Canadian provincial grade levels
Comparing the education and grade levels of provinces in Canada
Find a list of schoolsThe education system in Canada is an interesting one. And it continues to evolve.
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The education system in Canada is an interesting one. And it continues to evolve.
Below, we look at two main features of this system. First, we describe the main levels of education in Canada. We then compare the grade structure of all provinces and territories.
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Each province in Canada has its own grade structure. Below, we outline the grade structures of all 12 Canadian provinces (source: Wikipedia entry on Education in Canada). This includes Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon.
Alberta |
|
Elementary |
Junior High |
High |
|
|||||||||||
|
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
||
British Columbia |
|
Primary |
Intermediate |
Secondary |
|
|||||||||||
|
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
||
Manitoba |
|
Early years |
Middle years |
Senior years |
|
|||||||||||
|
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
||
New Brunswick |
|
Elementary |
Middle |
High |
|
|||||||||||
|
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
||
Newfoundland and Labrador |
|
Primary |
Elementary |
Junior high |
Senior high |
|
||||||||||
|
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
Level I (10) |
Level II (11) |
Level III (12) |
|
||
Northwest Territories |
|
Primary |
Intermediate |
Junior secondary |
Senior secondary |
|
||||||||||
|
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
||
Nova Scotia |
|
Elementary |
Junior high |
Senior high |
|
|||||||||||
|
Primary |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
||
Ontario |
Elementary |
Middle |
High |
|
||||||||||||
Junior kindergarten |
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
||
PEI |
|
Elementary |
Intermediate |
Senior high |
|
|||||||||||
|
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
||
Quebec |
|
Primary school |
Secondary school |
College |
||||||||||||
Garderie (reschool) |
Maternelle (Kindergarten) |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 (Sec. I) |
8 (Sec. II) |
9 (Sec. III) |
10 (Sec. IV) |
11 (Sec. V) |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
|
Saskatchewan |
|
Elementary |
Middle |
Secondary |
|
|||||||||||
|
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
||
Yukon |
|
Elementary |
Junior secondary |
Senior secondary |
|
|||||||||||
|
Kindergarten |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
|
Education is compulsory in all Canadian provinces for at least 10 years. Compulsory education begins in Grade 1, at the age of 5 or 6, and ends sometime in high school.
In most provinces, students must attend school until the age of 16 (around Grade 10). In Ontario, Manitoba, and New Brunswick, students are required to go to school up to the age of 18, or until a high school diploma is earned.
Read our guide to the Canadian education system as well as our guide to how it compares with that of the US and Great Britain. You can also read our guide comparing Canada's grade structures to those of other countries.