At what age can I leave school?
You can leave school when you are 16.
If you are between 6 and 16, you must go to school unless you have already graduated from high school or have been excused because of an illness or other cause. If you do not attend school, attendance officers have the authority to get you and return you to school. Courts can also order you back to school.
If you are between 6 and 19 and have not graduated from high school, you have the right to go to public school free of charge. However, this right requires you to be diligent in your studies and comply with the rules of the school. If you do not, you may be suspended from school as a form of correction or discipline.
School attendance (and education in Alberta generally) is governed by Alberta’s Education Act.
Last Reviewed: November 2019
What is an independent student?
An independent student is a student who is:
- 18 years of age or older, or
- 16 years of age or older and living independently, or
- 16 years of age or older and has a youth agreement with Children’s Services under the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act.
When determining if a student is living independently, the board may look at the following:
- whether the student or their parent has written a statement indicating the student is living independently
- the student’s living arrangements
- whether the student is financially independent or contributes financially to their maintenance
- whether the student is responsible for making important decisions for themselves, such as about health care
If a student is an independent student, they may make any decisions about their education that their parent would have been able to make. The parent no longer has any right to make those decisions.
Last Reviewed: November 2019
At what age can I go to a post-secondary school?
Post-secondary institutions include colleges, universities, trade schools and more.
There is no specific age. You must meet the entry requirements set by the institution. Sometimes institutions require you to have completed a high school diploma. Other programs do not.
Last Reviewed: November 2019
See Also
Youth FAQs on: