The Ontario Curriculum

CSC Nouvelon schools provide all students with a program of studies that fully complies with the Ontario Curriculum

Criteria for earning an Ontario Secondary School Diploma

To receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), students must earn at least 30 credits, including 18 compulsory credits as described below. One credit is awarded for successfully completing a course that has a minimum duration of 110 hours.

18 compulsory credits:

4 credits in French (1 credit per grade)
1 credit in English (the course is the same as taught in English-language schools; a total of 4 credits is strongly recommended)
3 credits in mathematics (including 1 in Grade 11 or 12)
2 credits in science
1 credit in Canadian history
1 credit in Canadian geography
1 credit in the arts (music, visual arts, theatre or dance)
1 credit in health and physical education
0.5 credit in career studies
0.5 credit in civics
1 credit in either French, English, a third language, humanities and social sciences or Canadian and world studies
1 additional credit in health and physical education, the arts or business and trade
1 additional credit in science in Grade 11 or 12 or in technology-Grades 9 to 12

12 optional credits:

Credits chosen among the available courses listed in the CSC Nouvelon Student Prospectus.

Additional Requirements

French-language skills

In Grade 10, students take a French-language reading and writing test that is based on provincial expectations for the end of Grade 9. Passing this test is a requirement for obtaining the OSSD. Each student’s pass/fail results are noted in their report card.

Community Service

Students must complete at least 40 hours of unpaid community service before receiving their OSSD. These activities take place outside regular school classroom hours throughout the four years of secondary school (grades 9–12).