About Ontario Secondary School Diploma - High School Program
Requirements
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)
- Compulsory Credits:
- English (4 credits)
- Mathematics (3 credits)
- Science (2 credits)
- French as a Second Language (1 credit)
- Social Studies and the Humanities (1 credit)
- Health and Physical Education (1 credit)
- The Arts (1 credit)
- Career Studies (0.5 credit)
- Civics (0.5 credit)
- Optional Credits:
- Students must earn an additional 12 optional credits, including courses from a wide range of subject areas.
- 40 Hours of Community Involvement:
- Students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities. This requirement encourages students to contribute to their communities while developing essential skills and values.
- Literacy Requirement:
- Successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or its equivalent. Students who do not pass the test have alternative options for demonstrating literacy skills through the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC).
- Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC):
- Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT are required to take the OSSLC, which is designed to further develop literacy skills.
- Diploma Requirements:
- Students must earn a minimum of 30 credits, including 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits.
- Successful Completion of Secondary School:
- Students must complete their secondary school program.
- Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
- For students pursuing a Specialist High Skills Major, additional requirements specific to the chosen major may apply.
It’s important for students and parents to work closely with guidance counsellors to ensure that all requirements are met. The OSSD not only prepares students for their academic journey beyond high school but also equips them with essential life skills for future success.
THE STEP PROGRAM
To support students’ progress in learning English, London International Academy has adopted the STEP program, developed for the Ontario Ministry of Education. The STEP program specifies learning criteria for students’ oral skills, and reading and writing abilities and enables teachers to provide specific descriptive feedback to students, enabling them to progress systematically through the ESL curriculum.
