Welcome to High School!

It’s an exciting time, full of new friends and new choices. You, your parents, and your teacher can work together to make sure the courses you choose suit the way you learn (academic, applied, locally developed compulsory, etc) Did you know people learn in different ways? The kinds of courses you take in high school can put you on a “pathway” to a variety of careers that interest you.

Diploma Requirements

If you started Grade 9 in the Fall of 2024 or after, this is what you need to do to complete your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)

17 Compulsory credits

You need the following 17 compulsory credits to get your OSSD:

  • 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 a second language (French or Native Language)
  • 0.5 credit in career studies
  • 0.5 credit in civics and citizenship
  • 1 credit from the STEM-related course group (in addition to the compulsory credits listed above)

STEM-related Course 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 1compulsory credit required)

13 Optional Credits

Other Requirements

  • Provincial Literacy Requirement (OSSLT or OSSLC)
  • 40 Hours of Community Involvement
  • Online Learning Graduation Requirement: 2 credits
  • Financial Literacy Assessment: Starting in 2025,students must complete a Grade 10 financial literacy assessment.

Types of Courses

As of September 2022, most Grade 9 courses follow a single de-streamed model, giving all students equal opportunities to explore subjects and discover their interests. This change builds a strong academic foundation and supports various post-secondary pathways. For courses with multiple options, choose the type that best fits your strengths and goals. Some specialized programs, like Special Needs, Pre-Workplace Program (PWP), or Locally Developed Compulsory Courses, are not de-streamed; these courses are generally recommended by school teams, in consultation with parents/guardians. Contact your child’s school for details.

Course types include:

  • Destreamed Courses
  • Open Courses
  • Academic Courses
  • Applied Courses
  • Locally Developed Compulsory Courses
  • Pre-Advanced Placement (Pre-AP) Courses
  • International Baccalaureate Preparatory (IB) Courses
  • Alternative – Non-Credit Courses, Grades 9-12

For a more detailed description of course types please take a look inside the Grade 9 Guide below in the related documents section.

Questions?

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