Ontario Students 2024 Graduation Requirements
In 2024, OSSD requirements cover credit distribution, literacy, online education, and community service for graduation.
The high school curriculum and graduation standards in Ontario have changed significantly in the last few years. Requirements such as de-streaming courses, changes to literacy and community service requirements, and more need parents and students to be notified. To ensure clarity on successfully finishing high school, this blog summarizes the prerequisites for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Credits Required
To graduate from Ontario’s schools, a student needs to accumulate thirty credits, usually from Grades 9 through 12. Of them, twelve are elective credits chosen based on the student’s interests and goals for post-secondary education, and the remaining eighteen are required courses.
Compulsory Credits
Let’s break down the compulsory credit requirements:
- 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
- 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
- 3 credits in group 1, 2, and 3 courses (1 credit in each group)
- 2 credits in science
- 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 and citizenship
Optional Credits
Students must complete 12 optional credits in addition to their required credits, choosing courses depending on their interests, availability, and post-secondary goals.
Ontario's Literacy requirements
Online education prerequisite
Students must obtain two high school credits online beginning with the 2020–2021 academic year. The goal of these credits, which might be optional or required, is to help students improve their digital literacy.
Hours of Community Involvement
Between Grades 9 and 12, students must perform 40 hours of community service. These hours promote social responsibility and community involvement. There are many other ways to volunteer, such as coaching sports, helping the elderly, fundraising, working on environmental projects, and more.
Assurance of Graduation
Students will obtain their OSSD and effectively graduate from high school as long as they achieve the criteria of 30 credits (18 required and 12 elective), do 40 hours of community service, and meet the Ontario Literacy Requirement.
Students will be well-prepared for graduation and their future aspirations if they remain aware of these criteria and actively participate in both academic and extracurricular activities.