What do you need to graduate from high school?
(If you started Grade 9 in Fall 2024 and after)
30 Credits: 17 Compulsory Credits and 13 Optional Credits
Compulsory credits are comprised of the following:
-
4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)*
-
3 credits in Mathematics (Grade 9 & 10 plus 1 in Grade 11 or 12)
-
2 credits in Science
-
1 credit in Technological Education (Grade 9 or 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 & Citizenship
-
1 credit from the STEM-Related Course Group
STEM-Related Course Group
You must complete ONE 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)
In addition, students must complete:
-
13 optional credits (4 can be earned through Dual Credit programs)
-
40 hours of community involvement activities
-
The Provincial Literacy Requirement (OSSLT or OSSLC)
-
Earn at least 2 credits through Online Learning**
-
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. The fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade 12 compulsory English course.
Families who wish to opt out their child from the Online Learning graduation requirement should speak to their child’s school.
Notes:
-
Starting in September 2025, students must earn a new Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement as part of their compulsory Grade 10 Mathematics course. Students will need to achieve a mark of 70% or higher to pass this new requirement and earn their high school diploma.
-
Students achieving an OSSD Red Seal Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) diploma will have additional requirements based on their particular program.
French Immersion Students
To qualify for the French Immersion Certificate, students must take at least 10 credits in French Immersion (out of the 30 credits needed to graduate high school). These include:
-
4 French Immersion French (1 credit per grade)
-
Grade 9 Geography
-
Grade 10 Civics and Careers
-
Grade 10 History
-
At least 3 other courses taught in the French language (excluding third languages since the language of instruction should be the third language).
*** Cooperative Education can qualify as 1 French Immersion credit if students are working with a French-speaking community partner in a 2-credit Co-op program.
If you have any questions, here’s a QR code that links to ontario.ca: