Our International Student Program

 

The Abbotsford School District provides a wide variety of options for International Students who wish to study British Columbian curriculum and improve their English.  This includes a variety of long-term options, as well as a short-term program which is offered to students in emerging markets.

Learn more about our Long Term Programs and Short Term Programs

All Abbotsford Schools offer ESL and will accept International Students.  The Canadian school year runs from the beginning of September until the end of June.

 

Suggested Grade Placement:

 
Suggested Grade placement is based on age of the student as of December 31.
 

Grade:

 K

 1

 2

 3

 4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Age:

 5

 6

 7

 8

 9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17
 
 

Secondary Schools:

Students in Grades 9 to 12 (ages 14-17) attend Secondary School and are offered numerous educational options.  Each school year is split into two semesters, one starting in September, and one starting in February.  International Students may begin their studies in either semester.
 
Students choose 4 subjects per semester and attend each of these classes every day.  As each course is comprised of a different group of students and a teacher who specializes in their subject area, students in Secondary School have the benefit of tailoring their education to their individual goals. 
 
International Students may:
  • Choose from a wide variety of interesting elective courses which will maximize their interaction with other students and improve their conversational English.  There are courses such as Art, Drama, Music, Computers, Woodwork, Cooking, Sewing, Mechanics, Physical Education, Photography, Fashion Design, Student Leadership, and many more.
  • Choose from a wide variety of academic courses such as Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, English, History, Geography, Psychology, Business, and more.
  • Enroll in one of the many specialty programs which are offered in Abbotsford such as IB, AP, a Fine Arts School, Sports Academies, and more. 
  • Complete the graduation requirements in order to achieve a British Columbia Dogwood Diploma  (see the full description below)


  View our Secondary School Profiles

 

Middle Schools:

In Abbotsford, students in Grades 6 to 8 (ages 11-13) attend Middle School.  Middle Schools were created in order to help students successfully make the transition from Elementary School to Secondary School.  Students remain with the same group of students, but their courses are taught by a number of different teachers who specialize in their respective subject areas.
 
 
 

Elementary Schools:

Students in Kindergarten to Grade 5 (ages 5-10) attend Elementary School. Here, students study with the same group of approximately 20 students from the same teacher.  Please note that students under the age of 12 must reside with a parent in order to attend school in Abbotsford.
 
 
 

Graduation:

To earn a Dogwood Diploma (British Columbia high school diploma), international students must meet all graduation requirements:
 
 
Required Courses (4 credits per course)
 
Grade 10:
  • Language Arts 10 (mandatory provincial exam)
  • Social Studies 10
  • Mathematics 10 (mandatory provincial exam)
  • Science 10 (mandatory provincial exam)
  • Physical Education 10
  • Planning 10
  • Fine Arts and/or an Applied Skills 10, 11 or 12

Grade 11:

  • Language Arts 11
  • Social Studies 11 (mandatory provincial exam)
  • Mathematics 11 or 12
  • Science 11 or 12
  • Fine Arts and/or an Applied Skills 10, 11, or 12

Grade 12:

  • Language Arts 12 (mandatory provincial exam)
  • Mathematics 11 or 12
  • Science 11 or 12
  • Fine Arts and/or an Applied Skills 10, 11, or 12
  • Graduation Transitions (a graduation project)

 

Students must earn at least a total of 80 credits 

  • 52 credits from the required courses (including Graduation Transitions)
  • a minimus of 28 elective credits that must include a minumum of 12 credits at the grade 12 level

 

If a student has completed grade 10 in the country they are from and enters after grade 10 they can receive credits for the following courses through equivalency review:

  • Math 10 
  • Science 10
  • Social Studies 10
  • Physical Education 10
  • Fine Arts of Applied Skill 10, 11, or 12
  • Elective Courses

 

Note:  Secondary Schools in the Abbotsford school district run on the semester system.  One year consists of 2 semesters and at each semester the student takes 4 courses.

 

Learn more about BC graduation


 		  
 
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