Graduation Requirements

In addition to the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) described here, secondary schools also grant:

the Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) and
the Certificate of Accomplishment.

Click here for more information on Secondary Certificates.

Requirements for Ontario Secondary School Diploma

In order to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), a student who entered Grade 9 in the 1999-20 school year, or enters in subsequent years, must earn a minimum of 30 credits, including 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits. Students must also complete 40 hours of community involvement activities and must successfully complete the provincial literacy requirement.

Effective September 2005, two co-operative education credits can be counted toward the 18 compulsory credits.

Credits required – 18 compulsory credits:

4 credits English (1 credit per grade)*
3 credits Mathematics (1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
2 credits Science
1 credits The Arts
1 credits Canadian Geography
1 credits Canadian History
1 credits French as a Second Language
1 credits Health & Physical Education
½ credits Civics
½ credits Career Studies

An additional credit in one of: (Group 1)

English
French as a Second Language**
Native Language
Classical or International Language

Social Sciences and the Humanities
Canadian & World Studies
Guidance and Career Education
Co-operative Education***

An additional credit in one of: (Group 2)

Health & Physical Education
The Arts
Business Studies
French as a Second Language**
Co-operative Education***

An additional credit in one of: (Group 3)

Science (Grade 11 or 12)
Technological Education
French as a Second Language**
Computer Studies
Co-operative Education***

12 optional credits

In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students must earn 12 optional credits selected from the courses listed as available in the course calendar. The 12 optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit courses.

* A maximum of 3 credits in English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Literacy Development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade 12 compulsory English course.

**In Groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of 2 credits in French as a Second Language can count as compulsory credits, one from group 1 and one from either group 2 or group 3.

***A maximum of 2 credits in Co-operative Education can count as compulsory credits.

For more information from the Ontario Ministry of Education:

Website: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/graduate.html

Printable (PDF) version: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/graduate.pdf

Report abuse