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Secondary School Diploma Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements - entering Grade 9 2023 or earlier                                                                                                                 

  • English (4 credits - one credit per grade)
  • Mathematics (3 credits, with at least one in Grade 11 or 12)
  • Science (2 credits)
  • French as a second language (1 credit)
  • Canadian geography (1 credit-Grade 9)
  • Canadian history (1 credit-Grade 10)
  • The arts (1 credit)
  • Health and physical education (1 credit)
  • Civics (1/2 credit-Grade 10) Careers (1/2 credit-Grade 10)
  • One credit from each of the group selections listed below

One of the following choices (Group 1):

Additional English, or French as a second language, or Native language, or a classical or an international language, or social sciences and the humanities, or Canadian and world studies, or guidance and career education, cooperative education.

One of the following choices (Group 2):

Additional health and physical education, or the arts, or Business studies, or French as a second language, or cooperative education One of the following choices: Additional science (Grade 11 or 12), or technological education, or French as a second language, or cooperative education

One of the following choices (Group 3):

Additional science (Grade 11 or 12), or technological education, or French as a second language, or Cooperative Education

You must also complete:

  • 4 religion credits
  • 8 optional credits
  • 2 online learning credits
  • Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (Grade 10)
  • 40 hours of community service over four years

Ontario Secondary School Diploma Requirements - entering Grade 9 2024 or later     

  • English (4 credits - one credit per grade)
  • Mathematics (3 credits, with at least one in Grade 11 or 12)
  • Science (2 credits)
  • French as a second language (1 credit)
  • Canadian geography (1 credit-Grade 9)
  • Canadian history (1 credit-Grade 10)
  • The arts (1 credit)
  • Health and physical education (1 credit)
  • Civics (1/2 credit-Grade 10) Careers (1/2 credit-Grade 10)
  • Technology (1 credit-grade 9 or 10)
  • STEM (1 credit) 

You must also complete:

  • 4 religion credits
  • 9 optional credits
  • 2 online credits
  • Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (Grade 10)
  • Financial Literacy (in Grade 10 Math class)
  • 40 hours of community service over four years

Community Service Hours

As part of the diploma requirements, students are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities. These activities may be completed after completion of grade 8 or at any time during their years in the secondary program. The community involvement requirement is designed to provide an opportunity for students to meet the Catholic Graduate Expectations, to encourage students to develop awareness and understanding of civic responsibility and of the role they can play in supporting and strengthening their communities. The requirement is to be completed outside students’ normal school instructional hours. Students will maintain and provide a record of their community involvement activities. The principal will decide whether the student has met the requirements for both the Ministry and the Board for these activities.

Eligible Activities for Community Service Hours

Community Service Hours Form

Ontario Secondary School Certificate

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, provided that they have earned a minimum of 14 credits distributed as follows:

Compulsory credits (total of 7)

  • 2 credits in English
  • 1 credit in Canadian geography or Canadian history
  • 1 credit in mathematics
  • 1 credit in science
  • 1 credit in health and physical education
  • 1 credit in the arts or technological education

Optional credits (total of 7)

Seven credits selected by the student from available courses, including one religious education credit per year.

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. This Certificate of Accomplishment may be a useful means of recognizing achievement for students who plan to take certain vocational programs or other kinds of further training, or who plan to find employment after leaving school.