The Academic Study and Graduation Program is designed for students, mostly from Asia, who have chosen to study at Gulf Islands Secondary School until they graduate from school and earn the provincial Dogwood Graduation certificate. The majority of these students are enrolled in the program for two or more years. Previous academic transcripts, language and math assessments, and letters of recommendation help determine grade placement, level of language support, and the potential for transfer credit.
Like the Canadian students, the international students are expected to meet all of the graduation requirements as determined by the Ministry of Education of British Columbia. All of the students in this program share the same goal, that is, to successfully make the transition from high school to university or college in Canada, the United States, or perhaps even back at home. Given this challenge, the Gulf Islands International Program has determined that this program is not advisable for students with beginner level English, unless these students were prepared to enroll at an earlier age and spend as long as four or five years in the program.
It is important to note that Gulf Islands Secondary School is a comprehensive school and the only high school serving the educational needs of the students who live in the Gulf Islands. As a comprehensive school, several distinct education programs are offered at the school, including academic, vocational and arts programs. The international students in the Academic Study and Graduation Program enroll in the academic program, but have the option of taking vocational and arts electives, as well as other elective programs.
Useful Links and Resources:
- How We Compare
- Unique Schedule
- Post-Secondary Partners
- Quality Instruction and Post-Secondary Transitions
- Graduation Requirements in British Columbia
- Prescribed Learning Outcomes for Graduation Courses
- Course Selection Handbook for Gulf Islands Secondary School
- Course Selections by Grade Level
- 2013 Rankings of Canadian Universities
- Our Student Services Team
