Find out what you need to graduate from high school

The Yukon follows British Columbia’s curriculum and graduation program. 

The graduation years are from grades 10 to 12. To graduate, students in grades 10 to 12 must meet the credit and course requirements outlined in the BC Graduation Program.

High school graduation diplomas

Students who meet the credit and course requirements receive a high school graduation diploma.

• English program students earn the BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma).
• French Immersion and French First Language program students can earn both:
  • a BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma); and
  • a Diplôme de fin d’études secondaires en Colombie-Britannique.

Credit and course requirements

To graduate, English program students in grades 10, 11 and 12 require a minimum of 80-course credits. Of these credits: 

• At least 16 credits must be at the Grade 12 level, including a required Language Arts 12 and Career Life Connections.
• At least 28 credits must be elective course credits. 
• 52 credits are required from the following: 
  • Indigenous-focused (4 credits)
  • Career-Life Education (4 credits), and Career-Life Connections (4 credits) 
  • Physical and Health Education 10 (4 credits)
  • Science 10 (4 credits), and a Science 11 or 12 (4 credits)
  • Social Studies 10 (4 credits), and a Social Studies 11 or 12 (4 credits)
  • A Math 10 (4 credits), and a Math 11 or 12 (4 credits)
  • A Language Arts 10, 11 and a required 12 (12 credits total)
  • An Arts Education 10, 11, or 12 and/or an Applied Design, Skills, and Technologies 10, 11, or 12 (4 credits total) 

Courses vary year-to-year within a school. Visit your school counsellor to talk about which courses you should take.

For more information on credit and course requirements, visit the BC Education website.

French Immersion and French First Language 

French Immersion and French First Language program students can earn both:

• a BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma); and
• a Diplôme de fin d’études secondaires en Colombie-Britannique.

French immersion 

French Immersion students meet the graduation requirements for the BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma). Of these 80 credits, they must earn: 

• At least 16 credits at the Grade 12 level (including a Français langue seconde-immersion course at the Grade 12 level).
• Français langue seconde-immersion 10 (4 credits).
• A Français langue seconde-immersion course at the Grade 11 level (4 credits).
• Français langue seconde-immersion 12 (4 credits).
• At least 12 credits in grades 10, 11, or 12 courses that are in French with at least 4 of these credits at the grades 11 or 12 level.

French First Language

French First Language students meet the graduation requirements for the BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma). Of these 80 credits, they must earn: 

• At least 16 credits at the Grade 12 level (including a required Language Arts 12 course).
• An English Language Arts course at the Grade 10 level (4 credits).
• An English Language Arts course at the Grade 11 level (4 credits).
• A required English Language Arts course at the Grade 12 level (4 credits).
• A Français langue première course at the Grade 10 level (4 credits).
• A Français langue première course at the Grade 11 level (4 credits).
• Français langue première – Français langue et culture 12 (4 credits).

Graduation assessments

English program students must also complete 3 graduation assessments: 

• The Grade 10 Numeracy Assessment (introduced in 2018)
• The Grade 10 Literacy Assessment (introduced in 2019–20)
• The Grade 12 Literacy Assessment (introduced in 2021–22) 

French Immersion program students must complete 4 graduation assessments to graduate with both graduation certificates:

• The Grade 10 Numeracy Assessment in English or French
• The Grade 10 Literacy Assessment in English 
• The Grade 12 Literacy Assessment in English and French Immersion specific version 

French First Language program students must complete 5 graduation assessments to graduate with their English graduation certificates:

• The Grade 10 Numeracy Assessment in French
• The Grade 10 Literacy Assessment in English and French
• The Grade 12 Literacy Assessment in English and a French First Language-specific version  

Visit Learn about graduation assessments for more information. 

School completion certificate (Evergreen)

All school-age students have the right to an education program, whether or not that program leads to graduation. Some students may be unable to meet graduation requirements due to their special needs. 

A School Completion Certificate (Evergreen) is intended to celebrate the success in learning that is not recognized in a Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma). 

An Evergreen Certificate recognizes the accomplishments of students with special needs and an Individual Education Plan (IEP), who have met the goals of their education program, other than graduation. 

Not all students with special needs should be in an Evergreen Certificate Program. The decision to put a student in an Evergreen Certificate Program is made when students start the graduation years (grades 10 to 12). This decision should include the informed consent of the student’s parents and guardians.

The Evergreen Certificate is not a graduation credential

Students who receive an Evergreen Certificate have not graduated. The Evergreen Certificate represents the completion of personal learning goals; it does not represent graduation.

For students pursuing an Evergreen Certificate, their education program should enable them to meet their individual learning goals outlined in an IEP

Learn more about IEPs and how we support students with diverse learning abilities and special needs.

Adult Graduation Diploma Program

18–21-year-olds

A BC Adult Graduation Diploma (or Adult Dogwood) is available to people who:

• are 18 years old or older; and
• have not graduated from high school. 

You can attend a public high school to complete the required courses for graduation if you are 21 years old or younger.

22-year-olds and older

You’ll need to get permission to attend a public high school to complete an Adult Dogwood if you’re 22 years old or older. If you plan to attend a post-secondary institution to upgrade your education, you’ll also need to let us know.

Adult Graduation Diploma requirements

To graduate with an Adult Dogwood, students must complete 5 courses, for a total of 20 credits. An Adult Dogwood has the following requirements:

• a Grade 12 level Language Arts course;
• a grade 11 or 12 Math course; and
• 3 Grade 12 level electives; or
• a Grade 11 level Social Studies course and two additional Grade 12 electives.

Previously completed courses

You can use up to 2 courses that you’ve previously completed if they are part of the requirements for an Adult Graduation Diploma.

You are not required to complete the numeracy or literacy graduation assessments.

Visit BC Adult Graduation Diploma Program for more details about the courses and requirements.

Learn about planning for university, college or other post-secondary education

To meet the graduating requirements, talk to your school counsellor. They’ll:

• guide you in selecting courses; and
• help you apply to post-secondary programs.

Learn more about planning for graduation with the BC Ministry of Education’s graduation planner.

Need your school transcript?

Find out how to order a copy of your transcript.