Ontario's Ministry of Education is committed to addressing systemic discrimination and helping to break down barriers for Indigenous, Black, and racialized students, students from low-income households, students with disabilities, and students with special education needs. As part of this commitment, the Ministry of Education is removing Academic and Applied courses (de-streaming) in Grade 9 and implementing de-streamed courses. De-streaming will help ensure that students have as many opportunities as possible to make good choices about their future.
De-streaming began with Grade 9 Math in September 2021 and continued with Grade 9 Science in 2022 and Grade 9 English in 2023. Locally Developed Compulsory Credit Courses will continue to be offered to students.
Information for De-streamed Grade 9 Courses
The new Mathematics Grade 9 course (MTH1W) information was released in June 2021 and is available for educators and parents on the Ministry of Education's Curriculum and Resources website. The new course was implemented in September 2021.
Please click here for information on Grade 9 course selection.
The new Science Grade 9 course (SNC1W) information was released in March 2022 and is available for educators and parents on the Ministry of Education's Curriculum and Resources website. The new course will be implemented beginning in September 2022.
The new English Grade 9 course (ENL1W) was released in 2023. Please visit the Ministry of Education's Curriculum and Resources website for more information.
Grade 9, Geography, French and French Immersion students will follow the current Grade 9 Academic curriculum. In addition, an open level Grade 9 French course will be available for students who have little or no previous French instruction.
Course Descriptions
This course enables students to consolidate and continue to develop an understanding of mathematical concepts related to number sense and operations, algebra, measurement, geometry, data, probability, and financial literacy. Students will use mathematical processes, mathematical modelling, and coding to make sense of the mathematics they are learning and apply their understanding to culturally responsive and relevant real-world situations. Students will continue to enhance their mathematical reasoning skills, including proportional reasoning, spatial reasoning, and algebraic reasoning, as they solve problems and communicate their thinking.
Prerequisite: None
This course enables students to develop their understanding of concepts related to biology, chemistry, physics, and earth and space science, and to relate science to technology, society, and the environment. Throughout the course, students will develop and refine their STEM skills as they use scientific research, scientific experimentation, and engineering design processes to investigate concepts and apply their knowledge in situations that are relevant to their lives and communities. Students will continue to develop transferable skills as they become scientifically literate global citizens.
Prerequisite: None
This course is designed to support students in developing and consolidating the literacy knowledge and skills they need to succeed in education and in life, and to encourage students to experience the joy and possibility that literacy learning can ignite. This course emphasizes evidence-based systematic and explicit instruction that supports students in developing and consolidating foundational knowledge and skills, including oral language, reading, writing, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension.
Prerequisite: None
Please see the Ministry of Education curriculum documents for further information on Academic Geography (CGC1D1), Academic French (FSF1D1) and Academic French Immersion (FIF1D1).
Frequently Asked Questions
All Grade 9 students will be grouped together and take courses with their peers as opposed to being divided into applied and academic classes.
Academic and Applied streaming will remain in place for Grade 10 students. However, the Ministry of Education has released additional materials to support the delivery of the Grade 10 Mathematics curriculum for the 2022-2023 school year.
Ontario is the only province in the country that continues to stream students in Grade 9. The original intention behind Applied courses was to provide a different pedagogical approach to learning. However, over time, the Applied course type has become perceived as less academically rigorous. The practice of streaming has long been criticized as being discriminatory. Research shows students from racialized communities, low-income households, and other marginalized groups are more often encouraged to take applied level courses which then affects everything from graduation rates to employment opportunities later in life.
The Organization for Economic and Cooperation and Development (OECD) (2012) recommends that school systems eliminate streaming for students younger than 15 years of age to ensure that options are kept open for students until they have enough experience to make decisions about their futures.
Ontario students and parents have indicated that they consider course type selection in Grade 8 too early and that Applied courses do not prepare them for success (Chanda, 2020). Research has also shown that students benefit from learning in groups of students of varied abilities and interests in which teachers have high and appropriate expectations for all students and a clear understanding that all students can be successful (OECD, 2012).
Further information on the background to streaming secondary school courses, and the research surrounding the benefits of de-streaming can be found at:
- Coalition for Alternatives to Streaming in Education (CASE)
- Ministry of Education For the Love of Learning Volume II: Learning – Our Vision for Schools
- Ministry of Education Curriculum and Resources website
- People for Education Roadmaps and Roadblocks: Career and life planning, guidance, and streaming in Ontario’s schools
- YouTube Video:A Brief History of Academic Streaming in Ontario
The Ministry of Education hopes to remove barriers for all students, including racialized students in Ontario, by offering them the same starting point when they enter high school. Ontario is the only province that has divided Grade 9 students into either an Applied or Academic pathway. De-streaming Grade 9 classes allows students and their families more time to explore post-secondary pathway options.
Contact Us
If you have any further questions, please contact your local Durham Catholic secondary school's Guidance department.