At Alborz Educational Centre we provide a fine balance between a liberal arts and progressive education. The Ontario High School Diploma (OSSD) is based on a credit system. Students must earn a total of 30 credits (one for every 110-hour course successfully completed) to obtain a high school diploma. Eighteen of the credits are compulsory, earned in a specified number of courses from a list of subjects that every student must take. The remaining 12 credits are optional, earned in courses that the student may select from the full range of courses offered by the school. Students usually take 4 to 6 credits per semester.

The school year is divided into three semesters. This allows students to achieve 10 credits (1 per course) in an academic year. Additional support is provided after school in study hall: We prepare students for the mandatory Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, teachers offer homework support, and there is even an optional IELTS course aimed to strengthen English literacy skills.

The secondary school program is designed so that the students can meet the diploma requirements in four years following Grade 8. Courses are offered in such a way to ensure that education is relevant both to students’ needs and interests and to the requirements of post secondary institutions. In Grades 9 and 10, courses strongly promote the acquisition of essential knowledge and skills by all students, but at the same time allow students to begin to focus on their areas of strength and interest and to explore various areas of study. In Grades 11 and 12, the program is designed to allow students to choose courses that are clearly and directly linked to their intended post secondary destinations.

The graduation requires student a challenging, high-quality curriculum and the achievement of measurable results. In keeping with the emphasis on high standards, students are required to successfully complete the provincial secondary school literacy test in order to graduate.

Compulsory Credits (total of 18)

Students must earn the following compulsory credits in order to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma:
4 credits in English (1 credit per grade)
1 credit in French as a second language
3 credits in mathematics
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
0.5 credit in civics
0.5 credit in career studies.

plus:
1 additional credit in English, or a third language, or social sciences and the humanities, or Canadian and world studies.
1 additional credit in health and physical education, or the arts, or business studies.
1 additional credit in science (Grade 11 or 12) or technological education (Grades 9-12)

Optional Credits (total of 12)

In addition to the 18 compulsory credits, students must earn 12 optional credits. Students may earn these credits by successfully completing courses that they have selected from the courses listed as available in the school course calendar.

The Optional Credit courses are designed to suit individual interests, abilities, and goals for the future. Students should check the prerequisites for the different courses as well as discuss with their subject teachers which type of courses best suit their needs. It is essential for a student to carefully plan his/her course selections each year.

For further information about Course descriptions, Course Name, Code and Prerequisite, please refer to the Course Selection.