Toronto Independent High School (T.I.H.S.) is a teaching community that believes in providing its students with a unique opportunity to create a personalised and broad course of study while completing the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.  Our school strongly believes that through an individually designed program and on-going guidance, supported with skills development and outside-the-classroom experiences, students will achieve success.

Toronto Independent High School is a school that not only encourages students to set high goals but also provides the tools, training, and support for them to reach their goals and realise their potential.  We promote the importance of understanding and mastering life skills such as: time and project management, problem solving, interpersonal abilities and motivation. These, when combined and reinforced with foundation skills programs that include study and exam skills, presentations, oral tests and essay writing, create a foundation for every student to succeed and achieve their full potential.

Our school believes in the importance of presenting course content in a personal way and in relation to their world so that they can achieve a greater depth of understanding.  By promoting this integration of course content and the world outside the classroom, students benefit from a wealth of culture and creativity.  The raising and discussion of ethical, moral and wellness issues encourages students to become aware of themselves as thoughtful, responsible, and mature contributing members of our society.  .

Graduate Expectations

• A reflective, discerning, and creative thinker.
• A caring, informed, responsible citizen.
• A confident and competent decision-maker.
• Build an impressive resume that includes: an extensive work and volunteer section, skill sets and letters of reference.
• A self-directed, responsible, life long learner.
• An effective communicator.
• Enjoy a commitment and love of knowledge and of self-improvement.

Graduates leap toward their next goals with high academic achievement, self-confidence, awareness, and the skills to succeed.

Requirements for The Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)


Graduate Expectations

A credit is granted in recognition of the successful completion of a course that has been scheduled for a minimum of 110 hours. For the purpose of granting a credit, “scheduled time” is defined as the time during which students participate in planned learning activities (other than homework) designed to lead to the achievement of the curriculum expectations of a course. A credit is granted to a student by the principal of a secondary school on behalf of the Minister of Education.

Students may also earn a credit through Independent Study.  There is no restriction on the number of periods that a teacher may allow for independent study within any given course. The teacher of the course is responsible for assigning components of the course, suggesting available resources, evaluating the achievement of the student, and ensuring that the total work involved is equivalent to that expected in the time scheduled for the course.

A student may be permitted to take one or more courses through Private Study when one of these two circumstances prevails: (a) the student is deemed to have a valid reason for not attending classes, or (b) the school does not offer the course(s). The school must be willing to monitor the student’s progress and evaluate his or her work. ILC courses may form part of a student’s private study program.

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