Homeschool High School Resource Guide

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Homeschool High School Resource Guide

Welcome to the Homeschool High School Resource Guide! You’ll find helpful information, resources and links to assist you in homeschooling your high school student.

If you are new to homeschooling, make sure to check out the Quick Start Guide to Homeschooling for more information on getting started in home education.

You will also want to familiarize yourself with the HSLDA and HomeScholar websites for lots of helpful information on homeschooling a high schooler.

Planning, Record Keeping and Grading

Planning out your teens four years of high school doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Let’s walk through how to plan, keep records and do grades in the high school years.

First, you need to plan out what subjects will be covered, what courses your student will take and how many credits to assign to each course your teen takes. Here is a detailed video on how to plan out your teen’s high school years. The video walks you through creating high school graduation requirements, creating a high school plan and giving credits. You might also find this article on creating a high school plan helpful as well as this one on how to determine course credits.

Next, you will want to keep good records of what your student accomplishes in the high school years. This video will walk you through some of the records to keep including attendance, reading lists and extra-curricular activities. The video also goes in-depth on how to write up course descriptions and put together a course catalog that can be submitted to colleges along with your student’s transcript.

Finally, you will want to keep grades for the classes your teen takes. Remember that you don’t have to base grades solely off of tests. Projects, essays, reports, daily assignments and participation can all be factored into your student’s final grade. Here is a helpful video on how to keep grades. These articles (here and here) offer practical tips for high school grading and this one discusses why weighted grades for a GPA are not recommended.

You might also find my Homeschool High School Forms Pack to be an asset to you in planning, record keeping and grading in the high school years.

High School Transcript and Diploma

What is a high school transcript and a high school diploma? Does your student need both of them? Let’s take a look at transcripts and diplomas and how to make sure your homeschool graduate has each one.

A high school transcript is an official record of the student’s educational achievements that includes the courses taken and grades received.

Every homeschool graduate needs a transcript whether they plan on attending college or not. Here are some free high school transcript templates. Or you can use HSLDA’s transcript service. If you’d like more information on what to include on a high school transcript, click here and here. BJU Press also has a free transcript template that you can use along with detailed information about transcripts and how to create one.

A high school diploma is a document that states that a person has completed the course of study required for graduation. As a homeschool parent, you get to create your “schools” course of study and determine whether your student fulfilled all of the requirements or not. If your student has successfully completed their high school courses, then you can issue a diploma. Here are some answers to FAQ about diplomas and how to create one yourself. You can also purchase a homeschool diploma here.

You might also find these articles helpful:

• 4 Things To Do Now for a Great Transcript Later
• 4 Keys for a Winning Homeschool High School Transcript

Courses and Curriculum Options

There are numerous options available for homeschool high school students when it comes to classes. Students can take classes that their parents teach (using homeschool curriculum), learn independently with homeschool curriculum, take classes through a co-op, utilize online classes (also called distance learning), or take dual-enrollment courses from a college. Let’s look at each of these options a little more closely.

Parent-led courses simply means that the parent is teaching the material to their teen. With this option, you’d purchase parent-taught curriculum that includes teacher’s manuals, answer keys and anything else you’d need to teach your child.

Independent courses are a great option for kids who like to work at their own pace. Many homeschool curriculums are designed with independent learning in mind.

Co-op classes provide your student with classes from other people who may be more knowledgable in a subject than you are. It also gives your teen the opportunity to learn in a group setting. Find out more about co-ops and whether it would be a good fit for you and your teen in this article.

Online classes, also called distance learning, provide online instruction for your teen. Some online classes are live while others are pre-recorded. Some allow students to work at their own pace while others have set deadlines. Here is a list of online courses for homeschoolers to help you get started.

Dual-enrollment is a great option for motivated teens. Students can enroll in college courses and then receive high school and college credits at the same time.

All of these options can be used at the same time. For example, you could teach an English course, your student can work independently on an elective class, while also taking a science class in a co-op setting, a math class online and a history and foreign language classes using dual-enrollment courses. The abundant options in the high school years is one of the benefits of homeschooling!

Another wonderful benefit to homeschooling a high school student is being able to create unique elective courses for your teen. If you need some ideas for high school electives click here. If you’d like to create a unique course for your student then check out this article and video.

You might also find these links helpful:

• Homeschool Curriculum Page
• How to Create Your Own High School Elective Course
• Online Courses for Homeschoolers

Answers to Other Questions

I’ve received a lot of questions related to homeschooling through the high school years. I try to tackle some of those questions in this section. Keep scrolling to see if I’ve answered your question.

Can’t find an answer to your question? Leave your question in the comment section and I’ll do my best to add it to this Homeschool High School Resource Guide.

Should my child take the GED? The short answer is, “no”. Taking the GED is not recommended for most homeschoolers. Here is a helpful article that explains what the GED is and why homeschoolers don’t need it.

What if my teen wants to enter the military? Check out this article from HSLDA on how to prepare your teen for entering the military.

What is CLEP testing and would it be beneficial for my high schooler? This article does a great job of explaining what CLEP testing is and who might benefit from taking CLEP tests.

What is the difference between an AP class and an AP exam? While homeschoolers may find it difficult to access AP classes, they can still take the AP exams. Find out more in this article.

What college entrance exams should my teen take? It can get a little confusing when it comes to college entrance exams and which one is best for your student to take. HSLDA answers all your questions in this article.

Please note, that as of 2021, the College Board has discontinued SAT subject tests and the essay portion will no longer be on the SAT test. Lee Binz shares how this affects homeschool students in these two articles (here and here).

Can my homeschooled high schooler play sports? This varies from state to state. You can find more information about homeschool athletics in your state here.

Are homeschoolers eligible for sports scholarships? Yes! Click here for more information.

Are extracurricular activities important for my teen? Having your student participate in extracurricular activities is a good idea for any teen. This article talks about why both electives and extracurricular activities are important for high schoolers.

Still have questions? Leave them in the comments.