Secondary

The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is recognized by universities around the world for direct admission. At DSC, students in Grades 9 to 12 work with our Guidance Counsellors to develop an individualized program to ensure students gain their credit courses that lead to the OSSD. 

The Ontario Ministry of Education awards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma to all students who meet the graduation requirements. 

OSSD Requirements:

• 30 credits (18 compulsory and 12 elective)

• A passing score on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)

• 40 hours community service

All courses offered at DSC are academic-focused in order to best prepare our students to gain direct admission to the top universities globally.

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We offer a broad range of courses from a variety of subject areas to meet student interests, aptitudes, and post-secondary destinations.

DSC International School is dedicated to preparing students to get into the program and career pathway of their choice. The OSSD⁺ Signature Program provides an enhanced, rigorous academic framework that aligns with their interests, passions, and goals.

The purpose of the OSSD⁺ Signature Program is to promote specialized academic discipline, enhanced community outreach and leadership development, real-world experiences, and career mentorship through work placements.

Completion of the OSSD⁺ Signature Program is an excellent capstone to the High School experience and provides an enhanced, rigorous academic framework that aligns student interests, passions, and goals.

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After completing our Secondary Program and having met all the graduation requirements, our students are awarded the globally recognized and valued Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). With this diploma, university opportunities are truly endless. 

In 2019 – 2021, we achieved a 100% University Acceptance Rate. Our Guidance Counsellors have assisted our graduating students in shortlisting the best universities based on academics and interests with many of them entering the top 100 universities worldwide.

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The OSSD provides the flexibility to meet each and every student’s interests and requirements for entrance into their university of choice.  

Individual pathways means that there are many options so students can select a program of study which both interests them and prepares them for post-secondary studies. A great benefit of the OSSD is both its depth and breadth of courses of study. While students are required to complete 18 compulsory courses in order to gain knowledge and skills in a diverse array of subjects, these courses are mostly completed by Grade 11. Therefore, for students in Grade 11 and 12, there is a tremendous amount of choice for students when selecting courses. This allows for students to focus on specific courses that are prerequisites for their desired university programs. For example, if you are interested in studying Business, we offer seven specific Grade 11 and 12 courses to select from; if you are interested in the Social Sciences, you can select from seven courses; the Sciences, again, seven courses!  There is great flexibility in choice to truly meet the individual pathways and university requirements of each and every DSC student. 

Making connections through volunteer work within the community is very important. The purpose of community involvement is to reinforce civic responsibility, strengthen the community, and develop a positive self-image. Volunteering is also a great way to gain experience, build up one’s resume for university entrance, and become a well-rounded person. As part of the OSSD requirement, students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service. Our Guidance Counsellors work with students to find suitable placements so that students can meet this graduation requirement. 

In addition, during our Experiential Learning Week, students travel to different destinations where they are not only learning about cultures, but they also have the opportunity to work towards their community service hours on various service projects.