The eleventh season of Degrassi premiered on July 18, 2011, concluded on May 18, 2012, and consists of 45 episodes. Degrassi, previously known as Degrassi: The Next Generation, is a Canadian serial teen drama television series. Although only two school years have passed in the story timeline since season six, season eleven is set in the last half of the second semester, and the first semester in the years it aired. Writers have been able to use a semi-floating timeline, so that the issues depicted are modern for their viewers. The first half of this season again depicts the lives of a group of high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors while the second half of this season depicts the lives of a group of high school freshman, juniors, and seniors as they deal with some of the issues that young adults face such as sexual identity, gender identity, teen parenthood, family issues, mental illness, gang violence, bulimia, drug abuse, and relationships. 45 episodes were ordered for this season, and it again has a telenovela/soap opera format, with the show airing new episodes four days a week, for the first 7 weeks. Four actors were added to the ensemble cast, while one cast member left the series. Production for the season began on March 14, 2011 at Epitome Pictures' studios in Toronto, Ontario.