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Graduation Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

What do you need to graduate from high school?

Students must earn the following compulsory credits to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD):

4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
3 credits in Mathematics (1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
2 credits in Science
1 credit in Canadian history
1 credit in Canadian geography
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

In addition, students must complete:

✓
 12 Optional Credits †
✓
 40 hours of Community Involvement Activities
✓ credits in Science

Plus one credit from each of the following
groups:

1

Group 1:

  • English or French as a second language**
  • A Native language
  • First Nations, Métis, and Inuit studies
  • a Classical or International Language
  • Social Sciences and the Humanities
  • Canadian and world studies
  • Guidance and Career Education
  • Cooperative Education***
1

Group 2:

  • Health and Physical Education
  • The Arts
  • Business Studies
  • French as a Second Language**
  • Cooperative Education***
1

Group 3:

  • Science (Grade 11 or 12)
  • Technological Education
  • French as a Second Language**
  • Computer Studies
  • Cooperative Education***

* 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.

Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC)

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

  • 7 COMPULSORY CREDITS
    (2 English, 1 Canadian Geography or Canadian History, 1 Mathematics, 1 Health and Physical Education, 1 Science, 1 Arts or Technological Education or Computer Studies)

    7 OPTIONAL CREDITS
  • Selected by the student from available courses

Certificate of Accomplishment

Students who are not working towards an OSSD or an OSSC may be awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment upon leaving secondary school. The Certificate of Accomplishment is a useful means of recognizing achievement for students who plan to transition directly to employment after leaving school. The Certificate of Accomplishment is to be accompanied by the student’s Ontario Student Transcript. For students who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a copy of the IEP may be included.