Thirteenth grade, grade thirteen, or super senior year is the final year of

secondary school A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' secondary education, lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) ...

in some jurisdictions. In some locales, receiving a

high school diploma A high school diploma or high school degree is a North American academic school leaving qualification awarded upon high school graduation. The high school diploma is typically obtained after a course of study lasting four years, from grade 9 to gra ...

or equivalent is compulsory. In others, receiving a high school diploma is not required but may be a prerequisite to enrolling in certain post-secondary institutions. Students who complete Grade 13 usually graduate ages between 18 to 19.

Canada

The Ontario Academic Credit (OAC) (french: Cours préuniversitaire de l'Ontario or CPO) was the fifth year of secondary school education designed for students preparing for

post-secondary education Tertiary education, also referred to as third-level, third-stage or post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank, for example, defines tertiary education as including univers ...

that existed in the province of

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

. The OAC curriculum was codified by the Ontario Ministry of Education in ''Ontario Schools: Intermediate and Senior'' (OS: IS) and its revisions. The Ontario education system had five years of secondary education, the fifth year known as "grade 13" from 1921 to 1988. Then, grade 13 was replaced in 1993 by the OAC for students starting high school (

grade 9 Ninth grade, freshman year, or grade 9 is the ninth year of school education in some school systems. Ninth grade is often the first school year of high school in the United States, or the last year of middle/junior high school. In some countrie ...

). The OAC continued to act as a fifth year of secondary education until it was phased out in 2003.

United States

Most jurisdictions in the United States require or offer only twelfth grade as the final year of secondary school. Some school districts in

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

offer a thirteenth grade. In

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

, early college high schools may provide 5 years, providing a grade 13.

References

{{Authority control 13 Secondary education