Growing Success 2026: What Ontario Students Need to Know

Beginning in September 2026, changes to Growing Success, the Ontario Ministry of Education’s policy for assessment, evaluation, and reporting, will bring some important updates to high schools across the province.

From how attendance and participation factor into final grades to new evaluation weightings and updated course experiences, there’s plenty for students and families to know.

What’s changing? And what does it mean for students? Let’s break it down.

A Greater Focus on Attendance and Participation 

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of dedicated attendance and participation expectations.

Rather than simply tracking attendance, schools will look at how students engage with their learning. That includes completing coursework, participating in learning activities, communicating with teachers, and making consistent progress throughout a course.

Online participation is all about staying engaged. Keep making progress, ask questions, connect with your teacher, and stay involved.

The goal isn't simply showing up. It's building habits that help students learn, grow, and succeed over time.

Assessments That Better Reflect Real Learning

At Virtual High School (VHS), assessment is about more than memorizing information for a test. Our courses give students a variety of ways to demonstrate what they know and can do while building skills they can use beyond the classroom.

Depending on the course, students may complete projects, investigations, presentations, written assessments, and other meaningful learning tasks. This variety gives students opportunities to showcase their strengths while developing important skills like communication, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving.

Because learning looks different for everyone, we believe there should be more than one way to show what you know.

How Your Final Grade Adds Up

The updated policy also introduces standardized weighting for final evaluations across Ontario.

These consistent weightings help ensure students across Ontario are assessed using the same provincial framework while still allowing teachers to evaluate learning throughout the course.

Building Skills for What Comes Next

Every course is an opportunity to gain knowledge, grow in confidence, and develop abilities that extend beyond the classroom.

Students deepen their understanding throughout a course while strengthening important skills like organization, responsibility, communication, and perseverance.

As part of our latest course updates, some VHS courses will also introduce final exams, giving students another opportunity to demonstrate what they've learned and gain valuable experience with formal assessments.

Together with projects, assignments, and other learning activities, these experiences help students put their knowledge into practice and prepare for the next step in their educational journey. 

What This Means for Virtual High School Students

At Virtual High School, we've been carefully reviewing the updated Growing Success policy and have enhanced our courses and processes to align with the Ministry's new expectations.

Beginning in September 2026, these updates will apply to students who register for a Virtual High School course. Newly registered students will experience updated assessment structures and participation expectations that reflect the provincial policy while maintaining the flexibility and support online learning is known for.

Our goal remains the same as it has always been: to provide students with a high-quality Ontario education that is engaging, accessible, and fully aligned with Ministry requirements.

As education continues to evolve, we're evolving with it, ensuring every Virtual High School student has the tools, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.

Questions? We’re Here to Help.

Have questions about the 2026 Growing Success updates or what they mean for your VHS course?