How Ontario Online Schools works
Earn fully accredited Ontario credits from anywhere in the world — at your own pace, supported by certified Ontario teachers.
From enrollment to credit — four steps
- Browse and choose your course
Select from over 112 ministry-approved Ontario secondary school courses across Grades 9–12. Every course is built on an inquiry-based learning model and taught by a certified Ontario teacher aligned fully with the Ontario curriculum. You can enroll in more than one course at a time.
- Register and pay online
Complete your enrollment through our secure portal. Payment is processed online. Once confirmed, you receive immediate access to your course materials — no waiting for a semester start date. You can begin the same day you enroll.
- Work through your course with regular teacher check-ins
Courses are fully self-paced and asynchronous — work on your own schedule, from any device with a browser and internet connection. At key milestones, your teacher conducts structured check-ins: short conversations by video, voice, or written exchange that give evidence of your understanding alongside your submitted work. Starting with the 2026–27 school year, regular engagement — logins, submissions, and check-in participation — is also tracked and counts toward your final grade, in line with new provincial requirements.
- Complete your culminating activity and receive your credit
Each course includes a culminating activity — a project, presentation, or applied task that brings together the core concepts of the course — and, as required under the Ministry’s 2026 assessment rules, a final evaluation. In most courses this is a written exam; in some it is a written exam combined with the culminating task. Your teacher uses your final evaluation, your body of submitted work, and check-in evidence to determine your final grade. Your credit is then recorded on your official Ontario Student Transcript (OST).
How your grade is determined
OOS follows Ontario's Growing Success framework — the same approach used in Ontario public schools. Assessment happens in three ways throughout your course, and only one of them determines your grade.
- Assessment for learning — Early feedback that helps you understand where you are and what to focus on next. Does not count toward your final grade.
- Assessment as learning — Self-reflection and peer activities that build your awareness as a learner. Does not count toward your final grade.
- Assessment of learning — The evaluated work that determines your grade: assignments, your culminating activity, and the observation and conversation evidence your teacher gathers during check-ins.
At key points in your course, your teacher schedules a short conversation with you — by video, voice, or written exchange. These are professional conversations about your learning, not tests or evaluations. Your teacher uses what they observe and hear during these sessions as evidence to triangulate your final grade alongside your submitted work. Check-ins ensure your grade reflects your actual understanding — not just what appears on paper.
Starting with the 2026–27 school year, every OSSD course includes a Ministry-mandated final evaluation — a written exam in most courses. OOS delivers this exam through secure remote proctoring, so students write it from wherever they already study, with no travel and no test centre. Exam weighting follows the Ministry's province-wide formula: 20% of your final grade in Grades 9–10 (25% in Grades 11–12) for most courses, combined with a culminating task in some subjects. See our Assessment, Evaluation & Attendance Policy for the exact weighting in your course.
Because our model combines ongoing teacher contact, multiple forms of coursework evidence, and a proctored final evaluation, academic integrity is built into the process at every stage — not concentrated in a single exam with no other context behind it. Your teacher works with you throughout the course and brings that understanding to how your final evaluation and grade are assessed.
What a course looks like
Every OOS course is organized into five units, delivered through Moodle — the same learning management system used by dozens of Ontario colleges and universities. You access everything through your browser; nothing needs to be installed.
Most students complete a course in 8–16 weeks. There is no minimum pace — you move through the material as quickly or gradually as your schedule allows, within the course window agreed upon at enrollment.
Life happens. If you need additional time to complete a course, contact your teacher or our office. Extensions are handled on a case-by-case basis. We work with students — we do not simply withdraw you without notice.
A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a modern browser and a reliable internet connection. No special software, apps, or equipment is required. Moodle works on all major devices and operating systems.
Directly through Moodle's messaging system. Teachers respond within one to two business days. All feedback on your submitted work is written and provided through the platform.
Who can enroll?
OOS is open to a wide range of students. You do not need to be currently enrolled in another school to register with us.
- Secondary school students — In Ontario or elsewhere in Canada who want to supplement their timetable, accelerate their studies, or access courses not offered at their home school.
- International students — Studying from outside Canada who need Ontario credits for university admission in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, or elsewhere.
- Adult learners — Who did not complete their secondary education and are returning to earn credits toward their OSSD.
- Home-educated students — Who need accredited Ontario credits recognized by postsecondary institutions.
Not sure if you qualify? Contact us before enrolling. We will review your situation and tell you clearly which courses are the right fit, how many credits you need, and what pathway makes sense for your goals.
What you will pay — and what is included
Per course. All course materials included. No registration or hidden fees.
Administrative Fees
One-time fee for students who do not yet have an Ontario Education Number. Not charged to students who have previously attended any Ontario-inspected school.
Sent to any school, college, or university. Processed within 2–3 business days of course completion.
For students applying to Ontario universities or colleges, OOS submits grades directly to the application system.
An Ontario Education Number is a unique lifetime identifier assigned to every student in the Ontario school system. If you have ever attended an Ontario-inspected school — public, private, or independent — you already have one and will not be charged this fee. If you do not yet have an OEN, OOS will acquire it and establish your Ontario Student Record on your behalf. This is a required step before any credit can be officially recorded, and the one-time $300 fee covers that process in full. Not sure whether you have an OEN? Contact us before enrolling and we will check for you.
Your OSSD is recognized worldwide. The Ontario Secondary School Diploma is one of the most respected secondary credentials in the world. Whether you are applying to universities in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, the UAE, India, or beyond — your OOS credits appear on an official Ontario transcript and are accepted by institutions globally. Institutions can verify your transcript directly with OOS at any time.
Good to know before you start
Do I have to attend any live classes?
No. All instruction is asynchronous — there are no scheduled class times and no live meetings to attend. Starting with the 2026–27 school year, however, provincial rules require every course to include a graded attendance and participation component (10–15% of your final grade, depending on grade level). At OOS, this is measured through regular platform engagement and participation in your scheduled check-ins, not through live-class attendance. See our Assessment, Evaluation & Attendance Policy for details.
Can I take more than one course at a time?
Yes. Many OOS students enroll in two or three courses simultaneously. There is no limit. You manage your own timelines across each course independently.
What if I am already enrolled at another school?
That is not a problem. Many OOS students are concurrently enrolled at a public, private, or international school and use OOS to access courses their home school does not offer or to accelerate their pathway to graduation.
Will my university or college accept OOS credits?
Yes. OOS is a ministry-inspected Ontario private school (BSID #885338). Credits issued by OOS carry the same standing as credits from any Ontario secondary school and appear on an official Ontario Student Transcript. Ontario colleges and universities recognize OOS credits, as do institutions across Canada and internationally.
What is the refund or withdrawal policy?
If you need to withdraw from a course, contact our office as early as possible. Refund eligibility depends on how far you have progressed in the course. Full details are available before you enroll — we encourage you to read them and ask any questions before registering.
Is support available in languages other than English?
Primary instruction and teacher communication is conducted in English, as all OOS courses are English-language Ontario curriculum courses. If you have questions about enrollment or administrative matters, contact our office and we will do our best to assist you.
Ready to earn accredited Ontario credits?
Browse our full catalogue of Ministry-approved courses — Grades 9 to 12.