Most students and parents understand how important it is to graduate high school, but how to get there isn’t always obvious. Ontario Virtual School (OVS) is an Ontario Ministry of Education accredited online private high school that offers students in Canada and abroad the opportunity to earn an OSSD entirely online. The OSSD earned at OVS is equivalent to an OSSD earned through a publicly funded secondary day school.
Let’s take a look at 10 key points every student should know about the OSSD and how OVS can support students on their journey to graduation:
- You need 30 credits to graduate.
→ That means this is the total number of courses you must pass in high school in order to get your diploma.
- Not all credits are your choice
→ You must complete compulsory credits in certain grades (ie. FSF1D), but you also get optional credits to explore your interests (ie. MCV4U). This chart provides the specific breakdown.
- English matters every year
→ You need 4 English credits – one in each grade. While there are many pathways and types of English courses, two examples are ENL1W and ENG4U.
- You must pass the literacy requirement.
→ Most students write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) in Grade 10.
If not successful, you can take a course instead, known as OLC4O.
- You need 40 hours of community involvement
→ Volunteer hours are required and you can start earning them as early as the summer before Grade 9.
- You must take at least 2 online courses
→ Ontario now requires students to complete eLearning credits (with an option to opt out).
- Math is required—but only 3 credits
→ You need 3 math credits, including at least one in Grade 11 or 12, such as MCF3M or MDM4U.
- There are small but important half-credit courses
→ You must take: Gr. 10 Civics (0.5 credit) and Gr. 10 Careers (0.5 credit) to graduate.
- You have flexibility in your pathway
→ With optional credits, you can choose courses that support: University, College, Apprenticeship, Workplace. Each course has a specific code that indicates the pathway.
- Summer school and night school count
→ You can earn credits outside of the regular school year to catch up, get ahead, or lighten your timetable.
You’re Not Alone
Ensuring students have all of the requirements to graduate might seem overwhelming at first. But there is a great deal of support available for students. At Ontario Virtual School, we have Guidance Counsellors, Mental Health Supports and knowledgeable OVS Staff to help students choose the right courses, stay on track for graduation and plan for life after high school. Register today!
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Frequently Asked Questions 1. What is the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)? The OSSD is the official high school diploma in Ontario, issued by the Ministry of Education. It requires students to complete specific credits, a literacy requirement, and community involvement hours in order to graduate. 2. Is an OSSD earned through Ontario Virtual School the same as one from a publicly funded school? Yes. The OSSD earned through Ontario Virtual School is fully accredited and equivalent to a diploma earned at a publicly funded secondary school in Ontario. 3. What happens if I don’t pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test? If you are not successful on the OSSLT, you can meet the literacy requirement by taking the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OLC4O), which counts as a credit toward your diploma. 4. Can I earn credits outside of a traditional school setting? Yes. Students can earn credits through online learning, summer school, or night school. Schools like Ontario Virtual School offer flexible options that allow students to learn at their own pace and on their own schedule. |