Students who finish Ontario High School courses will achieve the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), and can further apply to all Canadian as well as International Universities. The principal high school courses include English, Mathematics, Business, Arts, Social Science, as well as Computer Science.
To get an OSSD, students need to obtain 30 secondary school course credits and these include 18 compulsory courses apart from 12 optional courses. Students also need to finish 10 hours of community involvement each year and they have to pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).
Upon providing the original transcript to the school, international students can also take the courses in their country of origin and these can be transferred to Ontario secondary school credits.
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) Requirements:
Earn 18 compulsory credits.
- 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
- 3 credits in Mathematics (at least one credit from grade 11 or 12)
- 2 credits in science
- 1 credit in Canadian Geography
- 1 credit in Canadian History
- 1 credit in the Arts
- 1 credit in Health and Physical Education
- 1 credit in French as a second language
- 5 credits in Civics
- 5 credits in Career Studies
Plus, one credit from each of the following groups:
1 additional credit in group 1:
- English, or a third language
- Social sciences and the humanities
- Canadian and world studies,
- Guidance and career education,
- Cooperative education.
1 additional credit in group 2:
- Health and physical education,
- The arts,
- Business studies,
- Cooperative education.
1 additional credit in group 3:
- Science (grade 11 or 12)
- Technological education (grades 9 – 12)
- Cooperative education
You need a maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English.
Literacy Development (ELD) can be counted as 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth needs to be a credit earned for Grade 12 compulsory English course.
In groups 1, 2 and 3, an upper limit of 2 credits in French as a Second Language can be counted as compulsory credits, one from group 1 as well as one from either group 2 or group 3.
An upper limit of 2 credits in Cooperative Education will be counted as compulsory credits.
The 12 optional credits include a maximum of 4 credits earned by way of dual credit courses that are approved. Apart from the compulsory credits, 12 optional credits are needed. Elective credits are chosen by the student on the basis of individual interests as well as goals. Parents, counselors, teachers, as well as administrators help the student do a wise selection.
Full 40 hours of Community Involvement:
Students need to finish a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities in the years of secondary school course. This need has to be finished apart from the normal instructional hours that too in multiple settings. Students may not finish the hours by way of activities that are counted as a credit, by way of paid work or by assuming duties generally done by a paid employee. Parents as well as students perform a big role in this initiative.
Organizations or individuals who supervise the activities need to accomplish 40 hours. Documentation attesting to the finishing of each activity needs to be submitted. This documentation includes each activity, the name of the individual or organization that receives the service, the activity done, the dates and hours, student signatures and signature of parents apart from a signed acknowledgment by the individual or the person representing the organization.
Pass the Ontario Secondary Literacy Test
All students need to complete the provincial secondary school literacy test for earning the secondary school diploma. Students will generally be provided the literacy test in Grade 10. The test is on the basis of Ontario curriculum expectations for language as well as communication, with main focus on reading and writing, till and including Grade 9.