2025-2026 Application Process
The application link for prospective new students for the National Sport School (NSS) for the 2025-2026 academic year will be available from December 2, 2024, until midnight on December 20, 2024.
About the National Sport School
Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, the National Sport School became part of the Palliser School Division – ensuring its long-term future at Canada Olympic Park.
The National Sport School (NSS) is for families of developmental and competitive athletes who wish to excel in high school and sport. We understand and accommodate the unique needs of student-athletes. Students are able to learn and thrive outside the traditional school setting and achieve a high school diploma while still pursuing sport. The NSS is for families who want to ease the pressure inherent with traditional school offerings that cannot support or accommodate student-athlete needs including academics, training, and competition requirements. Our unique program honours success in both academics and sport.
Our School provides an accessible, supportive, and flexible learning environment. Small class sizes, one-on-one tutorials, accessible athlete development, leadership training, flexible exam options, and preparation for post-secondary education as well as unparalleled access to onsite sports services, world-class training facilities, and various funding opportunities is what sets us apart. Students can be both successful athletes and graduate from high school with an exceptional education.
Join our community of like-minded students, families and educators at the National Sport School.
Contact Us
National Sport School Newsletter
Receive invitations to upcoming information sessions and other NSS updates.
Our student-athletes are always on the go, travelling for training and competition. National Sport School is designed to provide education in the nimble environment, allowing any time any place access to learning resources. We maximize the use of technology to provide on demand learning and make our teaching team available to our student-athletes.
Working time alongside the classroom teacher is built into the schedule of every class, every day. Students have the opportunity to work through the curriculum at a pace that fits each individual student.
Students are able to connect with their teachers while in class or on the road, but they also have access to a Mental Performance Consultant and Counsellor. They build capacity in mental fitness and learn strategies for coping with stress as well as energy management as student athletes.
Our academic institution is part of a public education system and so remains accessible for families.
Students in grade 8-12, who are currently involved in sport that is recognized at the Provincial or National level. These students show a need for school programming that accommodates sport commitments.
WinSport Canada Olympic Park offers a unique duality: premier training facility access collaborating with an esteemed school. Located in the SW corner of Calgary, Alberta, WinSport has access to arenas, the ski hill with World Cup facilities, halfpipe as well as the Calgary Gymnastics facility, and the Olympic Oval nearby. Premier training facilities include the Performance Training Centre gym and running track.
See our maps and location here.
WinSport's Markin MacPhail Centre
110-151 Canada Olympic Road SW
Calgary, Alberta
The National Sport School has a 30-year history of honoring the specific needs of student athletes; utilizing a blended learning environment that allows student athletes to progress both online and in the classroom. Students learn and train at WinSport’s world class training and competition facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Academics
Currently the school is Grade 8 – 12.
The junior high school class size is typically around 22 students.
The high school class size is typically around 21 students.
Yes, we offer all -1 and -2 courses in Math, Science, English, and Social Studies. We also offer all three sciences to the 30 level as well as Math 31 and Science 30. If students require other course selections, they will be available with Palliser Beyond Borders.
It is not offered at this time.
French is offered online with support in the classroom. Spanish is available through online providers.
Students can take these at the NSS itself, at another Palliser school within Calgary or online through Palliser Beyond Borders. https://www.palliserbeyondborders.com/
More than 95% of our students graduate high school with grades to attend university. Many students choose to follow their sport passion before attending university.
Yes, many of our students have obtained either academic, athletic or both scholarships to US universities.
Staff & Demographics
For the 2024/2025 school year there are 430 students.
For the 2024/2025 school year there are 25 teaching staff including the Principal and Vice Principal. Additionally there are 5 support staff including 2 administrative assistants, a learning commons facilitator, a family school liaison counselor, and a mental performance consultant.
The split is approximately 55% male and 45% female.
No. Student athletes are welcome to join NSS in any grade year.
We monitor enrollment to try and maintain reasonable class sizes and gender equity.
Athletics
No. WinSport’s mission is to serve athletes in the full “discover, develop, and excel” continuum. The NSS serves athletes in the “Develop & Excel” range.
Students from any team sport association can remain with their association of choice and can attend the National Sport School.
Yes, we have and have had many students reach the National and Olympic level. The past several Winter Olympics have had approx. 10% of NSS students on the Canadian Olympic Team.
Applications
The NSS accepts student-athlete applications from December 1 until December 20th, 2024.Selected applicants are invited to complete group interviews which are held in January and April (only if space remains). Successful applicants will be offered conditional acceptance letters, at which time parents can request bursary information and applications.
No. WinSport’s mission is to serve athletes in the full “discover, develop, and excel” continuum. The NSS serves athletes in the “Develop & Excel” range.
The alternative program fee is $5,750 for the 2025/2026 school year. This is an annual fee.
The program fee is due June 1st each year. Parents can choose to pay the program fee in one payment or with the payment plan. The payment plan allows for four equal payments of the program fee and the associated administrative cost ($200).
Yes, when 1 or more sibling attends the National Sport School, there will be a $250 discount applied for the second and subsequent siblings that are registered at the school each year.
There are a limited number of needs-based bursaries available for the NSS. After your student-athlete is provisionally accepted into the school, there will be an option to apply for the needs-based bursary in the enrollment process.
Yes, there are a limited number of merit-based scholarships available, but they are typically offered near the end of the program. They are not merit-based entrance scholarships.
Other
No. All athletes must take either public or private transportation to get to the school.
No, but it may be possible for a student interested in band to attend another Calgary based Palliser school for the band program.
Please see Palliser’s Off Campus website https://www.palliseroffcampus.ca/
Yes, out of province athletes are welcome. The NSS alternative program fee applies but the athlete must either qualify for provincial funding or there will be an “out of province” fee or an “international student” fee on top of the alternative programming fee. Please contact Palliser directly for more information.
The NSS offers cross country, golf, track and field, and intramurals as well as Leadership, GSA and social justice clubs that students can join. The Athlete Development course allows students to try sports like luge, bobsleigh and sledge hockey and offers education on topics such as nutrition, mental wellness, injury recovery, biomechanics, strength and conditioning and weight room etiquette.