Graduation Requirements

To receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, students must earn 30 credits - 18 compulsory credits, 12 optional credits (includes 4 credits in religious education and 8 optional credits), pass the literacy requirement, earn at least two online learning credits, and complete the community involvement hours. For more information, please visit the Ministry of Education's 'What Do I Need to Graduate?'.

Students also need one credit from each of the following groups:

Group One

English or French as a Second Language, Native language, classical or an international language, social science and the humanities, Canadian and world studies, guidance and career education, or cooperative education.

Group Two

Health and physical education, the arts, business studies, French as a second language, or cooperative education.

Group Three

One additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12), or technological education, or French as a second language, or computer studies, or cooperative education.

To receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, students must earn:

• 30 credits - 17 compulsory credits, 13 optional credits (includes 4 credits in religious education and 9 optional credits);
• Pass the literacy requirement;
• Earn at least two online learning credits; and
• Complete the community involvement hours.

For more information, please visit the Ministry of Education's 'What Do I Need to Graduate?'.

Starting in September 2025, students must also earn a new financial literacy graduation requirement as part of their compulsory Grade 10 mathematics course. Students need to achieve a mark of 70% or higher to pass this new requirement and earn their high school diploma.

Students who began Grade 9 in 2024 onwards need the following to receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma:

Compulsory Credits

Students need the following 17 compulsory credits:

STEM-related course group

Of the 17 compulsory credits, students must complete 1 from the following group:

• Business Studies
• Computer Studies
• Co-operative Education
• Mathematics (in addition to the 3 compulsory credits currently required)
• Science (in addition to the 2 compulsory credits currently required)
• Technological Education (in addition to the 1 compulsory credit required)

Mandatory Technological Education Credit

The Ontario government implemented a new high school graduation requirement to help better prepare students across our province for the jobs of tomorrow. Beginning with students entering Grade 9 in September 2024, all students will now be required to earn a Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education course as part of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

This graduation requirement will expose students to at least one Technological Education course that could guide them to a future career in the highly skilled workforce, including the skilled trades.

What courses meet the Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education requirement?

The Technological Education curriculum covers a broad range of sectors, including construction, transportation, manufacturing, green industries, health care, computer technology, hospitality, communication, technological design, hairstyling and aesthetics.

Course offerings at each DCDSB secondary school will vary. For a complete list of course offerings at your secondary school refer to the secondary school course calendars.

Do students have to complete the mandatory Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education course in their Grade 9 or 10 year?

Students are strongly encouraged to complete the mandatory Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education course in their Grade 9 or 10 year.  If a student needs to defer this compulsory course until their Grade 11 or 12 year, they will need to take a Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education course.