Graduation Requirements

This section of our website is here to help guide our students towards achieving their OSSD. 

All of the requirements must be met to graduate. 

If you would like to make sure that you are on track with all of your requirements please don't hesitate to make an appointment with Mrs. Townsend


Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements

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

Compulsory credits

Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma:

Plus one credit from each of the following groups:

* 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 Cooperative Education can count as compulsory credits.

The 12 optional credits may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit courses.


Optional Courses

In addition to the compulsory credits, 12 optional credits are required. Elective credits are selected by the student based on individual interests and goals. Parents, counsellors, teachers and administrators can help the student make a wise selection.

Students who wish to enroll in a Focus Program or an Online Course should obtain a Supplementary Option Sheet from the Student Services or Guidance Department. The Supplementary Option Sheet must be submitted at the same time as the home school option sheet.


Community Involvement

As part of the 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:

Since September 1999, all students in Ontario have been required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement as part of the secondary school diploma requirements.


Community Involvement Forms are available at Burnhamthorpe C.I.. Completed forms must be signed and submitted to your our school to ensure your community involvement hours are recorded.


EQAO Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

The Ontario Ministry of Education has mandated that the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) be given to grade 10 students province-wide to determine if they can successfully demonstrate the reading and writing skills that apply to all subject areas in the provincial curriculum up to the end of grade 9.


The OSSLT is administered annually in the spring and is 2.5 hours in length. The OSSLT is designed, and its implementation is supervised, by the Ontario Education and Accountability Office (EQAO).


Receiving an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) depends on passing the OSSLT. Students who are not successful on the test are able to attempt it again, in a future administration, or enrol in the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC).*


Students with special needs may be permitted accommodations provided they have an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Students enrolled in ESL/ELD programs may be permitted special provisions or they may be deferred so that they write the OSSLT once they have a reasonable chance of success. Policies and guidelines regarding accommodations, deferrals, and exemptions are established and provided by EQAO.


* Note: Enrolment in the OSSLC is limited to students who have written and have been unsuccessful on the OSSLT at least once.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)


Students who have written the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test at least once and have not been successful may take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC). Upon successful completion of the course, a student is deemed to have met the literacy requirements necessary to achieve an OSSD.


Certificate Requirements

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma provided that they have earned a minimum of 14 credits distributed as follows:


Compulsory Credits (total of 7)