OSSD Requirements
What do you need to graduate from high school?
18 compulsory credits
Students must earn the following compulsory credits to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma:
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 (may include up to 4 credits earned through approved dual credit courses)
40 hours of community involvement activities
the provincial literacy requirement
Plus one credit from each of the following groups:
Group 1:
- English or French as a second language**
- a Native language
- a classical or international language
- social sciences and the humanities
- Canadian and world studies
- guidance and career education
- cooperative education***
Group 2:
- health and physical education
- the arts
- business studies
- French as a second language**
- cooperative education***
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 (ELO) 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.