Graduation Requirements

The following requirements must be met in order to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD):

• 30 high school credits (18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits)

• 2 of the above must be earned through online learning, or complete the opt-out form

• Literacy graduation requirement: Successful completion of either the EQAO Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)

• 40 hours of community involvement activities

Compulsory credits

You need the following 18 compulsory credits to get your OSSD:

• 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)

• 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)

• 3 credits for group 1, 2 and 3 courses (1 credit in each group)

• 2 credits in science

• 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)

• 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)

• 1 credit in the arts

• 1 credit in health and physical education

• 1 credit in French as a second language

• 0.5 credit in career studies

• 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship

The following requirements must be met in order to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD):

• 30 high school credits (17 compulsory credits and 13 optional credits)

• 2 of the above must be earned through online learning, or complete the opt-out form

• Literacy graduation requirement: Successful completion of either the EQAO Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)

• 40 hours of community involvement activities

Compulsory credits

You need the following 17 compulsory credits to get your OSSD:

• 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)

• 3 credits in mathematics (Grade 9, Grade 10 and 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)

• 2 credits in science

• 1 credit in technological education (Grade 9 or Grade 10)

• 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)

• 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)

• 1 credit in the arts

• 1 credit in health and physical education

• 1 credit in French as a second language

• 0.5 credit in career studies

• 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship

• 1 credit from the STEM-related course group

As part of the high school diploma requirements, each student must make a positive contribution to the well-being of the community. The community involvement consists of student self-directed activities of at least 40 hours which must be completed before graduation. The activities must occur outside normal instructional hours.

The purpose of the community involvement is to promote community values by:

• helping students understand how they can make a positive difference in their environment

• having students contribute to their community

• increasing student awareness of community needs

• discovering the role students can play in making their communities better places in which to live and work

• developing a positive self-image and a greater sense of identity in the community

• providing a possibility for exploring career opportunities

Students are eligible to start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer before they enter grade 9. 

Please note: For the past two years, the Ministry provided temporary, flexible ways for graduating students to obtain their community involvement hours. Through duties at home (helping a sibling with homework, helping elderly relative, babysitting, up to 10 hours of paid employment).  As of July 28, 2023 temporary eligible activities were revoked and will not be considered for community involvement hours.

Community Involvement hours must fall into one of these categories: 

• Not-for-profit: includes voluntary activities for any not-for profit institution or foundation that would not displace a paid worker.

• For-profit: includes voluntary activities that are charitable-based for any business or organization that would not displace a paid worker. If volunteers are enhancing a product/service being sold/ provided by a for profit business designed to make it more attractive and/or a better experience for clients, then it is not in keeping with the spirit of community service and would not be an approved activity.

• Other: community support that you feel warrants consideration. In this case, please submit a brief written summary that explains how this experience meets the spirit and expectations of Community Involvement as identified above.