Elk Island Catholic Schools

What Elk Island Catholic Schools does

Elk Island Catholic Schools (legal name: Elk Island Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 41; operating as EICS) is a publicly-funded Catholic school division headquartered at 310 Broadview Rd, Sherwood Park, Alberta. Formed on February 1, 1998, through the amalgamation of the Sherwood Park Catholic Separate School District with Camrose and Fort Saskatchewan districts (with Vegreville Catholic schools added by Ministerial Order in May 2001), the division serves more than 9,400 students across 19 schools in five communities: Camrose, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Strathcona County, and Vegreville. EICS delivers Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 Catholic education through individual schools, supported by specialized programs including French Immersion, Ukrainian Bilingual, Cogito Academy (gifted), Flexible Pathways, Home Education, and International Students, plus division-wide services such as Inclusive Learning Services, the Collaborative Response Model, EICS Circles, and student transportation.

The division's operating technology stack centers on PowerSchool for student information management, SchoolEngage for registration, ApplyToEducation for staff recruitment, Google for Education as the productivity platform, and the Bus Status 4 mobile application for real-time transportation tracking, with Arc Card integration for Strathcona County Transit. Governance is provided by an elected Board of Trustees under the leadership of Board Chair Le-Ann Ewaskiw and Vice Chair Dean Sarnecki, with Superintendent Paul Corrigan serving as chief executive. Strategic partnerships include the Catholic Archdiocese of Edmonton (Archbishop Richard Smith), the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton (Bishop David Motiuk), local Catholic parishes, the REAL Foundation, GrACE, and ACSTA.

EICS operates a publicly-funded revenue model with no tuition charged for Catholic education in Alberta. The division is financed primarily through provincial government per-student funding allocations, supplemented by regulated ancillary school fees (covering materials, activities, and transportation, with waiver provisions for income-eligible families), community facility rentals (with tiered rates for non-profit, youth, and commercial users), and ancillary services such as facility bookings through a centralized booking agent. Customer acquisition is community-led: prospective families are reached via parish connections, school open houses, and the division website, with registration conducted through online platforms. There is no parent company, no venture capital or private equity ownership, and no public equity listing; the entity is a public educational institution governed under Alberta's separate school framework.

Name

Elk Island Catholic Schools

Legal name

Elk Island Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 41

Website

https://eics.ab.ca

Company type

Public

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS) is a publicly-funded Catholic school division in Alberta, Canada, operating 19 schools serving over 9,400 PreK-12 students across five communities including Sherwood Park, Fort Saskatchewan, Camrose, Vegreville, and Strathcona County, funded through provincial per-student allocations with no tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Catholic Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Based Early Learning Academies (EDACADAH)

Keywords

• K-12 Catholic education
• Public school division
• Faith-based education
• French immersion program
• Student transportation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sherwood Park, Alberta

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Education Funding: As part of Alberta's publicly-funded education system, Elk Island Catholic Schools receives provincial government funding to operate. Catholic education in Alberta is publicly funded, meaning there is NO tuition to attend a Catholic school. The division generates revenue through government per-student funding allocations, which covers operational costs, teacher salaries, and educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Elk Island Catholic Schools operates as a publicly-funded Catholic school division providing Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 education to more than 9,400 students across 19 Catholic schools in five Alberta communities (Camrose, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Strathcona County, and Vegreville). The division delivers faith-integrated academic programming including French Immersion, Ukrainian Bilingual, Cogito Academy (gifted learners), Flexible Pathways, Home Education, International Students, and Nature-based early learning, supported by inclusive learning services, transportation, and parish partnerships. Because Catholic education is constitutionally protected and publicly funded in Alberta, no tuition is charged to attend.

Product overview

Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS) operates as a publicly-funded Catholic school division serving approximately 9,400 students across 19 schools in Alberta communities (Camrose, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Strathcona County, and Vegreville). The division offers a comprehensive PK-12 educational portfolio consisting of individual Catholic schools (elementary, middle, and high schools) and specialized programs including French Immersion, Ukrainian Bilingual, Cogito Academy (gifted program), Flexible Pathways, Home Education, and International Students. Supporting these core educational offerings are division-wide services including Inclusive Learning Services (specialized supports for diverse learners), EICS Circles (faith and community building program), Collaborative Response Model (multi-tiered support system), and Student Transportation with the Bus Status 4 app. Technology platforms integrated into operations include PowerSchool for student information management, SchoolEngage for registration, ApplyToEducation for recruitment, and Arc Card for transit.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Archbishop Jordan Catholic High School Grades 9-12 Catholic high school in Sherwood Park offering academic, athletic, and artistic programming with career and education pathways, and integrated Arc Card access to Strathcona County Transit.
• École Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School Grades 5-8 dual-track French Immersion and English middle school in Sherwood Park, named after the parish opened in 1963 as the division's first school.
• École Père Kenneth Kearns Catholic Elementary School Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 4 French Immersion school, the only Catholic French Immersion school for these grades in Sherwood Park.
• Holy Redeemer Catholic School Nature Pre-Kindergarten, Nature Kindergarten, and Kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Ardrossan offering unique outdoor/nature-based early learning.
• Our Lady of Mount Pleasant Catholic School Grades 5-8 school in Camrose with a four-day school week and 21st-century approach to learning.
• St. Isidore Learning Centre Grade 1 to Grade 12 school offering Continuing Education, Classical Education, and Summer School programs.
• Chesterton Academy of St. Isidore Catholic classical education high school program operating within EICS, focused on classical liberal arts curriculum.
• French Immersion Program French language immersion program offered at multiple EICS schools for students to become functionally fluent in French while receiving Catholic education.
• Ukrainian Bilingual Program Bilingual education program preserving Ukrainian language and culture offered at St. Nicholas Catholic School and St. Theresa Catholic School in partnership with the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton.
• Cogito Academy Enriched academic program for gifted learners available at select EICS schools for students who demonstrate high academic potential.
• Flexible Pathways Program Alternative education program providing flexible learning options for students requiring non-traditional approaches to education.
• Home Education Parent-directed home-based education program supported by EICS resources and oversight.
• International Students Program Educational program welcoming international students to experience Catholic education in Alberta, Canada.
• Inclusive Learning Services Division-wide support services including Inclusive Learning Consultants, Psychologists, Speech-Language Pathologists, and Occupational Therapists working with schools and community partners to support students from age 2.5 to Grade 12.
• EICS Circles Universal approach for educators to foster faith, connection, and community using circles rooted in Indigenous teachings for respectful communication and empathy.
• Collaborative Response Model Multidisciplinary framework for addressing student needs through Student Support Teams including Principals, Collaborative Response Coordinators, and Family Wellness Workers.
• School Facility Rentals After-hours community access to school facilities for education, recreation, and wellness activities with tiered rate structures for non-profit adult groups ($55/hr), youth groups ($37/hr), and commercial/for-profit groups ($121/hr), Saturday minimum 3-hour rental, $500 damage deposit, plus GST.
• Student Transportation Services School bus transportation services including Arc Card for transit buses, Bus Status 4 mobile app for real-time updates, First Rider Program for new students, and bus pass/payment management.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• REAL Foundation (Religious Education Activities for Life)coreOthers · 1 January 2001Formerly Elk Island Catholic Schools Education Foundation, formed in 2001 to help students grow in faith through enhanced spiritual experiences. Supports religious education and spiritual growth of EICS students through fundraising and special programs.
• GrACE (Grateful Advocates for Catholic Education)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerGrACE is a provincial advocacy organization supported by Alberta Bishops, Alberta Catholic School Trustees, and Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta. The goal is to advocate for publicly-funded Catholic education across the province. EICS participates in GrACE initiatives to promote and protect Catholic education rights.
• Alberta Catholic School Trustees Association (ACSTA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvincial association representing Catholic school trustees across Alberta. EICS trustees maintain membership and participate in advocacy activities through ACSTA.
• Alberta School Board AssociationminorOthersProvincial school board association providing advocacy and support. EICS trustees maintain membership for broader education advocacy.
• Catholic Archdiocese of EdmontoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Archdiocese provides ecclesiastical oversight and support for Catholic education. Archbishop Richard Smith leads the Archdiocese which encompasses EICS schools.
• Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of EdmontoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Eparchy provides support for Ukrainian Catholic schools and the Ukrainian Bilingual program within EICS. Bishop David Motiuk leads the Eparchy.
• Catholic Parishes (Camrose, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Vegreville)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEICS maintains partnerships with Catholic parishes in each community served including Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St. Sophia Ukrainian Catholic Parish, St. Francis Xavier Parish, Our Lady of the Angels Parish, St. Martin of Tours Parish, and others. These partnerships support sacramental preparation, school liturgies, and faith formation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edmonton Catholic Schools: Largest Catholic separate school division in Alberta, serving greater Edmonton with similar publicly-funded Catholic K-12 model, parish partnerships, and programming mix — the most directly comparable peer to EICS.
• Greater St. Albert Catholic Schools: Neighboring Catholic separate regional division north of Edmonton offering the same publicly-funded Catholic K-12 model and competing for some overlapping families in the Edmonton metro region.
• Christ the King Catholic Schools: Catholic separate school division in the Edmonton region operating under the same publicly-funded Alberta Catholic education model with similar programming and parish-based community structure.
• Calgary Catholic School District: Catholic separate school division in Calgary operating under the same Alberta publicly-funded Catholic education framework, with comparable Pre-K-12 programming, French Immersion, and inclusive learning services.

Others

• Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord: Alberta francophone school authority serving French-language K-12 students across the province — adjacent comparator for French-language programming (EICS French Immersion) within the same publicly-funded education ecosystem.

Regional players

• Evergreen Catholic Separate Regional Division: Catholic separate regional division serving communities west and south of Edmonton — directly comparable publicly-funded Catholic K-12 operator with similar programming and parish partnerships.
• Medicine Hat Catholic Separate Regional Division: Smaller Catholic separate regional division in southeastern Alberta — comparable in governance structure (separate regional division, elected board) and publicly-funded Catholic K-12 model.
• Holy Spirit Catholic School Division: Catholic separate school division serving the Lethbridge area of Alberta under the same publicly-funded Catholic education framework — comparable operating model in a different regional market.
• Elk Island Public Schools: Public school division serving the exact same five communities (Sherwood Park, Strathcona County, Fort Saskatchewan, Camrose, Vegreville) — directly competing with EICS for families under Alberta's open enrollment regime.
• Lakeland Catholic School Division: Catholic separate school division serving the Lakeland region of Alberta — directly comparable as another small-to-mid-sized publicly-funded Catholic K-12 division with rural and community schools.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/GrACE4cathed
• Facebookfacebook.com/GrACE4cathed
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eicscatholic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries20 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Elk Island Catholic Schools