Credits

In Ontario, the senior high school setting is Grade 9-12. High school implements a credit system, with one credit for each course. A school year consists of two semesters, each of which has 4 courses, each of which has 110 class hours, with 4 credits for one semester and 8 credits for the whole year. 

All credits earned in Oak Valley Academy are the same credits earned by students in public and private schools in the Province of Ontario.

Students can graduate after completing 30 credits, including 18 credits for required courses and 12 credits for elective courses.

Compulsory credits

Students must earn the following 18 compulsory credits to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma:

● 4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
● 3 credits in Mathematics (1 credit in Grade 11 or 12)
● 2 credits in Science
● 1 credit in Canadian History
● 1 credit in Canadian Geography
● 1 credit in the Arts
● 1 credit in Health and Physical Education
● 1 credit in French as a Second Language
● 0.5 credit in Career Studies
● 0.5 credit in Civics

Optional Credits

● 1 additional credit in English, or a third language, or social sciences and the humanities or Canadian and world studies, or guidance and career education, or co-operative education *
● 1 additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies, or co-operative education *
● 1 additional credit in science (grade 11 or 12), or technological education (grades 9-12), or co-operative education *

* A maximum of 2.0 credits in co-operative education can count as compulsory credits

Transfer credits

Students who need to transfer credits must submit the official transcripts of provincial-level recognized high school or post secondary institutions for evaluation. For comparable subjects with full credit, transfer credit will be evaluated. Because the contents of the plans are different, only the evaluation conducted by OVA can determine the actual transfer credits to be granted.

Out-of-Province and International Students

Students who do not have Ontario credits and who are transferring from a school outside of Ontario or outside of Canada will require a secondary school credit equivalency evaluation. The OVA principal will determine as equitably as possible the total credit equivalency of the student’s previous learning, and the number of compulsory and optional credits still to be earned towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students will have to successfully complete the provincial secondary school literacy test and the principal will determine the number of hours of community involvement activities that the student will have to complete. The principal will note the results of his or her assessment and deliberations in the student’s Ontario Student Record.
To have your secondary school credits from another province or country assessed. In order to process your application OVA will also require a copy of the following:
1.Your Birth Certificate or legal proof of age (i.e. passport or drivers license);
2.Your previous/current secondary school transcript or credit summary report (translated into English if required)