As part of a number of new and upgraded schools the province announced throughout Alberta this week, eight school projects were announced Thursday for Edmonton and area – but some believe they won’t be enough.

In total, seven new schools and one modernization were announced.

Out of the seven schools, three will be built in Edmonton, two in St. Albert, and one each in Spruce Grove and Leduc.

Fultonvale School, an Elk Island Public School Division school will also be modernized.

The three Edmonton schools will be built in Terwillegar Heights (Edmonton Public, Kindergarten to Grade 9), Heritage Valley (Public, Kindergarten to Grade 6), and Lewis Farms (Edmonton Catholic Schools, Kindergarten to Grade 9).

Those three will have student capacities ranging from 600 in Heritage Valley, to 900 in Terwillegar Heights and Lewis Farms.

While school officials welcome the new additions, they’re also feeling a little left out – as Calgary will see three times the number of schools built.

The province said the difference between the number of schools slated for Alberta’s two largest cities stems from the differences in growth.

Calgary’s growth is central, the province said, while Edmonton’s is on the outskirts.

“I was surprised we didn’t receive more, to be quite honest,” Edmonton Public School Board Chair Sarah Hoffman said.

Officials from both of Edmonton’s main school boards said without more schools, overcrowding will continue.

“It’s not sufficient for our needs,” Edmonton Catholic School Board Chair Becky Kallal said. “We’re really concerned about meeting the needs of those students.”

The province has announced 30 new schools throughout the province – all of them are to be completed by 2016.

The schools are part of a $1.4 billion cash injection over three years into school capital projects.

The province said that plan includes $441 million to finish building 22 new schools, which are expected to open in the fall of 2014 in a number of areas throughout the province, along with facelifts to 13 existing schools.

Thursday’s announcement is part of a Progressive Conservative Party election promise of a $503 million boost for the construction of a total of 50 new schools and upgrades for 70 others.

According to the province, the Edmonton area schools will offer classroom spaces for 4,950 students in all age groups.

With files from Bill Fortier