Exams & Graduation

Graduation Criteria

At Bowness, students are encouraged to take a full program and achieve as rich a learning experience as possible. For Grade 12 students, Graduation Exercises are held either at the end of May or the beginning of June each year, even though students have not quite completed their final semester.

To participate in the graduation exercises for Grade 12 students, a student must:

  • have earned the required credits and courses to meet Alberta Education's requirements by August 31 of their graduating year;
  • be enrolled in good standing at Bowness High School for the Grade 12 year.
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​Note | Alberta Education directs the Grade 12 Diploma Examinations Program. As of September 2022, the Alberta Education Diploma exams webpage states:

For the 2022-23 school year, diploma exams will only count towards 20% of students’ final grades. The weighting of diploma exams will return to 30% effective September 1, 2023.
Diploma exams are mandatory and will be offered for every diploma exam course listed below in January, April, June, August, and November:

  • Biology 30
  • Chemistry 30
  • English Language Arts 30–1
  • English Language Arts 30–2
  • Français 30–1
  • French Language Arts 30–1
  • Mathematics 30–1
  • Mathematics 30–2
  • Physics 30
  • Science 30
  • Social Studies 30–1
  • Social Studies 30–2

If you have any questions, please contact your school.

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