Graduation

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Ontario secondary students must meet specific requirements to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

Graduation requirements

Graduation Requirement Posters

  • Completion of 30 total credits 
  • At least 2 credits earned through online Learning
  • 40 hours of Community Involvement
  • Ontario  Secondary School Literacy

Compulsory Credits
 18 Compulsory Credits (for students starting Grade 9 in or BEFORE Fall 2023)
  • 4 credits - English (one per grade level)
  • 3 credits - Mathematics (at least one at the senior level)
  • 2 credits - Science
  • 1 credit - Arts (music, art, or drama)
  • 1 credit - French as a second language credit
  • 1 credit - Canadian geography 
  • 1 credit - Canadian history 
  • 1 credit - Health and physical education
  • .5 credit - Career studies
  • .5 credit - Civics 
  • 1 additional credit from each of 3 groups

Group 1

  • English as a third language; French as a second language; Social Sciences and Humanities; Canadian/World Studies; 
    Guidance and Career Education; Cooperative Education; Native language; Classical or international language

Group 2

  • Arts; Business Studies; Health and Physical Education; French as a second language; Cooperative Education

Group 3

  • Science, Technological Education; Computer Studies; French as a second language; Cooperative Education

 

Notes

  • In groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language
  • Cooperative Education can count as compulsory credits, one from group 1 and 1 from either group 2 or group 3,
    for a total of 2 credits 
 17 Compulsory Credits (for students starting Grade 9 Fall 2024 or AFTER)
  • 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
  • 3 credits in mathematics (Grade 9, Grade 10 and 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
  • 2 credits in science
  • 1 credit in technological education (Grade 9 or Grade 10)
  • 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)
  • 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)
  • 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 and citizenship
  • 1 credit from the STEM-related course group

STEM-related course group

Of the 17 compulsory credits, you must complete 1 from the following group:

  • business studies
  • computer studies
  • cooperative education
  • mathematics (in addition to the 3 compulsory credits currently required)
  • science (in addition to the 2 compulsory credits currently required)
  • technological education (in addition to the 1 compulsory credit required)

 

 

Two Online Learning Credits

Online Learning Credits

Beginning with the cohort of students who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-2021 school year, all students must earn a minimum of two online learning credits as part of the graduation requirements for an Ontario Secondary School Diploma unless they have been opted-out or exempted.

Families wishing to opt-out of the mandatory online courses required for graduation must complete the "Opt-Out Form."

Exemption: Remote Learning Credit Earned in 2020-2021

The ministry recognizes the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, up to one secondary school credit completed by Grade 9 students in the 2020-2021 school year during the province-wide school closures (from April 2021 to June 2021) may be counted towards the graduation requirement.

Community Involvement Hours

OSSLT
  • Successful completion of the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)​ is required.