Is school preparing my teen for life after high school?
Confidence with money. Skills to work with people. Ready for any path.
ABLE is a charter school where students solve real problems for real people through Human-Centred Design Thinking. Space is limited for grades 7-9.
Thank you for your submission!
What makes ABLE different?
Parents are looking for more than good marks. They want a place where their teen belongs, gains confidence, and grows into their potential—while still achieving a strong Alberta education.
ABLE is built around how students actually learn.
- Students don’t just sit in classrooms—they learn by doing.
- Every student launches a project or venture each year as part of their core learning.
- Alberta curriculum, brought to life through real-world application.
- Learning comes from talking to people, listening to feedback, and improving ideas through real use.
- Skills that transfer to any path—university, trades, health or creative.
Located in the heart of Calgary’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, students can walk to and learn from real environments—technology, arts, trades, sports, energy, business, and banking—connecting learning beyond the classroom walls.
This isn’t school separated from life. It’s school designed for it.
Our vision
Every child can thrive in school and in life.
ABLE is a tuition-free Alberta public charter school where strong Alberta curriculum meets real-world learning. Students are known, challenged, and confident—prepared for university, trades, professions, or futures not yet imagined. Through Human-Centred Design Thinking, they grow in responsibility, discover their strengths, and learn to solve real problems for real people.
Our purpose
ABLE exists to make learning meaningful and possible for every child.
Our purpose is to build confidence, responsibility, and academic strength—helping young people see how their knowledge connects to life, work, community, and creativity.
At ABLE, school becomes a place where students don’t just prepare for the future—they begin to shape it.
Human-Centred Design
In many schools, students complete assignments for a classroom audience. Knowledge can feel separate from real life, and success is measured mainly by tests and grades. Parents often wonder how that work will prepare their child for the world ahead.
At ABLE, learning happens through Human-Centred Design Thinking—starting with real people and real community needs. Students learn to listen with empathy, design solutions, test ideas, and refine them until they are useful and adopted by others. Alberta curriculum is applied through research, budgeting, testing, and communication, so math, language, science, and the arts become tools for meaningful impact.
Students grow by contributing work that has real value—gaining confidence and skills for university, trades, professions, or any future they choose.
Student outcomes
At ABLE, Alberta curriculum becomes real action—students manage budgets, present ideas, collaborate with community, and create portfolios of meaningful work. Students grow in responsibility, communication, and problem-solving—gaining the confidence and skills to thrive in university, trades, artistic pathways, professions, or entrepreneurship.
Timeline
Dates will be shared clearly with families as the opening approaches.
Now
Interest Phase (Limited Space)
Families join the Founding Family Interest List to guide seat and staffing approvals.
April 2026
Enrollment Opens
Apply under Alberta charter regulations; lottery if needed. You can apply to multiple schools—even if you’ve “registered” elsewhere. Your spot at ABLE is only confirmed if you accept an offer.
September 2026
School Opens
ABLE opens to students in Grades 7–10
September 2027
Expansion
ABLE opens to students in Grades 7–12
Tell Us About Your Child
Your answers help us allocate teachers, studios, and support resources. Admission is not affected.
Help us secure more seats – while they're still limited.
We expect demand to exceed available spaces in 2026. Signing up now helps us expands capacity and keeps your family informed first.
This form adds your family to the Founding Family List – or adds details if you've already joined.
