The Ontario Curriculum
The Ontario Curriculum has innovative programmes that help students customise their learning, helping more students to graduate. The underlying philosophy of the Ontario Curriculum is that every student learns in his or her own way. The curriculum includes a rich arts, music, drama, physical education and health programme and has two key area of focus and assessment: Elementary and Secondary.
Elementary Curriculum
Between the ages of four and 13, kindergarten to Grade 8, students follow the Elementary Curriculum, taking subjects such as the arts, French, health and physical education, language, mathematics, native languages, science and technology, and social studies, history and geography.
Secondary Curriculum
Grades 9 to 12
The Ontario Curriculum for secondary students consists of:
- The arts
- Business studies
- Canadian and world studies
- Classical studies and international languages
- Computer studies
- English
- French
- Guidance and career education
- Health and physical education
- Interdisciplinary studies
- Mathematics
- Native studies
- Science
- humanities
- Technological education
Graduating High School
To earn a high school diploma in Ontario, students must earn 18 compulsory credits, 12 optional credits, pass the literacy requirement (OSSLT) and complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities.
Compulsory Credits:
4 Credits – English
3 Credits – Mathematics
3 Credits – Group 1, 2 and 3 courses (specific list available from the schools)
2 Credits – Science
1 Credit – Canadian history
1 Credit – Canadian geography
1 Credit – The arts
1 Credit – Health and physical education
1 Credit – French as a second language
0.5 Credit – Career studies
0.5 Credit- Civics
