The high school program is based on a credit system. Students must earn a total of 30 credits (one for every 110-hour course successfully completed) to obtain a high school diploma. Eighteen of the credits are compulsory, earned in a specified number of courses from a list of subjects that every student must take. The remaining 12 credits are optional, earned in courses that the student may select from the full range of courses offered by the school.

In Grade 9, most students will take a total of eight courses for eight credits.

Students must also complete 40 hours of community involvement activities and must pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, which is taken in Grade 10.

The Credit System

Compulsory Credits (total of 18)

• 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
• 1 credit in French as a second language
• 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
• 2 credits in science
• 1 credit in Canadian history
• 1 credit in Canadian geography
• 1 credit in the arts
• 1 credit in health and physical education
• 1/2 credit in civics and 1/2 credit in career studies

PLUS:

• 1 additional credit in English, or a third language, or a social science and the humanities, or Canadian and world studies
• 1 additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies
• 1 additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12) or technological education (Grades 9–12)

Optional Credits (total of 12)

In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students have to earn 12 optional credits in courses of their choice, selected from the full list of courses available in the school. Optional credits allow students to build an educational program that suits their individual interests and meets university, college, apprenticeship, or work requirements.

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
Students may receive a credit without taking a course if they can demonstrate that they have the skills and knowledge from prior learning to meet the expectations for the course set out in the provincial curriculum. To receive a credit through the PLAR process, students are assessed through a formal test, along with other methods of evaluation appropriate to the subject.

Students may obtain a maximum of four credits through the PLAR process, but no more than two in one subject area. The PLAR process applies only to courses in Grades 10–12.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test

Students will take the Secondary School Literacy Test in Grade 10. Students must pass the test in order to graduate, and their result is recorded on their student transcript. Students who do not complete the test successfully will receive remedial help to prepare them for retesting. The literacy test requirement is additional to the 30 credits needed for a high school diploma.

The literacy test evaluates students’ reading and writing skills based on curriculum expectations in language and communications up to and including Grade 9. ESL students will take the test only when they have reached this level in their language studies. Accommodations will be made for students in special education programs.

Community Involvement Activities

All students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of unpaid community involvement activities before graduating from high school. This requirement is additional to the 30 credits needed for a high school diploma. Students will be able to choose their own community involvement activities, within guidelines that will be provided by the school. Students will be responsible for fulfilling this requirement on their own time, and for keeping a record of their activities on a form supplied by the school.