Course Descriptions and Prerequisites
Students select courses in February for the following September. You are responsible, with your parents/guardians, for ensuring you select courses that meet diploma and post-secondary requirements.
Students should take four courses a semester until they have 24 credits. When you have 24 credits, you may take three courses per semester. Review the compulsory credits chart under Graduation Requirements.
Selecting the Right Course Type
Selecting courses that meet your needs is the first step to experiencing success in secondary school. Deciding which course type is best in each subject area is an important step in building this success.
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In Grades 9, students are able to take De-streamed, Academic, Open or Locally Developed courses.
In Grade 10, students are able to take a combination of Academic, Applied, Locally Developed or Open courses.
With planning, students will be able to transition between course types as they move through secondary school. Your guidance counselor will help you to choose appropriate courses throughout secondary school as students plan for their initial post-secondary destination.
Students do not need to make course selection decisions alone! Consult with your parent/guardian, teachers, or guidance counselor when making course selections.
Course Prerequisites
As you plan your courses throughout secondary school it is important to be aware of course prerequisites.
What is a course prerequisite? A prerequisite is a course which must be successfully completed before taking the course that follows.
Example: Grade 10 Academic Science (SNC2D1) is the course prerequisite for Grade 11 University Physics (SPH3U1)
The Secondary Course Calendar available through My Pathway Planner at your school will list prerequisites courses under each course description.
General Course Descriptions and Prerequisites are also available in My Pathway Planner.
Using My Pathway Planner to track your planned courses and find out initial post-secondary pathway options that are available. As you move through secondary school, you may find that your interests or your initial post-secondary destination plans may change so tracking credits in My Pathway Planner helps to ensure you are aware of options.
Dropping a Course
Withdrawals and failures from Grade 9 and 10 courses are not recorded on the Ontario Student Transcript.
If you withdraw from a Grade 11 or 12 course within five instructional days after the first provincial report card is issued in a semestered course, then the course will not be recorded on the transcript. In a non-semestered course, students can withdraw within five days after the second provincial report card, and the course will not be recorded on the transcript.
If you withdraw from a Grade 11 or 12 course more than five days after the reporting period, a withdrawal (W) is entered in the credit column. Your mark at the time of withdrawal is recorded as a percentage in the achievement column of the transcript.
If you repeat a course again in Grade 11 or 12, each attempt and the mark will be recorded in the transcript with only one credit granted. The course with the lower mark will have an “R” entered in the credit column. If you have questions about this, speak to a guidance counsellor or the principal.