Secondary education begins at the grade eight level. This is the beginning of the exploratory time in a student’s educational journey. As adolescents, our students need to be exposed to a wide variety of experiences so that when it is time to look at career choices, they have a vast foundation from which to choose. Planning 10 encourages students to explore a range of career options, plan their future, and develop skills in areas such as career planning, healthy decision-making, and finances. As our students move through the secondary program they are offered different areas of specialty. For example in grade eleven and grade twelve students may begin to choose from subjects like Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Communications, Drama, Music, Visual Arts, Information and Communications Technology, History, Geography, Earth Science, various math courses and International Languages (availability of some of these courses will be dependent upon interest and student population).

At grade ten, eleven and twelve, the British Columbia Ministry of Education sanctions standardized exams that are written by every British Columbia students as well as students in B.C. International schools. These exams are marked by people in B.C. Our students at B.C.C.I.S. are held to the same standards as every other student in B.C. The number of exams increase each year beginning with English, Math and Science in grade 10; adding Social Studies in grade eleven and concludes in grade 12 with English 12 plus a minimum of three other exams in the different subject areas. This three year experience is culminated in the achievement of a grade twelve graduating certificate entitled A Dogwood Certificate (named after the provincial flower, the Dogwood Flower). The Dogwood is recognized internationally as a level of achievement that allows entrance to many universities throughout the world without having to take their entrance exams.