What We Offer?
As a school registered in Ontario, we offer Ontario Secondary School Diploma courses from Grade 9 to Grade 12. Highland Virtual also developed other courses for the students who are challenging other main international streams. Whatever your education background is, and whatever customized education required is, Highland Virtual will tailor and wrap a program accordingly for you.
Highland Academy of Canada is providing the necessary support for all its students to gain access to the best quality of education possible.
Ontario High School Diploma
What is the OSSD?
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) is a diploma granted to secondary school graduates in the province of Ontario Canada.
Who can apply?
Junior or senior high school students who have completed grade 8 or above with no health concerns are welcome to apply.
What is special about the OSSD?
The OSSD is recognized by universities all over the world，including Ivy League Schools in the United States.
Ontario Education System
Early childhood education - for children from birth to age 6
Elementary school - for students from kindergarten to grade 8
Secondary school - for students from grade 9 to 12.
Equivalent Credit Assessment
When students who do not have Ontario credits are transferring from a non-inspected private school or a school outside Ontario to an Ontario secondary school, the Head of School or Head-Guidance will, in the process of deciding where the student should be placed, determine as equitably as possible the total credit equivalency of the student’s previous learning, and the number of compulsory and optional credits to be earned.
| Credit transferrable | 0 | 8 | 16 | 23 | 26 |
| Credit to be obtained | 30 | 22 | 14 | 7 | 4 |
Learn More
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requires the completion of 30 credit courses, including 18 compulsory credits and 12 electives. Other requirements include passing the provincially mandated Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test and completing a minimum of 40 hours of approved Community Involvement activities. In keeping with Highland Virtual’s commitment to preparing students for a post-secondary (College or University) destination, we offer grade 9 and 10 credits at the Applied or Academic Level and grade 11 and 12 courses at the University or College/University Preparation Level.
The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (Ossd) Requirements – Summary
| English | 4 credits (1 per grade) |
| French as a second language | 1 |
| Mathematics | 3 (1 in grade 11 or 12) |
| Science | 2 |
| Canadian Geography | 1 |
| Canadian History | 1 |
| Arts (Dance, Drama, Media, Music, Visual Arts) | 1 |
| Health and Physical Education | 1 |
| Civics and Citizenship | 0.5 |
| Career Studies | 0.5 |
3 other credits*
| Total compulsory credits | 18 |
| Elective credits | 12 |
| Total credits | 30 |
40 hours community involvement activities
Successful completion of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test OSSLT
* 3 additional credits:
- 1 additional credit (group 1): additional credit in English, or French as a second language,** or a First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies, or a classical studies or an international language, or social sciences and the humanities, or Canadian and world studies, or guidance and career education, or cooperative education***
- 1 additional credit (group 2): additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies, or French as a second language,** or cooperative education***
- 1 additional credit (group 3): additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12), or technological education, or French as a second language,** or computer studies, or cooperative education***
*A maximum of 3 credits in English as a second language (ESL) or English literacy development (ELD) may be counted towards the 4 compulsory credits in English, but the fourth must be a credit earned for a Grade 12 compulsory English course.
**In groups 1, 2, and 3, a maximum of 2 credits in French as a second language can count as compulsory credits, one from group 1 and one from either group 2 or group 3.
***A maximum of 2 credits in cooperative education can count as compulsory credits.
12 Elective credits selected from those available.
High-achieving students in high school and beyond have a plethora of options and possibilities to extend their education. One of these chances is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, which is a worldwide, non-profit education programme intended to provide all students with an education suited for a globalising world. Each of the four IB education programmes is designed to help students develop their intellectual, emotional, personal, and social abilities. HAC provides high-quality services such as ongoing tutoring and test preparation for our students. Our curriculum assists students in becoming more equipped for an education in a globalising context.
Advanced Placement (AP) allows students to begin college-level work while still in high school. Students can also receive college credit and placement by taking the AP Exams. HAC provides comprehensive support to students and families, including on-going tutoring and exam preparation, as well as counselling from an AP expert about programme benefits and requirements, and ideas for choosing and succeeding in an AP programme.
The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test commonly used in the United States for college admissions. The goal of the SAT is to assess a high school student's readiness for college, and provide universities with a single point of comparison for all candidates. HAC's experienced experts will work with students and families to prepare them for the SAT in a methodical manner. Beginning with the creation of a personal study plan, HAC assists students in getting started as soon as possible. Following the personal study plan, our expert instructors then prepare students carefully and systematically over a long period of time, putting them on the best possible path to success!
English is the language of instruction at most institutions in the Western world, and success in university studies requires a high level of English language proficiency. Unless qualifying for an exemption, students must submit evidence of appropriate English proficiency if English is not their first language. Our experienced educators at HAC assist students in learning about the various formats of language proficiency exams and how to properly prepare for them, including reviewing study strategies and rehearsing prior exams for each segment through in-person or online activities. Over the years, many students have successfully achieved satisfactory scores on the tests by enhancing their test-taking skills as well as improving their language ability.
The Youth English programme is designed for students in grades 1 through 6 from all over the world. The curriculum, which is developed by English language and literature professionals, and delivered by native-speaking instructors from North America, enhances children's listening, speaking, vocabulary, and grammatical skills in a fun and engaging environment. It also improves kids' memory and boosts their cognitive powers, which help your child reach their full language potential. Students' vision, hearing, body language, and imagination are mobilised in class to participate in learning, so that the taught vocabulary and phrases are vividly etched in students' minds, strengthening their recollection of what they have learned.