Graduation Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Requirements

Students are accredited with an OSSD upon completion of the academic program. The OSSD requires that students must:

  • Earn a minimum of 30 credits, including 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits
  • Pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
  • Complete 40 hours of volunteer work  involvement prior to graduation

Credits are granted in recognition of the successful completion of course work. The Ontario Ministry of Education defines a credit in the following manner:

“A credit is granted in recognition of the successful completion of a course for which a minimum of 110 hours has been scheduled”.

CREDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
4 Credits in English (1 Credit per Grade)

  • The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC) may be used to meet either the Grade 11 or Grade 12 English compulsory credit requirement.
  • For English language learners the requirement may be met through earning a maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English literacy development (ELD); the fourth credit must be a Grade 12 compulsory English course.
3 Credits in Mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
2 Credits in Science
1 Credits in the Arts
1 Credit in Canadian Geography (Grade 9)
1 Credit in Canadian History (Grade 10)
1 Credit in French as as Second Language
1 Credit in Health and Physical Education
0.5 Credit in Career Studies
0.5 Credit in Civics
3 Additional Credits, consisting of 1 credit from each of the following groups:

Group 1:

    English (including the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course), French as a second language, classical languages, international languages, Native languages, Canadian and world studies, Native studies, social sciences and humanities, guidance and career education, cooperative education

Group 2:

    French as a second language, the arts, business studies, health and physical education, cooperative education

Group 3:

    French as a second language, science (Grade 11 or 12), computer studies, technological education, cooperative education

Note: the following conditions apply to selections from the above three groups:

  • A maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language may count as additional compulsory credits, 1 credit from Group 1, and 1 credit from either Group 2 or Group 3
  • A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education may count as additional compulsory credit, selected from any of Group 1 2, or 3.
Total Mandatory Course Credits: 18
Additional Required Elective Credits: 12
Total Credits: 30