Almaguin Highlands Secondary School

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Graduation Requirements

ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA (OSSD)
INFORMATION REGARDING SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATION

To earn a high school diploma in Ontario, students must:

Graduation Requirements

Thirty credits are required for students to earn a secondary school graduation diploma.

Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits:

  • 4 credits in English*
  • 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in grade 11 or 12)
  • 2 credits in science
  • 1 credit in French as a second language
  • 1 credit in Canadian history
  • 1 credit in Canadian geography
  • 1 credit in the arts (fine arts, drama, music, media)
  • 1 credit in health and physical education
  • 0.5 credit in civics
  • 0.5 credit in career studies
  • 1 additional credit in English (including the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course – OLC 4OE), French as a second language, Canadian and world studies, social sciences and humanities, guidance and career education, cooperative education** (Group 1)
  • 1 additional credit in French as a second language, art, business studies, health and physical education, cooperative education** (Group 2)
  • 1 additional credit in French as a second language, science (Grade 11 or 12), computer studies, technological education, cooperative education** (Group 3)

In addition to the compulsory credits, students must complete 12 optional credits. 

Literacy graduation requirement

Beginning September 2022, the literacy graduation requirement is restored and students graduating in the 2022-23 school year and beyond are required to meet this requirement.

All students must meet the secondary school literacy graduation requirement to earn their high school diploma.

For most students, this means passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).

Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT have other opportunities to meet the literacy graduation requirement. Students can contact their school principal to find out about these options.

Online learning graduation requirement

Beginning with students that entered Grade 9 in the 2020-21 school year, students must earn at least two online learning credits to get their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

The online learning graduation requirement also applies to adult learners that will be entering the Ontario secondary school system starting in 2023-24 school year.

Credits earned during COVID-19

Students can count one secondary school credit that was earned during the province wide school closures (from April 2021 to June 2021) towards the two online learning credits that they need to graduate. This applies to all Grade 9 students who were learning remotely due to the province wide school closures.

Opting out

Parents who wish to opt out or exempt their child from the online graduation requirement must complete the opt-out form available from their child’s school board. Exemption from the online learning graduation requirements may be requested by:

  • the parent or guardian of the secondary student
  • students who are 18 years of age or older
  • students who are 16 or 17 years of age and have withdrawn from parental control

Community involvement hours

Students are required to complete 40 hours of community involvement activities in order to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students working towards their OSSD should make sure they meet these graduation requirements in time for their graduating year.

Students can start accumulating their community involvement hours in the summer before entering Grade 9.

Students who are looking for community involvement opportunities should:

If approved by your school’s principal, students may count the following towards their community involvement hours:

  • up to 10 hours of paid employment if a student is 14 years or older and completes a reflection exercise demonstrating how their work contributed to their community
  • community involvement during school time
  • duties normally performed at home

Students under 18 years old should consult with their parents to plan and select their community involvement activities, according to ministry guidelines. Students should also speak to their guidance counsellor about other ways their school could allow them to earn community involvement hours this year.

The community involvement requirement is designed to provide students with the opportunity to develop awareness and understanding about civic responsibility. Students can actively participate in supporting and strengthening their communities. It also provides the opportunity for students to learn more about themselves and possible career opportunities.

 

STUDENTS WHO DO NOT MEET THE OSSD REQUIREMENTS MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE (OSSC) OR CERTIFICATE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT OR Certificate of Accomplishment (COA)

Ontario Secondary School Certificate of Achievement (for students who started Grade 9 after September, 1999) 
The Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma provided they have earned a minimum of 14 credits (distributed as follows):

  • 2 credits in English,
  • 1 credit in Canadian geography,
  • 1 credit in mathematics,
  • 1 credit in science,
  • 1 credit in health and physical education,
  • 1 credit in the arts or technology
  • 7 additional elective credits.

Certificate of Accomplishment 
Students who leave school before fulfilling the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment (COA). This certificate may be a useful means of recognizing achievement for students who plan to take certain vocational programs or other kinds of further training. Students who return to school to complete additional credit and non-credit courses will have their transcript updated but will not be issued a new Certificate of Accomplishment.