OSSD Diploma Requirements
An ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA will be granted to a student who earns a minimum of 30 credits, passes the Grade 10 Test of Reading and Writing Skills, and completes the Community Involvement Activities. A credit is granted in recognition of the successful completion of a course that has been scheduled for a minimum of 110 hours of instruction. A half-credit is granted for the successful completion of a minimum of 55 hours of instruction.
Compulsory Credits (Total of 18)
4 credits in English (one per grade)
1 credit in French As A Second Language
3 credits in Mathematics (at least one in Grade Eleven or Twelve)
2 credits in Science
1 credit in Grade 11 or 12 Science or Grade 9 to 12 Technology
1 credit in Canadian History
1 credit in Canadian Geography
½ credit in Civics
½ credit in Career Studies
1 credit in Health And Physical Education
1 credit in Arts (Music, Art, Or Drama)
1 credit in English or A Third Language or Social Science And Humanities or Canadian And World Studies
1 credit in Music or Art or Drama or Business Studies or Health And Physical Education
Optional Credits (total of 12)
In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students have to earn 12 optional credits in courses of their choice, selected from the full list of courses available in the school. Optional credits allow students to build an educational program that suits their individual interests and meets university, college, apprenticeship, or work requirements.
An ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL CERTIFICATE will be granted to a student who earns a minimum of 14 credits.
Compulsory Credits (Total of 7)
2 credits in ENGLISH
1 credit in MATHEMATICS
1 credit in SCIENCE
1 credit in ARTS or TECHNOLOGY
1 credit in CANADIAN HISTORY or CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY
1 credit in HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Optional Credits (total of 7)
In addition to the 7 compulsory credits, students have to earn 7 optional credits in courses of their choice, selected from the full list of courses available in the school. Optional credits allow students to build an educational program that suits their individual interests and meets apprenticeship or work requirements.
A CERTIFICATE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT will be granted to a student who leaves school before fulfilling the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate. The Certificate of Accomplishment is a way of recognizing achievement of students who plan to take other kinds of further training or who plan to find employment after school.
An Ontario Student Transcript will be attached to indicate what credits have been earned. A Certificate of Accomplishment will be issued only once.
SUBSTITUTIONS FOR COMPULSORY CREDITS
In order to allow flexibility in designing a student’s program and to ensure that students can qualify for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, substitutions may be made for a limited number of compulsory credits. These courses must be selected from the course offerings of the school that meet the requirements for compulsory credits. To meet individual student’s needs, the principal may replace up to three of these courses (or the equivalent in half courses) with courses that meet the compulsory credit requirements. Each substitution will be noted on the student’s Ontario Student Transcript.