Graduation requirements

Find out what students need to graduate from high school.

Overview

One credit hour is equivalent to 90 hours of instruction. Most one semester high school courses are equivalent to four credit hours. 

Students must fulfill the following to graduate: 

  • meet learning requirements prescribed in Grade 9 curriculum
  • accumulate 100 total credit hours to apply for graduation
  • develop a documented career-life plan

Read the High School Companion Document for more details.

Please note: students who entered high school prior to September 2023 must fulfill the requirements in Policy 316 — Graduation Requirements Appendix A. (PDF 436 KB)

Class requirements

All students must complete 80 total credit hours from the list of compulsory courses and options in grades 10 through 12, and complete a minimum of 20 credit hours from the list of elective courses which can include up to 8 credit hours from Challenge for Credit Courses, Personal Interest courses, and other Flexible Credit Options, and up to 8 credit hours from Locally Developed and/or Micro Courses.

All students must achieve a minimum grade of 60% in high school courses. Additionally, they must acquire a literacy credential by achieving a successful rating on the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA).

Students learning English as an additional language at A1-A2 levels in reading and writing may be considered for an exemption from the ELPA, while those at B1 level and above should attempt the assessment with universal accommodations. 

French immersion students must complete 50% of the Grade 9 curriculum and 40 credit hours in grades 10–12 in French. 

Personalized Learning Plans

Graduation requirements for a student with a Personalized Learning Plan (PLP) may vary. A PLP can contain one or more of the following:

  • Accommodated: accommodations are strategies, technologies or adjustments without which a learner would not be able to access the curriculum or demonstrate their knowledge.
  • Individualized: planning that supports student’s skill development and does not follow the prescribed curriculum.
  • Adjusted Curriculum: a course is adjusted when grade level Skill Descriptors have been changed or removed to address the specific needs of the learner. The integrity (general intent) of the course is maintained while the depth of treatment of the Skill Descriptors has been altered.

More information