OSSD Graduation Requirements
18 compulsory credits
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
Plus, one credit from each of the following groups:
Group 1: additional credit in English, or French as a second language, ** or a Native language, or a classical or an international language, or social sciences and the humanities, or Canadian and word studies, or guidance and career education, or cooperative education***
Group 2: additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies, or French as a second language, **or cooperative education***
Group 3: additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12), or technological education, or French as a second language, **or computer studies, or cooperative education***
In addition, students must complete:
- 12 optional credits+
- 40 hours of community involvement activities
- the provincial literacy requirement
*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.
Other directions for the high school program based on high standards and accountability include:
- A requirement for students to complete 40 hours of community involvement prior to graduation;
- introduction of a high school literacy test prior to the end of Grade 10 – this provides time for rededication and further testing or alternative courses, for students who do not meet the required standard
Community Involvement
As part of the diploma requirements, students must complete a minimum of forty (40) hours of community involvement activities. These activities may be completed at any time during their years beginning the summer between grade 8 and grade 9.
Community involvement activities may take place in a variety of settings, not-for-profit organizations, public sector institutions (including hospitals), and informal settings. Students may not fulfil the requirement through activities counted toward a credit (cooperative education and work experience, for example) through paid work, or by assuming duties normally performed by a paid employee.
The requirement is to be completed outside a student’s normal instruction hours – that is, the activities are to take place in student designated lunch hours, after school, on weekends, or during school holidays. Students are advised to consult the Sudbury Catholic District School Board Community Involvement Policy Guidelines provided.
Students are encouraged to check with the guidance counselor before completing any community service hours to be sure that they meet the requirements.
Community Service Form
Ontario Secondary School Certificate
The Ontario Secondary School Certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, provided that they have earned a minimum of 14 credits distributed as follows:
- Compulsory Credits (total of 7)
- 2 credits in English
- 1 credit in Canadian Geography
- or Canadian History
- 1 credit in Mathematics
- 1 credit in Science
- 1 credit in Health and Physical Education
- 1 credit in the Arts or Technological Education
- Optional credits (total of 7)
- 7 credits selected by the student from available courses. The provisions for making substitutions for compulsory credits (described in Section 3.2: Substitutions for Compulsory Courses) also apply to the Ontario Secondary School Certificate
Certificate of Accomplishment
Students who leave school before fulfilling the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment.
Annual Education Plan
Each student in Grades 7 to 12 will prepare an Annual Education Plan. Students in Grades 7 to 11 will prepare their plan with the assistance of their parents and guidance counsellor. Students will use the plan to set long and short-term goals, and they will review and revise it each year.
Course Changes
Course changes must be requested within three days of the start of each semester
Student Course Load
Students must have a full timetable each semester. Students in grade 12 who have achieved 24 credits by September may be considered for one study period.