What do you need to graduate from high school?
- 40 hours of community involvement;
- 30 successfully achieved credits (18 compulsory* + 12 elective);
- 1 Literacy Test requirement
You must successfully achieve the following compulsory* credits to earn your 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:
- 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.
- Health and Physical Education;
- The Arts;
- Business Studies;
- French as a Second Language;
- Cooperative Education.
- Science (Grade 11 or 12);
- Technological Education;
- French as a Second Language;
- Computer Studies;
- Cooperative Education.
Graduation Awards and Certificates
At graduation, you may be designated an Ontario Scholar, and be awarded an Ontario Scholar Certificate, if you achieve an overall average of 80% in your top 6 Grade 12 courses.
At graduation, you may be eligible to receive a Silver Medal if you have achieved an average of 90% in a minimum of 6 Grade 12 courses. These courses need not be taken during the Grade 12 year (i.e., a Grade 12 credit from the previous year could be used if not previously counted for a Silver Medal Award).
Note: Summer School, Night School and independent courses are not counted.
French Immersion
If you are in the French Immersion program, you may be eligible to earn one of two French certificates at graduation:
French Immersion Certificate
- If you've successfully completed 4 FIF/FEF French language courses
- As well as 6 additional credits in which the language of instruction is French
Extended French Certificate
- If you've successfully completed 4 FIF/FEF French language courses
- As well as 3 additional credits in which the language of instruction is French
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
Students enrolled in a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) who complete all the required components will receive the SHSM seal on their diploma.
Click here to find out more about SHSMs.
