Education K-12

Lethbridge is proud of its education system and facilities. The community is committed to quality education from pre-school and kindergarten through to our college and university. Within the Lethbridge public and Catholic school systems, there are 17 elementary schools, five junior high schools, three high schools and one integrated occupational school. Another Christian school operates from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and a Francophone public community school serves Lethbridge and area from pre-school to grade 12. Lethbridge also has private schools that meet a variety of needs including children with learning disabilities.

Lethbridge School District No. 51
High quality learning experiences for students are provided through a broad range of educational programs in eighteen schools and a number of outreach programs. The District educates 8,200 students within the city of Lethbridge and employs 531 teachers and 477 support staff.

All schools provide instruction in the core subjects. In addition, at the secondary level, students can experience a wide range of options or complementary courses designed to meet their unique needs and interests – including Career and Technology Studies. Information and communication technology is integrated into all student programs. International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement programs are offered to high school students wanting advanced standing in university. French language instruction is provided in grades four through twelve and French Immersion is offered to students from kindergarten through grade twelve. Second language instruction is offered in Blackfoot, Spanish, German and Japanese. Instruction is enhanced by counselling services in all schools including social/emotional, educational and career counselling. These services are possible through partnerships with a wide range of local agencies.

Palliser Regional Schools
Palliser serves the County of Lethbridge, including 40 schools, 3 outreach programs, and six alternative Christian programs (located in Calgary), with 4,000 students and about 400 employees. It is a rural school system serving students from the Bow River and the Sik'sika Nation on the north edge to Chin Coulee and the Kainai Nation on the south. The farming communities of Arrowwood, Barons, Carmangay, Champion, Coaldale, Coalhurst, Iron Springs, Milo, Nobleford, Picture Butte, Shaughnessy, Sunnyside, and Vulcan all have schools served by the Palliser Region. Fourteen Hutterian schools are also part of the region.

Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate Regional Division #4
The Holy Spirit Catholic School Division operates a total of 13 schools (ECS to Grade 12) in five communities Coaldale, Lethbridge, Picture Butte, Pincher Creek and Taber. Total student enrolment is 4,300 (as of September 30, 2009). Holy Spirit employs approximately 265 teachers and 250 support staff.

In addition to offering a solid program in the core subject areas, additional programs include French Immersion, Native Education and Fine Arts. Special Education support and services are provided. The Holy Spirit Catholic School Division is strongly committed to the ideals of Catholic education and provides opportunities for students to achieve academic excellence and to grow personally, socially and physically in a Christ-oriented environment.