Northern Lights School
rr 1 · Spirit River · T0H3G0
Around Birch Hills County, within 3 km, there are 2 elementary schools, Northern Lights School among them. Every school in and around Birch Hills County →
What stands out about Northern Lights School
- A small elementary school: 29 students, against a middle of 267 in Alberta.
- Independent: it runs itself, outside the public boards.
- It sits 5 km outside the town’s boundary.
How Northern Lights School does on Alberta’s tests
The Provincial Achievement Tests in Grades 6 and 9: each school against every school in Alberta.
Every measure for Northern Lights School is held back, as Alberta does where a group is small.
| Measure | Here | Middle, Alberta | Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| PAT: acceptable standard | suppressed | – | – |
| PAT: standard of excellence | suppressed | – | – |
Suppressed: Alberta hides results for small groups. Shares are of enrolled students in the core courses, Grades 6 and 9 pooled.
Why Northern Lights School has no band
The province holds back results for small groups, and that covers every measure for Northern Lights School, so it has no place among the schools in Alberta.
Birch Hills County’s School Grade, on its Schools page, is where Northern Lights School counts towards a letter.
Getting a place at Northern Lights School
Independent schools set their own admissions and fees; the province funds part of their costs where they meet its conditions.
The provinces’ education acts and the boards’ own admission policies; check with the board for a given address.
Side by side with the nearest elementary schools
Schools of the same level around it, closest first.
| School | System | Language | Band | Away |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Lights School | Independent | English | – | |
| Ste. Marie Catholic School | English Catholic | English | Top fifth | 10 km |
Elementary schools near Northern Lights School
Nearest first, as the crow flies, up to 25 km. Each school’s own admission policy decides who gets a place.
Questions about Northern Lights School
Who runs Northern Lights School?
Northern Lights School is outside the public boards (Independent).
What language does Northern Lights School teach in?
English.
How do pupils get a place at Northern Lights School?
Through the school, not a board; it decides who it admits and what it charges.
Which schools of the same kind are near Northern Lights School?
Closest by: Ste. Marie Catholic School (10 km).
Sources: Alberta Education and Childcare, school enrolment 2025/26 (Open Government Licence – Alberta) · Alberta Education and Childcare, PAT multiyear school results (core courses pooled). Alberta’s own notes: breaches in 2021–22, wildfires in 2022–24, the January 2026 sitting cancelled, pilot-curriculum students excused. Open Government Licence – Alberta. · map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Under the Statistics Canada Open Licence.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).