The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is a highly respected and globally recognized high school diploma awarded to students who successfully complete the requirements of the Ontario secondary school curriculum. Secondary School refers to Grades 9, 10, 11, and 12.
The OSSD is granted by the Ministry of Education in the province of Ontario, Canada, and is widely accepted by universities, colleges, and employers both within Canada and internationally. The OSSD is a rigorous and comprehensive diploma that provides students with a strong foundation for post-secondary education and career success.
The curriculum is designed to provide students with a well-rounded education, covering a wide range of subjects including English, Math, Science, Social Sciences, and Humanities, as well as options for specialized courses in areas such as Arts, Music, Business, and Technology.
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is widely recognized and respected internationally by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organization that promotes economic development and well-being of people around the world. The OECD has a well-established process for evaluating and comparing education systems across countries, known as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The Ontario Secondary School Diploma has consistently ranked in the TOP 5 in the world by PISA.
Additionally, the OSSD is recognized by many leading universities and colleges worldwide as a strong qualification for admission, showcasing the academic rigor and excellence of the diploma. The recognition of the OSSD by the OECD and its member countries further enhances the credibility and global ranking of the diploma. Students who graduate with an OSSD can have confidence that their diploma is recognized and respected internationally, opening doors to higher education and career opportunities around the world.
Students must earn 12 optional credits by successfully completing courses offered in their school’s program and course calendar.
The 30 credits are divided into 18 Compulsory Credits and 12 Optional Credits. Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits to get their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
All students must meet the secondary school literacy graduation requirement to earn their high school diploma. For most students, this means passing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). Students who do not successfully complete the OSSLT have other opportunities to meet the literacy graduation requirement. Online students can complete OLC4O, or the Grade 12 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course online. You can also complete it in-person during the summer/winter exchange programs.
Students are required to complete 40 hours of community involvement activities in order to earn an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students working towards their OSSD should make sure they meet these graduation requirements in time for their graduating year. Students can start accumulating their community involvement hours in the summer before entering Grade 9. Students who are looking for community involvement opportunities should make sure they know which activities qualify for the community involvement requirement and ask their principal or guidance counsellor for more information.
PLAR stands for Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition. It is a process that recognizes and evaluates a student’s prior learning, which may have been acquired through formal education, work experience, volunteer work, or other relevant experiences. PLAR is designed to assess a student’s knowledge, skills, and competencies against specific curriculum expectations or learning outcomes, and determine if they have met the requirements for a particular course or program.
PLAR is recognized and regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Education and is used by CISS as a means to assess students’ previous credentials and grant exemptions for specific courses towards their OSSD. This allows students to demonstrate their prior learning and potentially earn credits without having to repeat material they have already mastered.
The PLAR process typically involves a formal assessment by qualified educators, who review the student’s documentation, conduct interviews, or administer tests, among other methods, to evaluate the student’s prior learning.