Qualifications for Graduation

Students may graduate according to the regulations which were in place during their Grade 10 year.  Students who started Grade 10 for the first time in September 2002 and after will be required to have 18 credits to graduate from June 2005.  Of these, three must be English (one at each grade level), one must be global studies, and one must be composed of the two half-credits, Physically Active Lifestyles and Career and Life Management (PAL/CLM).  In addition, one course in social studies and one in fine arts are also required as well as two in math and science and two others from the fields of math science and technology.  Furthermore, a maximum of seven Grade 10 credits may be counted toward graduation.  A minimum of five Grade 12 courses is required, although our students take at least six.  Canadian history has been added as a graduation requirement for students who entered Grade 10 in 2001.  The I.B. history programmes fulfill this requirement.

Challenge for Credit

The Province of Nova Scotia is recognizing "challenge for credit" which allows students to request accreditation for 'specialized knowledge or ability obtained outside the school that an existing course seeks to develop' (Province of Nova Scotia Public Schools Programmes). Challenge for credit may prove useful to students in acquiring a fine arts credit. Interested students should consult with the Academic Coordinator for details.

University Requirements

Most Canadian universities ask for English and two other “core” subjects for general admission.  Core subjects usually include any of the sciences (biology, chemistry or physics), math, any language and history.  Two more university preparatory subjects round out the requirements (classes such as political science and sociology are specific examples).  Admission to science programmes obliges the student to have two years of two science classes, such as biology and chemistry.  Engineering programmes require math-pc, physics and chemistry for entrance and calculus is strongly recommended or required, depending upon the institution.  Other programmes may have specific requirements and your son or daughter should investigate these if he or she has a specific goal in mind.

Universities vary greatly in the specific requirements they have for programmes and in the averages expected for admissions.  In general, most require a minimum average of 70% with no mark below 60% (and at least 65% in English).  Programmes with competitive enrollments have much more stringent minima.

Course Load

A full course load for Grade 10 is eight courses. In Grades 11 and 12 each student must do a minimum of six courses. King's-Edgehill School is not a semestered school.

Transfer and Withdrawal From Courses

Generally course transfers will not be considered after the end of September. Course withdrawals must be done at least two weeks prior to December examinations and permission to withdraw from a course will only be given after consultation with parents. Unless the student is doing seven courses, the course must be replaced with an appropriate alternative.