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Graduation Requirements

Programs

International students accepted into the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board have the opportunity to graduate with an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

The amount of time needed to graduate varies from student to student depending on their abilities. The majority of students will study 2-4 years before graduating.
Graduation can not be guaranteed for students with low level English.

ICP Grads
Ottawa Students

Requirements are as follows:

  • 30 credits including18 compulsory credits and 12 optional or elective credits
  • students must pass a senior compulsory English at the grade 12 level
  • students must pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)
  • 40 hours of community involvement

Compulsory credits

Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma:

  • 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)*
  • 3 credits in Mathematics (1 credit 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 credit in Career Studies
  • 0.5 credit in Civics

Plus one credit from each of the following groups:

Group 1:

  • English, or French as a Second Language
  • a Native language
  • a Classical or an International language
  • Social Sciences and the Humanities
  • Canadian and World Studies
  • Guidance and Career Education
  • Cooperative Education

Group 2:

  • Health and Physical Education
  • the Arts
  • Business Studies
  • French as a Second Language
  • Cooperative Education

Group 3:

  • Science (Grade 11 or 12)
  • Technological Education
  • French as a Second Language
  • Computer Studies
  • Cooperative Education

* A maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English Literacy Development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade 12 compulsory English course.

More detailed information here.