Independent schools and home education programs deliver substantial savings while relieving pressure on public schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CALGARY – A new study finds that Alberta’s independent schools and home education programs deliver substantial fiscal savings, while helping manage enrolment growth amidst infrastructure constraints across the province.

The Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy report, More Choice, More Savings: How Educational Choice Saves Alberta Taxpayers Billions, examines the fiscal impact of partially funded independent and minimally funded home education programs, and conservatively estimates that school choice has saved Alberta taxpayers $1.35 billion over the past five years.

“The evidence is clear: independent schools and home education programs are not a financial burden on Alberta’s education system; they are a net benefit to taxpayers,” said David Hunt, Research Director at the Aristotle Foundation. “The families that choose these educational options reduce provincial costs, while easing capacity pressures on public schools.”

Key findings from the report include the following:

• Fully funded public school students cost taxpayers $11,225 per year, compared to $8,027 for independent school students and just $1,802 for students in home education programs.
• Each independent school student saves Alberta taxpayers 28 cents on the dollar when compared to a fully funded student, while each home-education student saves 84 cents on the dollar.
• Combined, these savings total $306.4 million in the most recent year for which data is available (2024) and $1.35 billion over the most recent five years (2020-2024).
• Independent school enrolment grew by 93 percent between 2011 and 2024, while funding for independent schools increased by 95 percent over the same period—keeping costs closely aligned with enrolment growth. By contrast, costs for fully funded public and separate schools grew 34.8 percent faster than their respective enrolment growth.
• If independent and home-education students were absorbed into the public system, Alberta would require at least 54 additional public schools, at a capital cost of over $3 billion.
• Just four years of savings from independent and home education enrolment are equivalent to the combined three-year capital plans for new public schools in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, and Grande Prairie—totalling approximately $1.15 billion.

“Without independent schools and home education, Alberta would face significant new operating and capital costs,” Hunt said. “The savings generated by these school choices over the past decade are large enough to fund all school construction planned across Alberta over the next three years.”

Despite rapid growth in demand, independent schools and home education programs together account for just 6.7 percent of Alberta’s K–12 students and even less of the province’s K–12 spending, constituting just 3 percent of the education budget.

“Calling this sector a drain on public resources simply doesn’t withstand scrutiny,” said Hunt. “Independent schools and home education programs are a fiscal benefit to taxpayers, while providing essential educational care to families with varied needs.”

The full report is available at www.aristotlefoundation.org.

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Media Contact:

Dami Itabiyi

Media and Marketing Coordinator, Aristotle Foundation for Public Policy

media@aristotlefoundation.org