Ontario Ministry of Education

The York School's academic program is designed to align with the requirements and standards set by the Ontario Ministry of Education, ensuring that students graduate with the skills and credentials recognized provincially and globally. This alignment provides a strong foundation for students as they pursue the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and prepare for post-secondary education and careers.

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma

All students will be acquiring credits towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). All students in Ontario are required to continue in secondary education until they achieve the OSSD or until they reach the age of 18. To earn this Diploma, students will require 18 compulsory credits, and 12 optional credits for a total of 30 credits. 

A credit is granted to a student upon the successful completion of a course for which a minimum of 110 hours of instruction and half credit courses are granted after a minimum of 55 hours has been scheduled. Most courses offered at The York School have a credit value of 1.0. 

  • If you started Grade 9 in 2023, you must earn

  • 18 compulsory credits 

  • 12 optional credits 

  • 40 hours of community involvement activities

  • the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

  • The 18 compulsory credits that must be earned are: 

  • 4 credits in English 

  • 3 credits in mathematics, including one 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 credit in French as a second language

  • 0.5 credits in career studies

  • 0.5 credits in civics and citizenship

If you started Grade 9 in 2024, you must earn

  • 17 compulsory credits 

  • 13 optional credits 

  • 40 hours of community involvement activities

  • the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

The 17 compulsory credits that must be earned are: 

  • 4 credits in English (1 credit per Grade) *

  • 3 credits in mathematics (at least 1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)

  • 2 credits in science

  • 1 credit in technological education (Grade 9 or 10)

  • 1 credit in Canadian history (Grade 10)

  • 1 credit in Canadian geography (Grade 9)

  • 1 credit in the arts

  • 1 credit in health and physical education

  • 1 credit in French as a second language

  • 0.5 credits in career studies

  • 0.5 credits in civics and citizenship

  • 1 credit from the STEM-related course group

STEM-related course group:

  • business studies

  • computer studies

  • cooperative 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)

In addition to the 18 or 17 compulsory credits, students must earn 12 or 13 optional credits, selected from the courses listed in the academic program guide. 

All Ontario students must remain in school until they reach the age of eighteen or receive the OSSD. The Ontario Secondary School Certificate (OSSC) will be granted, on request, to students who are leaving secondary school upon reaching the age of eighteen without having met the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

To be granted an OSSC, a student must have earned a minimum of 14 credits, distributed as follows:

  • 7 required compulsory credits 

    • 2 credits in English 

    • 1 credit in Mathematics 

    • 1 credit in Science 

    • 1 credit in Canadian History or Canadian Geography 

    • 1 credit in Health and Physical Education 

    • 1 credit in the Arts, Computer Studies, or Technological Education 

    • 7 required optional credits 

  • 7 credits selected by the student from available courses 

Students who are leaving secondary school upon reaching the age of eighteen without having met the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or the Ontario Secondary School Certificate may be granted a Certificate of Accomplishment, accompanied by their Ontario Student Transcript.

Substitutions for Compulsory Credits

In a limited number of circumstances, substitutions (no more than three) may be made for compulsory credit courses using courses from the remaining courses that might otherwise meet the requirements for compulsory credits. Generally, this will only be done where a professional psycho-educational report indicates that such a substitution is in the best interests of the student. In all cases, the Principal of the Senior School will determine whether or not a substitution should be made. Each substitution will be noted on the student’s Ontario Student Transcript.