Testimonials
Read about the programs you're interested in from the perspectives of former students!
Art Programs
I took Art 10, 20, and 30 at Old Scona Academic. My advice to incoming students is to choose courses you actually enjoy, instead of only picking courses you think post-secondaries would be “impressed by.” I know a lot of students feel pressure to focus strictly on STEM courses, but I think it’s important to understand that post-secondaries would rather you apply with skills and experiences that you are genuinely passionate about rather than what you think would look good on your resume. Taking art throughout high school gave me opportunities to apply for unique scholarships that were not available to STEM students. I would recommend this program! - Graduate from Old Scona Academic in 2023
Language Programs
Hello, my name is Isabelle and I completed the Spanish program at Strathcona High School. I'd highly recommend taking a language course as in my experience I have made many friends and expanded my language skills along with it. I graduated with a DELE exam which certifies me as a spanish speaker therefore helping me with job opportunities. Overall, taking a language course is a fun and motivating way to learn about a new culture, broaden your worldview, and prepare for future endeavors. - Isabelle, Graduate from Strathcona High School in 2023
AP Programs
IB Programs
I completed several AP classes at Strathcona High school. I am a physics major at the UofA but most of the AP credits I received and used were in the humanities (english, history, art, etc). I wouldn't recommend using credits from the classes you plan to take in university because there will be gaps in your knowledge. For example, I earned credits for my calculus 1 class but I chose not to take them. If I had used them then I would've had to do a fair bit of self-studying to catch up for later classes. My biggest advice is to be strategic in which course you want credits in and focus your time as needed; everyone is going to have a different idea of what they want to take in university (if you choose to go that path) and what they want to get out of this program, so don’t spend too much time worrying that someone else is studying for an exam and you aren’t. I would recommend this program to students who are either interested in the AP topic or looking to save some time/money in university, but I would also warn that this program can be very demanding, and sometimes taking only a couple classes can be more beneficial than trying to complete as many as possible. - Berenika, Graduate from Strathcona High School in 2023
I took only a couple of IB courses in high school, and even if I did not get the full IB diploma, I still do not regret taking them! The IB program encourages a lot of exploration, and that what makes the IB program different from other academic programs out there. In the indiviudal assessments, you have a lot of freedom to explore and learn. Getting credits from the IB classes also helped me in university, because I could use the credits I earned from my IB courses to lighten my university courseload during my first year. A lot of the times, IB courses will have material that aren't taught in the Alberta curriculum, but that you will have to eventually come across in your introductory university courses. My IB Biology class defintitely helped me breeze through my first year classes at the UofA. I would highly recommend taking IB courses in subjects that you're interested in, and although I didn't take the full IB program myself, I know it has helped a lot of my friends with finding their passions, that ultimately helped them decide what programs they wanted to take in university. - Graduate from Old Scona Academic in 2023
If you know anyone who has graduated from an Edmonton High School and can share their experiences, please have them fill out this form: Testimonials