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By: Hughes James

How School in Alberta Differs From Your Home Province...

An Easy-to-Read Graph to Make your Relocation Simpler

     Every province operates a little differently when it comes to our education system. If you're planning on moving to Alberta from another province, this graph will highlight some of the major differences to expect. 

     If you're reading this on a cell phone, you may need to rotate your phone to the side to read the graph in full.

Ontario


AlbertaOntario
Kindergarten
  • One Year (Optional)
  • Optional for children aged 5. 
  • Half-day, with some full-day options available in select schools.
  • Two years
  • Junior Kindergarten (JK) for 4-year-olds and Senior Kindergarten (SK) for 5-year-olds. 
  • Full-day programs.
Elementary School
  • Grades 1-6. Focus on foundational skills across broad subjects.
  • Grades 1-8. Wide range of subjects, including two additional grades compared to Alberta.
Middle School / Junior High
  • Grades 7-9. Transition phase with subject specialization.
  • Middle School in Grades 7 and 8 in public school boards
  • Middle School is typically part of elementary school in Catholic boards.
High School
  • Grades 10-12.
  • Grades 9-12
Community Service Hours Required For High School Graduation
  • Not Required
  • 40 Hours
Curriculum and Assessment
  • Alberta Curriculum link
  • Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) in Grades 6 and 9
  • Literacy Assessment in Grades 1 and 3
  • Ontario Curriculum link
  • EQAO assessments at key points
  • Literacy Test  (OSSLT) is a requirement for high school graduation
Specialized Programs
  • French Immersion
  • Francophone
  • International Baccalaureate (IB), 
  • Career and Technology Studies (CTS).
  • French Immersion
  • Francophone
  • International Baccalaureate, 
  • Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) programs.


British Columbia


AlbertaBritish Columbia
Kindergarten
  • One Year
  • Optional for children aged 5. 
  • Half-day, with some full-day options available in select schools.
  • Same as Alberta
Elementary School
  • Grades 1-6
  • Grades 1-7
Middle School / Junior High
  • Grades 7-9. Transition phase with subject specialization.
  • Grades 8 and 9
  • Some boards include 7
High School
  • Grades 10-12.
  • Grades 10-12
Community Service Hours Required For High School Graduation
  • Not Required
  • 30 Hours
Curriculum and Assessment
  • Alberta Curriculum link
  • Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) in Grades 6 and 9
  • Literacy Assessment in Grades 1 and 3
  • B.C. Curriculum link
  • Literacy and Numeracy Test in Grade 10 is a requirement for graduation.
  • Literacy Test in Grade 12 is a requirement for high school graduation
Specialized Programs
  • French Immersion
  • Francophone
  • International Baccalaureate (IB), 
  • Career and Technology Studies (CTS).
  • French Immersion
  • Francophone
  • International Baccalaureate, 


Manitoba


AlbertaManitoba
Kindergarten
  • One Year
  • Optional for children aged 5. 
  • Half-day, with some full-day options available in select schools.
  • Same as Alberta
Elementary School
  • Grades 1-6
  • Grades 1-6
Middle School / Junior High
  • Grades 7-9. Transition phase with subject specialization.
  • Grades 7 and 8
High School
  • Grades 10-12.
  • Grades 9-12
Community Service Hours Required For High School Graduation
  • Not Required
  • Students can complete 110 hours to obtain a full high school credit (1.0) or 55 hours for a half credit (0.5).
Curriculum and Assessment
  • Alberta Curriculum link
  • Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) in Grades 6 and 9
  • Literacy Assessment in Grades 1 and 3
Specialized Programs
  • French Immersion
  • Francophone
  • International Baccalaureate (IB), 
  • Career and Technology Studies (CTS).
  • French Immersion
  • Francophone
  • International Baccalaureate
  • Indigenous Language Offerings
  • Vocational Training


Quebec


AlbertaQuebec
Kindergarten
  • One Year (Optional)
  • Optional for children aged 5. 
  • Half-day, with some full-day options available in select schools.
  • Age 4- Junior Kindergarten (Optional)
  • Age 5 Mandatory
Elementary School
  • Grades 1-6
  • Grades 1-6
Middle School / Junior High
  • Grades 7-9. Transition phase with subject specialization.
  • No Middle School
High School
  • Grades 10-12.
  • Grades 7-11
  • No Grade 12
  • may attend CEGEP for pre-university (2 years) or vocational (3 years) programs. 


Community Service Hours Required For High School Graduation
  • Not Required
  • Minimum 30 Hours
Curriculum and Assessment
  • Alberta Curriculum link
  • Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) in Grades 6 and 9
  • Literacy Assessment in Grades 1 and 3
Specialized Programs
  • French Immersion
  • Francophone
  • International Baccalaureate (IB), 
  • Career and Technology Studies (CTS).
  • Strong emphasis on bilingual education
  • CEGEP after Grade 11. (First level of schooling not mandatory)

     

     If you have questions about the school system in Alberta or have questions about moving to Alberta, you can contact me here, and I'd be happy to help point you in the right direction. 

     For access to the most up-to-date database of homes available in Alberta, click HERE.