–12 follow the Alberta Education Program of Studies, with diploma exams taken by students.

What is class size and student support?

Classrooms typically have 12–14 students, each with a teacher and an Educational Assistant. Students have access to Read/Write & Math Intervention, assistive technology, and supports such as Occupational Therapy and Speech‑Language Pathology; Wilson Language literacy training is provided to staff.

How does Foothills Academy support post‑secondary pathways?

Post‑secondary planning is integrated into the high school program, with a target that more than 70% of graduates transition to post‑secondary education. Diploma exams are part of the senior program, and results are reported as being higher than the provincial average.

What facilities and spaces support learning at Foothills Academy?

The building is bright and welcoming, designed to support individualized learning with accommodations and supports aligned to the Alberta Education curriculum. There are spaces for intervention services and a range of electives and clubs beyond the core program.

Is transportation provided, and what areas does it cover?

Yes. Bus service is provided within the Calgary city limits and to Cochrane, and is included in the tuition.

Are there specialized spaces for therapies and learning interventions?

Yes. The campus houses an onsite psychologist team and offers Occupational Therapy and Speech‑Language Pathology services, along with Read/Write & Math Intervention and access to assistive technology; staff also receive Wilson literacy training.

What clubs and activities are offered at Foothills Academy?

Students can participate in Chess Club, Lego & Puzzle Club, Book Club, RPG Club, and Dungeons & Dragons Club; Art Off, Bittersweet Bakery Club, Sew Your Own Clothes, and Spanish Club are offered as well, alongside Run Club, GSA Club, Retro Game Club, and Cards Club.

Are there wellbeing‑focused clubs or mental health support groups?

Yes. Wellbeing‑oriented clubs include Run Club, Empowering Girls, Friends Club, and a Men's Mental Health Club, among other social and supportive groups.

What learning supports does Foothills Academy provide for diagnosed learning disabilities?

Foothills Academy provides Educational Assistants, Individualized Program Plans, and classroom accommodations. Students have access to Read/Write & Math Intervention, assistive technology, and related therapies (OT and SLP); Wilson Language literacy training is provided to staff.

Does Foothills Academy provide mental health support or safeguarding resources?

There is an onsite psychologist team and access to psychological services, reflecting a supportive, individualized environment for students with learning differences.

Does Foothills Academy have a boarding option or a uniform requirement?

Foothills Academy is a day school with no boarding option. There are no standard uniform costs; gym wear is simple (black shorts and white t‑shirts) and a gym strip is optional.

What are the standard school day hours?

Normal hours are 8:30 am–3:25 pm from Monday to Thursday, and 8:30 am–12:40 pm on Fridays.

How is governance structured at Foothills Academy?

Foothills Academy is governed by the Foothills Academy Society and operates as a Designated Special Education Private School, with a Board of Governors overseeing governance.

How do Foothills Academy's diploma results compare to the provincial average?

Diploma results are typically higher than the provincial average, reflecting strong senior‑level coursework and supports.

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