Graduation

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

Graduation requirements

Completion of 30 total credits (18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits)

Compulsory credits

16 credits from specific categories
  • 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 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 one from either group 2 or group 3, for a total of 2 credits 

Community Involvement Hours
  • Students are required to complete 40 hours of Community Involvement are required.

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

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.”