The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is an official document regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Education. This Document is proof of completion of the Ontario Secondary School curriculum expectations and showcases a rating scale in which post secondary schools can uphold the student to a standard of knowledge achieved.
The following is the guidelines to the OSSD from the Ontario Ministry of Education.
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
Plus one credit from each of the following groups:
Group 1:
English or French as a second language**
a Native language
a classical or an 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***
In addition to the compulsory credits, 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.