Dr. Gordon Townsend School is a unique setting school in the Alberta Children’s Hospital. The student population is comprised of young people aged 5-19. These students are continuously admitted and discharged for their significant medical conditions by the medical teams at the ACH. Students are admitted to the various programs at our school through our partner, Alberta Health Services. The school is on the CBE instructional calendar to meet the various needs of the young people at the ACH. Each of the students remain connected to their origin school and will transition back to this school or another appropriate placement as soon as they are medically able or have completed their admission.
Drawing by Jamison P., DGTS Student 2022
Our Goal
Dr. Gordon Townsend School (DGTS) is a part of the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), and our certified teachers follow the Alberta programs of study. We strive to support students with their educational needs during their hospital admission(s) or duration of treatment. Working in collaboration with our Alberta Health Services and Recovery Alberta partners, our teachers consider the developmental, health and academic needs of each student.
Our Program
We offer educational support for grades K-12, including individuals with complex needs and from unique learning settings. Student learning plans are highly personalized and school time varies depending on the treatment program. Teachers work in collaboration with your child’s community school in order to support a positive transition in and out of the Alberta Children’s Hospital treatment program.
At DGTS we value parent voice as partners in education. Please connect with the teacher attached to your child’s treatment program in order to establish learning goals, identify areas of strength and need and plan positive transitions.
Who Was Dr. Gordon Townsend?
Dr. Gordon Townsend School was formerly known as the Children's Hospital School until 1977 when it was officially named after Dr. Gordon Townsend, a pediatric surgeon who believed in the importance of patients receiving an educational component along with their daily medical requirements.
Our School's Commitment to Truth and Reconciliation
We are committed to acknowledging and supporting the implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 94 Calls to Action specific to education. Our school, along with all CBE schools, made a Truth and Reconciliation Commitment to Action, on June 21, we renewed our commitment.
View our Truth and Reconciliation Commitment | 2025-2026
School Development Plan
Each year, our school prepares a development plan with input from teachers, school staff, students and parents. We review many sources of data, including report cards, provincial achievement test results and school surveys. Based on this information, we create our plan identifying targeted areas for growth. Our school development plan is not meant to represent all of the work that takes place in our school, but rather it focuses on specific areas for improvement.
View Our School Development Plan | 2025-2026
School Improvement Results Report
Our school also prepares a results plan, which looks at our previous school year. It shows our students’ achievement and progress in meeting the goals and outcomes as set out by the CBE and Alberta Education, outlines some of the highlights of our school development plan and gives an overview of our school. You can look on the CBE website for system-wide results.