Growing with the Community
In 1881 when conversations around public schooling in Edmonton first began, the population was only 263. Over the next few years many more people arrived in the community. Despite several additions, the Edmonton School was too small, and soon other schools had to be built, starting with College Avenue School in 1895, followed by Queen’s Avenue School in 1902.
In the early 1900s, prompted by available land, access by rail, and sustained promotion, Edmonton’s population exploded. Between 1901 and 1914 Edmonton’s population expanded from 2,626 to 72,512 – an increase of more than 2,700% in only 13 years.
Early trustees expected that the City would expand in all directions, in both population and size. This posed a problem and opportunity. In response, ambitious plans for new schools were crafted. Between 1904 and 1918, twenty more permanent schools were built in Edmonton, and several had large additions built as well. These schools were scattered throughout the city, and although today many may be considered inner-city, at the time they were in the bush!
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Name: Edmonton School
Date of Construction: 1881
Architect: Unknown
Location: Currently located near the original site at 10425-99 Avenue
Estimated Cost: $968.00
Date Closed: 1905
Current Use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as part of the Edmonton Public Schools Archives and Museum.
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Name: College Avenue School
Date of Construction: 1895
Architect: Edmiston & Flater
Location: North side of MacDonald Drive, east of 100 Street
Estimated Cost: $6,275
Date Closed: 1911
Current Use: 1918
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Name: Queen’s Avenue School
Date of construction: 1902
Architect: Edmiston & Johnson
Location: 104 Avenue between 99 and 100 Streets
Estimated cost: $40,000
Date closed: 1925
Date demolished: 1949
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Name: Grandin Street School
Date of construction: 1902
Architect: James Augustus Ellis
Location: 8525-101 Street
Estimated cost: Unknown
Date closed: 1959
Date demolished: 1964
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Name: McKay Avenue School
Date of construction: 1904
Architect: Henry Denny Johnson
Location: 10425-99 Avenue
Estimated cost: $38,000
Date closed: 1983
Date demolished: As of 2022, owned by the Edmonton Public School Board and operated as part of the Edmonton Public Schools Archives and Museum.
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Name: Duggan Street School (Renamed to Queen Alexandra School in 1910)
Date of construction: 1906
Architect: James E. Wize
Location: 7730-106 Street
Estimated cost: $27,000
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as a primary school.
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Name: Alexander Taylor School
Date of construction: 1907
Architect: Roland Lines
Location: 9321 Jasper Avenue
Estimated cost: $65,000
Date closed: 2001
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools and leased to the non-profit E4C.
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Name: Norwood School
Date of construction: 1908
Architect: Roland Lines
Location: 9520-111 Avenue
Estimated cost: $100,000
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as a primary school.
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Name: Strathcona Collegiate Institute
Date of construction: 1908
Architect: Johnson and Lines
Location: 10523-84 Avenue
Estimated cost: $86,000
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as a high school (Old Scona Academic School).
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Name: Edmonton High School (Renamed Victoria Composite High School in 1913)
Date of construction: 1910
Architect: Roland Lines
Location: 10845 - 102 Street
Estimated cost: $150,000
Current use: Though the original building was demolished, there is (as of 2022) an Edmonton Public Schools high school of the same name on site, known as the Victoria School of Arts, which emphasizes artistic discipline.
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Name: North Edmonton School
Date of construction: 1910
Architect: Roland Lines
Location: 6920-128 Avenue
Estimated cost: Unknown
Date closed: 2005
Current use: As of 2022, Balwin Villa operated by the Excel Society non-profit Balwin Village, an enhanced designated living site.
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Name: Oliver School
Date of construction: 1910
Architect: George Turner
Location: 10227-118 Street
Estimated cost: $100,000
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as a primary school, and as Nellie McClung Girls' Junior High.
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Name: McCauley School
Date of construction: 1911
Architect: George Turner
Location: 9538-107 Avenue
Estimated cost: $110,000
Date closed: 2010
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools, currently occupied by two non-profit organizations: Multicultural Health Brokers and The Intercultural Daycare, serving immigrant and refugee families.
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Name: Rutherford School
Date of construction: 1911
Architect: Wilson and Herrald
Location: 8620-91 Street
Estimated cost: Unknown
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as a primary school.
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Name: Bennett School
Date of construction: 1912
Architect: Unknown
Location: 9703-94 Street
Estimated cost: Unknown
Date closed: 1973
Current use: As of 2022, Bennett Centre, owned by and operated by Edmonton Public Schools.
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Name: Parkdale School
Date of construction: 1912
Architect: George Turner
Location: 11648-85 Street
Estimated cost: $120,000
Date closed: 2010
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools, leased to the non-profit Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society.
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Name: Donald Ross School
Date of construction: 1913
Architect: George Turner
Location: 10125-97 Avenue
Estimated cost: Unknown
Date closed: 1974
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools and used by the School Board as office space.
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Name: H.A. Gray School
Date of construction: 1913
Architect: George Turner
Location: 12140-103 Street
Estimated cost: $135,000
Date closed: 1984
Current use: As of 2022, H.A. Gray School is owned and operated by Vanguard College.
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Name: Highlands School
Date of construction: 1913-1916
Architect: George Turner
Location: 11509-62 Street
Estimated cost: $135,000
Current use: As of 2022, Highlands School is owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as a junior high school.
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Name: John A. McDougall School
Date of construction: 1913
Architect: George Turner
Location: 10930-107 Street
Estimated cost: $160,000
Current use: As of 2022, John A. McDougall School is owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as a primary school.
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Name: King Edward School
Date of construction: 1913
Architect: George Turner
Location: 8525-101 Street
Estimated cost: $180,000
Current use: As of 2022, King Edward School is owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as a primary school.
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Name: Ritchie School
Date of construction: 1913
Architect: George Turner
Location: 9735-75 Avenue
Estimated cost: $120,000
Date closed: 2008
Current use: 2020
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Name: North Delton School (Renamed Fairview School in 1949)
Date of construction: 1915
Architect: George Turner
Location: 12510-87 Street
Estimated cost: $2,300
Date closed: 1958
Date demolished: ca. 1958
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Name: Westmount School
Date of construction: 1913-1915
Architect: George Turner
Location: 11124-130 Street
Estimated cost: $200,000
Current use: As of 2022, owned by Edmonton Public Schools and operated as a junior high school.
Contact Us
City of Edmonton Archives
Prince of Wales Armouries, 2nd floor
10440 108 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta
Email cms.archives@edmonton.ca