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Alberta High School Diploma Requirements

To be sure students meet graduation requirements, students are expected to have a full course load. This means courses taken at Western (those taken with other providers such as CBe-Learn are not included in this count):

  • Grade 10 – minimum of 8 courses
  • Grade 11 – minimum of 7 courses
  • Grade 12 – minimum of 6 courses

Note: Minimum grad requirements do not usually qualify students for post-secondary programs.

Courses

Credits

English Language Arts - 30 level (ELA 30-1 or 30-2)

Mathematics - 20 Level (Math 20-1, 20-2 or 20-3)

Science - 20 Level (Sci. 20, Sci. 24, Bio. 20, Chem. 20 or Phys. 20)

Social Studies - 30 Level (SS 30-1 or SS 30-2) 

Physical Education 10 - 3 credits

Career and Life Management 20 (CALM) - 3 credits

Ten credits in any combination from: CTS, Second Languages, Fine Arts, PE20/30

Ten credits in any 30 level course (in addition to 30-level English and Social) 

Additional Courses (minimum)

15

10

10

15

3

3

10

10

24

Total Minimum Credits Required

100

Note: The criteria for participating in the school’s graduation ceremony in late spring is that students are enrolled in courses leading to completion of all diploma requirements by the end of June of their graduation year.

General Course Information (FAQs)

What are credits?

Credits are awarded for the successful completion of a course (minimum 50%). A subject taken for a full semester is normally worth 5 credits. A subject using half this time may be awarded 3 credits. Career and Technology Studies (CTS) coursework awards individual credits for specific modules throughout a course. Credits can be earned only once in any one course.

How are high school courses identified?

In most cases, high school courses are numbered so that Grade 10 classes are numbered in the 10s, e.g., Social 10-1, Science 10, Math 10C

Grade 11 classes are numbered in the 20s, e.g., ELA 20-1, Science 24, and Art 20.

Grade 12 classes are numbered in the 30s, e.g., Chemistry 30, Math 31, and Work Experience 35.

Career and Technology Studies courses are named by level: introductory, intermediate, and advanced.

Projects, Assignments, Term Papers, Labs and Quizzes

Consistent and regular attention to in-class projects, assignments, term papers, labs, quizzes, and homework is expected of all students at Western Canada High School. Students who do not complete their work and cannot provide a reasonable explanation to the teacher may be required to attend Tutorials (8:35-9:00 AM or 3:20-3:40 PM) or an alternate arranged time to complete their work. Students who refuse to complete their in-class assignments without a valid reason will be referred to the administration and face the possibility of disciplinary action.

Student Work Periods

Students on work periods are required to be out of the halls at the period bell and in one of the following locations only:

  • Library
  • Cafeteria/study hall
  • Inner courtyards
  • Off-campus