Admissions

We've made the enrollment process as straightforward as possible because the decision to choose a school is significant enough on its own. Here is everything you need to know to secure your child's place at First Steps Elementary Academy.

Registration is open for September. To guarantee your spot, enrol early.

Page Summary
  • Enrollment from Pre-School through Grade 8
  • Kinders Plus and Grades 1–8 and Pre-School and Pre-Kinders serving families in Red Deer, Blackfalds, and Penhold.
  • Pre-School and Pre-Kinders fees follow province-wide Alberta childcare fee mandates

  Book a Free Tour  Enroll Today!

Tuition & Fees 2026–2027

Kinders Plus & Grades 1–8

 

Option 1 — Pay in Full (10% Discount)

Program Full Tuition
Kinders Plus (Monday - Friday) $8,271.00
Kinders Plus (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) $6,561.00
Grades 1-8 $8,478.00

Receive a 10% discount when full tuition is paid by May 1, 2026.

Option 2 — Three Installments

Program Sept 1 Dec 1 Mar 1
Kinders Plus (Monday - Friday) $2,757.00 $2,757.00 $2,757.00
Kinders Plus (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) $2,187.00 $2,187.00 $2,187.00
Grades 1-8 $2,826.00 $2,826.00 $2,826.00

Payments are due September 1, December 1, and March 1. A $20.00 admin fee per student is added to each invoice.

Option 3 — Monthly Payments

Program Monthly Payment
Kinders Plus (Monday - Friday) $827.10
Kinders Plus (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) $656.10
Grades 1-8 $847.00

Ten monthly payments from September through June. A $10.00 admin fee per student is added to each invoice.

  Book a Free Tour  Enroll Today!

Pre-School & Pre-Kinders

Fees for Pre-School and Pre-Kinders programs are based on the schedule and hours attended. In accordance with province-wide Alberta childcare fee mandates effective April 1, 2025, parent fees for programs of 72 hours or more per month are set at a flat rate. Programs under 50 hours per month are charged at the full program fee.

Pre-School Fees

  3 Payments Option
Program Schedule Hours Full Year Sept 1 Dec 1 Mar 1
Pre-School M/W/F 9:00 - 11:30 30 hrs $2,870.00 $1,082.00 $957.00 $957.00
Pre-School M/W/F 12:30 - 3:00 30 hrs $2,870.00 $1,082.00 $957.00 $957.00
Pre-School T/Th 9:00 - 11:30 20 hrs $2,143.00 $839.00 $714.00 $714.00
Pre-School T/Th 12:30 - 3:00 20 hrs $2,143.00 $839.00 $714.00 $714.00
Pre-School T/Th 9:00 - 3:00 48 hrs $4,414.00 $1,596.00 $1,471.00 $1,471.00
Pre-School M/W/F 9:00 - 3:00 72 hrs* $2,300.00* $892.00 $767.00 $767.00
Pre-School M-F 9:00 - 3:00 120 hrs** $3,262.50** $1,213.00 $1,088.00 $1,088.00

*72-hour programs: Government-mandated parent fee of $230.00/month (part-time, 50–100 hours).
**120-hour programs: Government-mandated parent fee of $326.25/month (full-time, 100+ hours).

Pre-Kindergarten Fees

  3 Payments Option
Program Schedule Hours Full Year Sept 1 Dec 1 Mar 1
Pre-Kinders M/W/F 9:00 - 11:30 30 hrs $4,299.00 $1,588.00 $1,433.00 $1,433.00
Pre-Kinders M/W/F 12:30 - 3:00 30 hrs $4,299.00 $1,588.00 $1,433.00 $1,433.00
Pre-Kinders T/Th 9:00 - 11:30 20 hrs $3,001.00 $1,125.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Pre-Kinders T/Th 12:30 - 3:00 20 hrs $3,001.00 $1,125.00 $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Pre-Kinders T/Th 9:00 - 3:00 48 hrs $4,414.00 $1,596.00 $1,471.00 $1,471.00
Pre-Kinders M/W/F 9:00 - 3:00 72 hrs* $2,300.00* $892.00 $767.00 $767.00
Pre-Kinders M-F 9:00 - 3:00 120 hrs** $3,262.50** $1,213.00 $1,088.00 $1,088.00

*72-hour programs: Government-mandated parent fee of $230.00/month (part-time, 50–100 hours).
**120-hour programs: Government-mandated parent fee of $326.25/month (full-time, 100+ hours).

Pre-School affordability note: A $100.00 per month affordability grant is applied to Pre-School fees for children attending less than 4 hours per day.

A non-refundable $300.00 registration fee is required to secure your child's spot. Registration and deposit must be received by February 15 to guarantee placement for the upcoming school year.

  Book a Free Tour  Enroll Today!

Sibling Discount

Families with more than one child enrolled at First Steps receive a tuition discount automatically.

  • 2 children enrolled: 5% discount
  • 3 children enrolled: 10% discount
  • 4 or more children enrolled: 15% discount

Registration Deadlines

Spots at First Steps fill quickly. Registering early is the best way to guarantee your child's place.

Kinders Plus & Grades 1–8 

Priority registration closes January 16. 

After this date, registration opens to the public and remaining spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Pre-School & Pre-Kinders 

Registration with a deposit must be received by February 15 to reserve a spot for the upcoming school year. Forms and fees received after this date will be placed on a waiting list.

When a student is registered, a place is reserved for the full school year.

  Book a Free Tour  Enroll Today!

Payment Policies

Tuition is non-refundable. 

When your child is registered, a place is reserved for the full school year. Fees will not be refunded upon withdrawal. The only exception is an involuntary job transfer.

Outstanding accounts

Students with unpaid fees at the start of the school year will not be permitted to begin or return to class until the account is brought current. Accounts remaining unpaid at year end will be subject to 5% per annum interest, and the student will not be permitted to re-enroll until the balance is paid in full.

Accepted payment methods 

  • Cheque 
  • Cash
  • e-Transfer

Please note: debit and credit card transactions are not accepted.

NSF transactions: A $50.00 fee applies to all NSF transactions.

What to Include with Your Registration

To complete your registration, please have the following information ready:

  • Child's full name, date of birth, and home address
  • Alberta Health Care number and Alberta Education number
  • Parent/guardian names, addresses, and contact numbers
  • Emergency contact name and phone number
  • Medical conditions and allergies
  • Immunization status
  • Resident school board selection
  • Indigenous identity declaration (optional)

Choosing the Right School Takes Time.
We're Here to Help!

Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision, and we understand that you may have questions before taking the next step. The best way to discover whether First Steps Elementary Academy is the right fit for your family is to experience our school firsthand.

We invite you to book a free, no-obligation school tour to explore our classrooms, meet our teachers, learn more about our programs, and get a feel for our welcoming learning environment. It's a great opportunity to ask questions, discuss your child's unique needs, and see what makes First Steps a special place to learn and grow.

We would love to meet your family and help you feel confident in your decision.

  Book a Free Tour  Enroll Today!