What credits do I need to graduate high school in Ontario?
Credits measure students' academic progress. You earn credits when you enrol in and pass a class, also called a course. You usually earn one credit if you pass one course, but sometimes, courses are worth 0.5 credits because they are only in session for half the time as a regular course.
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
Learn more about how to earn all the credits you need to graduate high school in Ontario.
What's the OSSLT and how do I pass it to graduate high school in Ontario?
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) measures whether students meet the minimum standard in Ontario for literacy across all subjects up to the end of grade 9.
Students usually take the test in grade 10. A student who doesn’t pass must retake and pass the test before they can graduate. There is no limit to the number of times you can retake the test, and help is available.
How do I get the community involvement hours I need to graduate high school in Ontario?
Every high school student in Ontario must participate in 40 hours of community involvement activities (volunteer work) before graduating.
This volunteer work could be done in a business, with a not-for-profit organization, in a public sector institution (like a hospital or daycare centre) or elsewhere. Your school will give you a list of acceptable activities. If you want to do an activity that isn’t on the list, you can make a special request to the principal.
Community service activities can take place at any time during your years in high school, but they must be done outside of regular school hours. If you’re under the age of 18, you should ask your teacher, guidance counsellor, and parents to help you choose where to volunteer.
Learn more about how to complete your 40 hours of community service and where to volunteer.
To get specific information about your secondary school or school board, use the Ministry of Education's search engine to find your school by city or postal code.