Every Education Ministry publishes guidelines to govern the awarding of high school diplomas to students. Below are the Ontario Ministry of Education guidelines.
In order to qualify for an Ontario High School Diploma, each student needs to possess:
30 course credits, made up of eighteen (18) compulsory course credits and twelve (12) elective course credits.
40 hours of community involvement.
An Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) certificate, or completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC).
In addition, students who complete a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program as part of the requirements for their diploma will receive an SHSM red seal diploma.