Located in the family friendly community of Wentworth in Calgary's prestigious upper west side, Wentworth Pointe by Trico Homes is a collection of luxury townhomes surrounded by numerous amenities, shopping centres, highly sought-after schools, and transit routes.

The community of Acadia sits in southeast Calgary, nestled between Carburn Park and the Bow River to the east and Macleod Trail to the west. Established in 1960, the community is home to nine schools from the public and separate boards – including the city's largest high school, Lord Beaverbrook – as well as a charter school and bilingual schools.

The year is 1960. Calgary's population sits at 234,428. Completion of the Trans-Canada Highway is still two years away. A new $1-million terminal at McCall Field welcomes airline passengers, with the first non-stop, transatlantic flight from Calgary to Amsterdam still a year away. The first two buildings on the new University of Calgary campus open and the newly minted community of Brentwood sits on the very edge of the city.

How times have changed.

With plenty of space to run and play, and an envious selection of schools a stone's throw away, the master-planned community of Currie is a perfect fit for families.

New schools in the works across Calgary

For many homebuyers, especially young families, nearby schools are a major factor when it comes to choosing a house and neighbourhood. While Calgary is full of older, established schools, there are also a number of new schools that have recently opened or are slated to open in the near future – many of them in Calgary's newest communities. Here are the Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic School District's new school projects.

Importance of education system cast into spotlight with academic results survey

In the real estate world, the phrase "location, location, location" often arises. Referring to the amenities around a home rather than the home itself, having a good school nearby is often near the top of the list for many buyers.

"The most important thing for me was not that there was a school, but that there were several nearby schools," said northwest Calgary resident Pamela Haskell. "Because there is so much specialization with programs and charter schools, I didn't want to count on having a school available only to see it become [an immersion school] the next year. A few schools in the area opens up the choices."