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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, showing how Canadian provincial grades vary across the country.

What are the levels of education and Canadian school grades?

• Early education: This covers children under five, and can include nursery school or preschool. Early education isn’t compulsory in Canada.
• Elementary school: Elementary or primary school usually spans the lower Canadian school grades. In many provinces, it includes Kindergarten. In Ontario, elementary includes both Junior Kindergarten (JK) and Senior Kindergarten (SK). Kindergarten is not compulsory anywhere in Canada.
• Middle school: Also called “junior high school” or “senior public school.” In many provinces, elementary runs through Grade 5 or 6, and then middle school covers grades 6–9 (ages ~11–15). In Ontario, middle school typically includes Grades 7 and 8.
• High school: Also called “senior high school” or “secondary.” This marks the end of compulsory education in many provinces. It generally runs from Grade 9 to Grade 12 in most provinces. In Quebec, students finish at Grade 11 and then proceed to CEGEP or a pre‑college program (e.g. CEGEP).

How do school grades in Canada differ across provinces?

Each province in Canada sets its own school grades structure, so the “Canadian school grades” ladder isn’t uniform. Below is a summary of Canada's provincial grades across all 12 provinces and territories (source: Wikipedia entry on Education in Canada).

More about Canadian provincial grade levels

In all provinces, compulsory education covers a significant span of school grades in Canada. Usually, it starts around Grade 1 (age 5–6) and continues through to at least Grade 10. Some provinces extend requirements through to Grade 12 or age 18. That variation is one key aspect of Canada's provincial grades.

In Ontario, Manitoba, and New Brunswick, for example, students may have to attend until age 18 or until they achieve a high school diploma. In other provinces, the cutoff might occur earlier. These differences illustrate the diverse nature of school grades in Canada, depending on where you live.

Read our guide to the Canadian education system, as well as how Canada compares with the US and Britain. You can also see our guide comparing Canada's grade structures to other countries.