What are the requirements to graduate high school in Ontario?
The credits you need to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma depend on the year you started Grade 9.
If you started Grade 9 in 2023 or before, you must earn:
- 18 compulsory credits
- 12 optional credits
- 2 online learning credits
If you started Grade 9 in 2024 or after, you must earn:
- 17 compulsory credits
- 13 optional credits
- 2 online learning credits
In addition to earning credits, you must also pass the literacy test and complete at least 40 hours of community service to graduate.
What is a prerequisite?
A prerequisite is a course or subject you must finish before taking a related course at the next grade level. To earn multiple credits in a subject, you must take the courses one after another as you move to higher grades.
For example, to earn the four English credits needed for graduation:
- You start with Grade 9 English.
- If you pass, you can take Grade 10 English because Grade 9 English is the prerequisite (required course) for it.
- You must pass an English course each year from Grade 9 to Grade 12 to get the four credits needed to graduate.
Prerequisites can also allow you to take courses in related subjects. For example, to get the two science credits needed for graduation:
- You start with grade 9 science.
- If you pass, the grade 9 science credit will be the prerequisite to take grade 10 science.
- If you want to explore a career in science, your grade 10 science credit can serve as a prerequisite for grade 11 biology, chemistry, physics, or other science courses. Remember that these grade 11 and 12 science courses are not mandatory.
Prerequisites ensure that students have enough knowledge before starting a new course. This helps students feel more comfortable and confident about the subject matter.
The Ministry of Education lists all high school course descriptions and prerequisites in Ontario.
What if I'm new to Canada and English isn't my first language?
When you register at your local high school, they will review the transcripts you bring from any school you attended outside of Ontario to determine what courses can be transferred and which credits you still need to earn.
Your school board may also send you to an assessment centre to get a snapshot of your current skills in English and math, which will help determine which courses are the best fit for you.
For example, if you want to attend a school in Toronto, you may be sent to a Toronto District School Board Assessment Centre (TSAC) if you are:
- New to Canada.
- New to Ontario from another Canadian province or territory.
- Returning to Ontario after six months or more.
- Previously homeschooled.
After you take the test, your school may recommend that you take English as a Second Language (ESL) or English Literacy Development (ELD) courses. These courses are for students whose first or preferred language is not English to help them with the skills they need to study and work in Ontario.
If you take ESL or ELD courses, you can use up to three credits to count toward the compulsory English credits you need to graduate. The fourth credit, however, must be in an English course at the grade 12 level.
Where can I earn credits outside of high school?
Many students take courses outside of high school to:
- Upgrade a mark.
- Retake a failed course.
- Get ahead and earn credits they’ll need in the future.
- Earn a credit not available in their local high school.
- Start earning credits before they begin high school through the Reach Ahead program.
You can earn credits by attending night school or summer school in person, for example, through:
- Toronto District School Board
- Gary Allan Learning Centres in Burlington, Oakville, and Milton
Check out Peel District School Board’s frequently asked questions about summer school to learn more.
You can also go to summer school virtually, for example, through:
You may be eligible for co-op or enrichment programs to earn high school credits, for example, through:
- The Summer Co-operative Education Program (for Peel District School Board students only)
- University of Toronto’s Enrichment and Summer Programs for High School Students