Manitoba
MY CHILD IN SCHOOL
MY CHILD IN SCHOOL – Informed Parent, Involved Parent

GRADE 9 - ENGLISH PROGRAM

OVERVIEW

In Grade 9, your child will need to earn credits in 5 compulsory subjects: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Physical Education/Health Education, Science and Social Studies. These credits are required to obtain a Manitoba high school diploma. In addition to these 5 compulsory courses, your child will take optional courses to earn the necessary credits towards graduation requirements (a minimum of 30 credits in Senior Years). Click the OPT tab for information on optional courses.

The Senior Years English Program Diploma

Students must complete 17 compulsory courses to graduate in the English Program. See the list of courses below.

Compulsory senior years courses in the English Program
SUBJECT AREA COURSE TITLE
Grade 9 5 credits
English Language Arts English Language Arts
Mathematics Mathematics
Science Science
Social Studies Canada in the Contemporary World
Physical Education/Health Education Physical Education/Health Education
Grade 10 5 credits
English Language Arts  English Language Arts
Mathematics 1 of the following:
  • Essential Mathematics
  • Introduction to Applied and Pre-Calculus Mathematics
Science Science
Social Studies Geographic Issues of the 21st Century
Physical Education/Health Education Physical Education/Health Education
Grade 11 4 credits
English Language Arts 1 of the following:
  • ELA: Comprehensive Focus
  • ELA: Literary Focus
  • ELA: Transactional Focus
Mathematics 1 of the following:
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Essential Mathematics
  • Pre-Calculus Mathematics
Social Studies History of Canada
Physical Education/Health Education Physical Education/Health Education
Grade 12 3 credits
English Language Arts 1 of the following:
  • ELA: Comprehensive Focus
  • ELA: Literary Focus
  • ELA: Transactional Focus
Mathematics 1 of the following:
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Essential Mathematics
  • Pre-Calculus Mathematics
Physical Education/Health Education Physical Education/Health Education 

In addition, a minimum of 13 optional credits are required to graduate. For more information on graduation requirements, please contact the school’s guidance counsellor.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

To obtain a high school diploma, students must earn a credit in the Grade 9 English Language Arts course. This credit prepares students for continuing their studies in Grades 10 to 12.

Successful completion of this course is recommended before choosing a compulsory English Language Arts course in Grade 10.

MATHEMATICS

To obtain a high school diploma, students are required to complete Grade 9 Mathematics. This compulsory course prepares students for the various course options for Grades 10 to 12 Mathematics.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION/HEALTH EDUCATION

To obtain a high school diploma, students must earn a total of four credits in Physical Education/Health Education, including one credit in Grade 9. The purpose of the combined physical education/health education curriculum is to encourage physically active and healthy lifestyles.

The curriculum focuses on making healthy decisions about physical activity participation, healthy eating, substance use, sexual reproductive health, and injury prevention.

SCIENCE

Students should understand and value the role that science plays in our everyday lives and its importance for global interdependence and for a sustainable society, economy and environment.

To obtain a high school diploma, students are required to complete Grade 9 Science. This compulsory course prepares students for Grade 10 Science and for any of the optional Grades 11 and 12 science courses.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Social studies is the study of people in relation to each other and to the world. In Manitoba, social studies includes the study of history and geography, and draws upon relevant topics in the social sciences and humanities. Through the study of human beings in their physical, social, and cultural environments, social studies examines the past and the present, and looks toward the future. Social studies helps students acquire the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to become active democratic citizens and contributing members of their communities, locally, nationally, and globally. Grade 9 social studies focuses on life in contemporary Canadian society.

To obtain a high school diploma, students must earn a credit in the Grade 9 course Social Studies: Canada in the Contemporary World.

OPTIONAL COURSES

To meet the graduation requirements, students must earn a minimum of 30 credits as presented in the following table:

Compulsory courses 17 credits
Optional courses 13 credits
Number of credits required for the Senior Years Diploma 30 credits

Students must therefore choose optional courses to earn the number of credits required for a high school diploma. The list of optional courses varies from school to school. Your child's choices of optional courses may:

  • offer additional academic support (ex. Grade 9 Transitional Mathematics)
  • complement his/her personal and academic interests
  • reinforce and support his/her career choices