Waterford District High School
School Profile 2024-25

Graduation Requirements

Grade 10 - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

All students must successfully complete a test administered by EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office). Students will first write this test in the spring of their grade ten year. Unsuccessful candidates will be given the opportunity for remediation at the school and will be able to rewrite the test. Students identified through an IPRC (Identification, Placement, and Review Committee) will be allowed accommodations for writing of the test. Students not working towards an OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma) may be exempted from writing the test.

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC)

Students who have written the OSSLT (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test) once and were unsuccessful are eligible to take the OSSLC (Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course). Successful completion of the OSSLC satisfies the secondary school literacy graduation requirement.

Community Involvement

Students are responsible to complete 40 hours of community service as a requirement for graduation. Grade 8 graduated students can start accumulating during the summer prior to entering Grade 9. Grade 12 graduating students are required to have all hours submitted by June 30 of their graduating year. If hours handed in after that date, there is no guarantee that they will be included in the Fall Graduation preparations. 

It is the responsibility of the student to find opportunities for achieving community service hours. Various opportunities are communicated through the announcements, Twitter, or on the bulletin board outside of the Guidance office throughout the year. 

Online Learning Graduation Requirement

Students who entered Secondary School since September 2020 onward are expected to complete two of their 30 credits via asynchronous eLearning. This graduation requirement can be opted out of by parents or students over the age of 18 by completing the eLearning Online Opt-out Form. 

Ontario Secondary School Certificate

The Ontario Secondary School Certificate will be granted on request to students who leave school before earning the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, provided that they have earned a minimum of 14 credits as follows:

• 7 COMPULSORY CREDITS (2 English, 1 Canadian Geography or Canadian History, 1 Mathematics, 1 Health and Physical Education,
• 1 Science, 1 Arts or Technological Education or Computer Studies)
• 7 OPTIONAL CREDITS Selected by the student from available courses

Certificate of Accomplishment

Students who are not working towards an OSSD or an OSSC may be awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment upon leaving secondary school. The Certificate of Accomplishment is a useful means of recognizing achievement for students who plan to transition directly to employment after leaving school. The Certificate of Accomplishment is to be accompanied by the student’s Ontario Student Transcript. For students who have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), a copy of the IEP may be included.