Q: What is a public charter school?
A: A public charter school is a tuition-free public school that follows Alberta curriculum and operates under an approved charter with a specialized educational focus. STEM Collegiate is its own public school authority and serves students who apply from Edmonton and surrounding communities. When applications exceed available spaces, admission is managed through the published lottery and waitlist process.
Q: What makes STEM Collegiate different from other schools?
A: STEM Collegiate provides specialized programming for Grades 7 through 12 in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Students build strong foundational knowledge and apply it through design, research, coding, fabrication, real-world problem-solving, and connections with post-secondary institutions and industry. The program also includes rigorous humanities and other Alberta curriculum courses.
Q: What type of student is likely to thrive at STEM Collegiate?
A: Students who are curious about science, technology, engineering, or mathematics and are willing to engage in a rigorous, hands-on learning environment are likely to benefit from the program. Success depends on curiosity, perseverance, collaboration, responsibility, and a willingness to ask for help. Admission is governed by the published registration and lottery process, not by an academic threshold stated on this FAQ page.
Q: Why does the Collegiate use the acronym S.T.E.M. and not S.T.E.A.M.?
A: STEM reflects the school’s charter focus and identity. Creative thinking, design, media, visual communication, and artistic processes are integrated into many STEM learning experiences. Course offerings may also include STEAM-focused options. Current option offerings vary based on student interest, enrolment, and staff expertise.
Q: What professional qualifications do the teachers at STEM Collegiate have?
A: Teachers are certificated in Alberta and work in accordance with the Teaching Quality Standard and the Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers and Teacher Leaders. Many staff members also bring subject-specific training, industry experience, or additional professional credentials. Qualifications vary by role.
Q: Which grades does STEM Collegiate serve?
A: STEM Collegiate serves students in Grades 7 through 12. The number of available spaces may vary by grade. Current application information is posted on the Registration page.
Q: How does the STEM focus connect with English Language Arts and Social Studies?
A: All courses follow the applicable Alberta programs of study. English Language Arts and Social Studies retain their disciplinary focus while developing communication, research, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills that support learning across the school. Teachers may make authentic interdisciplinary connections when they strengthen the required curriculum.
Q: How does the lottery work?
A: STEM Collegiate uses a randomized grade-level lottery for all new-student admissions. All completed eligible applications received by the published deadline are entered equally. There is no family priority, and submitting an application earlier within the registration period does not improve an applicant’s chances. Applications completed after the deadline are managed according to the published waitlist process. Registration dates and submission requirements are posted on the Registration page.
Q: Do current STEM Collegiate students need to reapply through the lottery each year?
A: No. Students who are already registered at STEM Collegiate do not submit a new-student lottery application. Families complete the school’s annual intent-to-return process when requested and follow any instructions sent by the school.
Q: Can students who live outside Edmonton apply to STEM Collegiate?
A: Yes. Students who live outside Edmonton may apply. STEM Collegiate does not provide yellow-bus service outside the City of Edmonton, so families are responsible for arranging transportation.
Q: Can I apply several years before my child is eligible to attend?
A: No. Applications are accepted only for the next school year. Families must submit an application during the published registration period for the year their child is eligible. Current timelines are posted on the Registration page.
Q: How will I know whether my application is complete?
A: Within approximately two weeks of submission, the school will email either confirmation that all required information has been received or a notice identifying what is missing. A completed-application receipt means the application can be added to the applicable lottery or waitlist. It is not an offer of enrolment.
Q: How long does an application remain on the waitlist?
A: Each waitlist applies only to the school year identified in the application. If a space becomes available, the school will contact families by email using the applicable admissions process. Families must submit a new application for a later school year. The school does not provide individual waitlist positions.
Q: What information and documents are required with an application?
A: The online application identifies all current required fields and uploads. All requested information must be completed before an application can be considered. Families should expect to provide a recent report card and, when applicable, an Individual Program Plan or related learning plan. Clear scans or photographs may be used where the registration system permits them.
Q: Is there a fee to apply to STEM Collegiate?
A: There is no fee to submit an application. If a student is offered a space, a non-refundable registration processing fee is required to hold the space. The current amount and fee-waiver information are posted on the Registration page.
Q: What school fees do families pay, and what do they cover?
A. School fees are approved and published annually. The school resource fee supports consumable materials used in option courses. General student supplies, personal laptops, STEM apparel, transportation, some activities, and some extracurricular programs may involve separate costs. Current amounts and eligible fee-waiver information are listed on the School Fees and Supplies page.
Q: Are field trips and off-site activities included in the school resource fee?
A. Not necessarily. Costs vary by activity and may be charged separately. No student will be excluded from a same-day curricular trip because of an inability to pay; families should contact the school when support is needed. Required parent or guardian consent and school approvals still apply.
Q: What is the student uniform expectation, and where can families purchase apparel?
A. Students must wear a visible STEM Collegiate uniform top while indoors throughout the school day. All visible upper-body layers worn indoors must be STEM Collegiate apparel. Students may choose bottoms that are appropriate and functional for learning; pajama bottoms and other sleepwear are not permitted. Course-specific safety, footwear, and personal protective equipment requirements also apply. Current apparel options and prices are available through the uniform store linked on the school website.
Q: Does each student need a personal laptop?
A. Yes. Each student must bring a charged personal laptop to school each day. The device must meet the current technical requirements for the student’s courses. An existing laptop may be used if it meets those requirements; families are not required to purchase a new device from the school’s partner retailer.
Q: How can I confirm whether a laptop meets the school’s requirements?
A. Review the current Student Laptop Requirements before purchasing or reusing a device. A Windows laptop is recommended because some required applications may not work fully on macOS, and Chromebooks do not meet the minimum requirements. An existing device may be used if it meets the current specifications.
Q: Who is eligible to register for yellow-bus service?
A: Yellow-bus registration is available for eligible STEM Collegiate students whose primary residence is within Edmonton and more than 2 km from the school, subject to route capacity and available community stops. Service is not provided outside Edmonton. Families outside the city may ask whether an existing stop within city limits can be used.
Q: How do families register for yellow-bus service?
A: Transportation registration opens each year. Families complete the current transportation form through the Parent PowerSchool portal and must submit a separate registration for each rider. Registration is not complete until the required deposit has been paid. Current instructions and timelines are posted on the Yellow Bus Information page.
Q: When will families receive their assigned bus stop and schedule?
A: Routes are developed after transportation registrations are reviewed. Families will receive their assigned stop and schedule before the school year begins, once routes are finalized. Routes and stops depend on ridership and may be adjusted for safety, timing, traffic, or operational needs.
Q: How much does yellow-bus service cost, and are discounts or fee waivers available?
A: Transportation fees are set and published annually on a cost-recovery basis. The applicable fee is charged for each registered rider, and sibling discounts or fee waivers are not available. The current fee, deposit, payment options, cancellation terms, and refund information are listed in the Transportation Manual and on the Yellow Bus Information page.
Q: How close will the assigned community bus stop be to our home?
A: STEM Collegiate uses shared community stops. Stop locations depend on the number and location of registered riders and are not based on a set walking-distance requirement. Families should expect that an assigned stop may be more than 2 km from home and are responsible for transportation between home and the stop. Some communities may not have a stop when ridership or route accessibility is insufficient.
Q: Can a route, stop, or travel path change?
A: Yes. Routes and travel paths may change because of construction, weather, traffic, road closures, safety, ridership, or other operational needs. Published route maps are general guides, and the driver’s actual path may differ when needed for safety or traffic flow. Stop-change requests must follow the process in the current Transportation Manual and are not guaranteed.
Q: How long should families expect a one-way bus ride to take?
A: STEM Collegiate strives to keep one-way rides under 90 minutes. Because routes cover a large geographic area, that target cannot always be achieved. Actual ride times may be longer because of traffic, construction, weather, route disruptions, or the location and number of registered riders.
Q: How can families track a bus or report an immediate transportation concern?
A: Families can use the current GPS tracking app identified on the Yellow Bus Information page. For an immediate dispatch concern, use the transportation provider’s current contact information on that page. Questions about registration, routes, or school-level transportation concerns can be sent to transportation@stemcollegiate.ca.
Q: Can students use cell phones or smartwatches during the school day?
A: No. Cell phones and smartwatches must be powered off and stored in the student’s locker until dismissal, unless a staff member authorizes an instructional, medical, or accessibility exception. Students may use the phone in the main office when they need to contact a parent or guardian.
Q: Can students carry backpacks during the school day?
A: Students must store full-sized backpacks and jackets in their assigned lockers during the school day. Students may carry the materials required for class in a small tote bag and/or a protective laptop sleeve or case.
Q: Can students use artificial intelligence for schoolwork?
A: AI may be used only as permitted by the teacher for the specific assignment or assessment. The teacher will identify whether AI is prohibited, permitted for limited support, or permitted with disclosure. Students remain responsible for the accuracy and authorship of their work, must acknowledge AI assistance when required, and must ask before using a tool when the expectations are unclear.
Q: What academic standard applies to athletics and competitive clubs?
A: Students must maintain a current standing of at least 65% in every enrolled course to compete in school athletics or competitive clubs such as Robotics, Model United Nations, and Debate. Eligibility is reviewed frequently using PowerSchool. A student below the standard is placed on academic probation and cannot compete until eligibility is restored at a weekly review.
Q: Can students leave school property during lunch?
A: No. STEM Collegiate is a closed campus. Students must remain on school property throughout the school day, including lunch and breaks, unless they have prior administrative approval or are signed out by a parent or guardian. Students should bring lunch because the school does not provide food service.
