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

secondary school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., b ...

in some jurisdictions. In some locales, receiving a

high school diploma A high school diploma (sometimes referred to as a high school degree) is a diploma awarded upon graduation of high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary s ...

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 are in thirteenth grade are usually 18–19 years old.

Canada

The Ontario Academic Credit (OAC) ( or CPO) was the fifth year of secondary school education designed for students preparing for

post-secondary education Tertiary education (higher education, or post-secondary education) is the educational level following the completion of secondary education. The World Bank defines tertiary education as including universities, colleges, and vocational school ...

that existed in the province of

Ontario Ontario is the southernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Located in Central Canada, Ontario is the Population of Canada by province and territory, country's most populous province. As of the 2021 Canadian census, it ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. 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. Grade 13 was replaced in 1984 by the OAC for students starting high school ( grade 9). The OAC continued to act as a fifth year of secondary education until it was phased out in 2003. In 2022,

Steven Del Duca Steven Alfonso Del Duca (born July 7, 1973) is a Canadian politician who has been serving as the Mayors of Vaughan, mayor of Vaughan since 2022. Del Duca previously served as the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party from 2020 to 2022 and was an ...

, leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, stated that, if elected, the party would reintroduce Grade 13, which would be optional for school boards. It would be available for at least four years.

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 United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

offer a thirteenth grade. In

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

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

Israel

The educational plan for high school graduates who wish to become practical engineers prior to their mandatory army service is known as "Yud Gimel-Yud Daled" (י"ג-י"ד. lit. Thirteenth-Fourteenth grades) due to the study program lasting for two years (except for programs in

civil engineering Civil engineering is a regulation and licensure in engineering, professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads ...

and

architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and construction, constructi ...

, which can last up to 3 years).

References

{{Authority control 13 Secondary education