Homeschooling High School
Even parents who have homeschooled for many years sometimes question homeschooling high school. Here are some resources to help you navigate homeschooling the high school years. If your student is considering college, take a look at our college preparation and admissions resources. For students interested in military service, visit our page for homeschoolers joining the military.
Do you have a student approaching or already IN high school at your house?
What if I told you that there is an all-in-one resource that will raise your confidence level and give you all of the tools that you will need to provide an excellent high school education for your teenage child AT HOME, preparing him for college (if desired) and a productive future, without all of the trappings of the public high school? Would you consider giving it a try?
Join the Upper Level Homeschool class and get 13 weeks of step-by-step instruction - all the information and resources necessary to teach your high school level student - delivered straight to your email box! The Upper Level Homeschool course teaches you how to prepare your teen for college and adult life. The first 5 weeks includes:
- Mapping a 4 Year Course of Study
- Designing a Course for High School Credit
- Outsourcing Difficult Subjects
- Starting & Maintaining a Transcript
- Establishing Good Study Habits
Most weeks the lessons will also include hyperlinks, worksheets and even curriculum samples for you to use. Find out more:
Upper Level Homeschool Course
Online High School Programs
* Our listing of these schools does not imply endorsement. Please research and use wisdom research when choosing an online school. There are several websites listed under Miscellaneous Helps that can help you evaluate online schools.
ALEKS - Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics she is most ready to learn. As a student works through a course, ALEKS periodically reassesses the student to ensure that topics learned are also retained. ALEKS courses are very complete in their topic coverage and ALEKS avoids multiple-choice questions. A student who shows a high level of mastery of an ALEKS course will be successful in the actual course she is taking. ALEKS also provides the advantages of one-on-one instruction, 24/7, from virtually any Web-based computer for a fraction of the cost of a human tutor. Although not every subject is covered, there is a wide selection of courses available with an emphasis on math and business.
American School - The American School has been offering educational programs by correspondence for over 100 years. Their goal is to give each student personal attention, including the personal grading of examinations. Tuition is very affordable
Citizen's High School - Citizens' High School provides quality coursework for people to earn a high school diploma from an accredited program. They observe a year-round calendar and students may begin and complete coursework and grade levels at their own pace and in the comfort of their own home or wherever their travels may take them.
K12 International Academy - The K¹² International Academy is an accredited, private online school that offers the world-renowned curriculum from K¹², the market leader in online curriculum programs for grades K-12. K12 also offers a virtual public school; be sure you understand the difference as the virtual public school is under the umbrella of a local school district.
Laurel Springs School - "Laurel Springs School, founded in 1991, is an accredited private school offering distance learning college preparatory curricula and teacher services for grades K-12. Located in Ojai, California, Laurel Springs serves students in all 50 states and in 43 countries. Current enrollment is 3,000 students, with more than 2,000 students preparing for college in the online high school program. Laurel Springs uses web-based communication tools, a standards-based curriculum, and personalized instruction to offer students the highest quality home education experience."
Liberty University Online Academy is a web-based curriculum specially developed for students in grades 3-12 and supported by Liberty University. LUOA offers a turn-key home learning system with proven curriculum that is simple to use. Features:
- Online academic support through a unique faculty/student messaging system
- Automated lesson planning
- Instant grading feedback
- Flexible, yet structured program, customized to meet the needs of each student
- Biblically-based, Christ-centered curriculum
- Rolling enrollment: enroll and start classes at any time of the year
- Qualified academic support with your personal academic advisor
- Record keeping and transcription of all student work
- Access to Liberty University’s extensive online library services
Oak Meadow - Oak Meadow publishes homeschool curriculum materials adapted from the Waldorf method and has an accredited distance education school. For over 30 years, Oak Meadow has created independent learning materials for families around the world. Through experience, Oak Meadow provides a firm foundation for academic excellence, while offering new opportunities for learning. They offer a unique hybrid of accredited standards delivered with imagination and heart. Visit their website to request a catalog and view sample lessons, or call their office in Vermont to speak with their supportive staff.
SAT/ACT Test Prep
The Wall Street Journal calls Grockit "an inexpensive and more enjoyable way to study for big tests". From their reviewer:
For the sake of testing, I focused on the SAT and plunged back into the depths of reading, writing and (gulp) math to get a sense of what students see and do on Grockit.com. In a short period of time, I found myself wanting to go back to the site to get better at certain sections or to earn more Experience Points, which result in badges and unlock new levels of study, both of which can be optionally posted to outside networks like Facebook or Twitter.
Total Transcript Solution
The truth is, you don't have to spend hundreds or even THOUSANDS of dollars to create a winning homeschool transcript that will WOW the colleges! You can do it yourself and this wonderful book by Lee Binz can help. Total Transcript Solution will guide you through the process of creating high school transcripts using the same method that earned Lee used for her sons.
Lee is a regular homeschool mom who two years ago struck gold. She discovered how to convert four years of independent homeschooling into transcripts that earned both of her sons full-tuition scholarships at their first choice university! For more information, visit Lee's website.
Helpful Websites
High School Ace - The Academic Homepage for High School Students
Senior High: A Home-Designed Form+u+la - Book by Barb Shelton of Homeschool Oasis; great for preparing your child for life after high school
How to Study - We all know that studying is a skill to be learned, not a talent one is born with. From Taking Notes in Class to how to succeed on an Essay Test, this site gives useful and practical ways to succeed. When you click a link, scroll down to see the results - the page will not appear to change when clicking links since what changes is out of site below. The site is provided by two education professors who developed more detailed study skills programs that can be purchased from the site.
Build a high school transcript - Building a high school transcript can be a daunting task. It doesn't have to be. Teascript enables you to create a professional transcript in minutes instead of days.
Homeschool-Entrepreneur.com - Give Them a Running Start! High School is the perfect time to learn how to start a home business, especially if you home school!
Articles
7 Reasons to Homeschool Through High School
Why would you want to homeschool through high school? Do the advantages really make it worth while? My husband and I homeschooled all four of our boys from kindergarten into early college, and we’d do it all over again in a minute. It was a joyous journey! Here are seven reasons you may want to consider homeschooling through high school. Read more »
9 Easy Steps: High School Graduation Checklist
Parents can provide a college preparation during high school for every student, which can benefit every child. If they ultimately don’t go to college, then your homeschool education will be the only education they get. Make it great! They’ll be well prepared for life and their civic responsibilities. Plus, if they ever change their mind and decide to go to college, they will have a much easier time getting in. On the other hand, some parents know early on that their children are college bound. For them, a college prep education can influence the quality of the colleges they get admitted to. College preparation can benefit everyone. Read more »
A Project for Your Homeschooled Teen
Here’s an interesting project to try with your teenager. Look up the career field he or she is most interested in right now (yes, this is likely to change, but let’s go with the current choice). Find out how much on average that field is likely to pay your teen, and how likely it is that your teen will be able to find work in that field. Read more »
Helping Colleges to Choose YOU
I realize that many of you reading this letter may not have high school age children or maybe even college bound students. My hope is that the information that is included in these college information articles will be helpful to all our students. The ideas included could apply to most jobs as well. After all, a college is a student's job for a few years! Read more »
Homeschool Accreditation
When you educate your children within the bounds of state law, you can provide an official homeschool transcript. There is a difference between an “accredited” and an “official” homeschool transcripts. Homeschool credits are official, and our transcripts are official. Homeschool transcripts are usually NOT accredited, however. Accredited transcripts are provided by certified organizations. Learn what to consider when deciding whether accreditation is right for your homeschool. Read more »
Homeschool High School’s Most Essential Subject
What subjects should you include when homeschooling your teen through high school? Answering this question can and does fill entire books. Personally, I think at least some of the subjects should be related to your teen’s interests as much as anything else. But there’s one subject that should be mandatory. Read more »
Homeschooling High School
Does the idea of homeschooling your high schooler sound scary and uncharted to you? Just as homeschooling is an adventure no matter what grade or age level, homeschooling for high school can sound intimidating! Please know that many, many families have successfully (and happily!) completed this chapter of education for one or more of their children. Speaking as a parent who has done this, these capstone years are do-able, really fun, easier, and more rewarding than our family imagined they’d be. What’s wonderful is that just as in the other years, you can find courses and help them prepare for their future in ways that are the best fit for each of your children.
Read more »
How to Homeschool in High School
How do you homeschool in high school? The greatest encouragement someone gave me when I was contemplating what high school home schooling looked like, was – “It’s no different; you just keep going.” Read more »
Letting Go of Teaching
Do you sometimes long for an “escape from teaching?” I sure did, especially as my kids got a little older. The good news is that your days playing the “teacher” role will someday come to an end. Instead your role will evolve to that of a “learning facilitator.” Read more »
Our Entrepreneurial Homeschooler
Way back when I read the book that turned me on to homeschooling, Home Grown Kids by Dr. Raymond and Dorothy Moore, and then their subsequent books, one of the things the Moores described that fascinated me was the opportunity homeschooled children had for entrepreneurship. Back when I first read that book, how could I (or the Moores) have foreseen the advent of the Internet and its usefulness for entrepreneurs of all ages? Indeed, I never would have imagined that I would someday be writing and selling my own homeschooling books via the Internet. Well, homeschooled children have that same opportunity, and our dd16 has taken up the challenge. Read more »
Teenagers - You Could Direct Your Own Education
Real learning comes when the people in your life need you, when they need what only you can provide. When your genius solves the problem, when your labor provides the food on the table, when your skill gives the people you care about a better life, that is real learning. Self-directed education, then, begins with a purpose. You want to accomplish something of value, and so you reach for the knowledge and the skills you need. When you have accomplished your purpose, you know you have added value to your life and to the lives of those around you. Read more »
Teens Gain Valuable Experience By Job Shadowing
With summer approaching, teens have the opportunity to participate in job shadow experiences. Never heard of job shadowing? Don't worry. It simply means you spend time observing someone at their job. Many schools now require students to take part in several job shadow experiences as a graduation requirement. Spending the afternoon with a veterinarian, mechanic or graphic designer helps students gain an awareness of career possibilities. Read more »
The Big Transition: Homeschool to College
This is the time of year when homeschooling parents traditionally begin contemplating next year. Parents of 8th graders may be terrified as they consider what they are going to do next year for high school. They might wonder whether they measure up academically; if they're capable of leading their children through high school and preparing them for college. Even as their high schoolers pursue college dreams, parents often speculate whether their kids will be able to adjust to the rigors and social climate of college after being at home for high school. Understanding the latest research on this topic could be reassuring for both parents and students! Read more »
Tips for Motivating and Teaching Teenagers
Homeschooling a high schooler can be intimidating. Motivating a high schooler who does not want to learn makes it worse. If you are having difficulty with your high schooler, or if you are considering homeschooling your high schooler for the first time, here are some tips that may help. Read more »
Why Homeschool through High School
Most parents agree: teaching your children at home during the preschool, elementary and middle school years is quite a challenge. Homeschooling high school aged children, however, can seem even more daunting. According to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) Homeschool, approximately 2 million children were being homeschooled in the U.S. as of 2005-2006, . Not all of them can be junior high and under. So why are parents choosing to homeschool their high school kids? Read more »
Miscellaneous Helps
Diploma Mills: Degrees of Deception - FTC consumer alert advising consumers how to avoid getting scammed by a diploma mill for a high school or college degree.
Important Questions About Accreditation, Degree Mills andAccreditation Mills - From the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
National vs. Regional Accreditation - Explains the basic differences
Information about Diploma Mills - From eLearners.com, this article explains how to recognize Diploma Mills.
Understanding Accreditation - "Will employers value the online degree you have received? Will you be able to transfer credits from your online course to another institution? Will the online program you select provide a rigorous and worthwhile educational experience? A key to answering these questions is an understanding of accreditation and the accreditation process. This article will provide you with the basic information you need to make wise and informed decisions when selecting an online program or course."
"How Do We Know When We're Done?" - "How do homeschooling families decide when their teenagers have completed high school? What combination of academic work, accomplishment, and time is enough? How do families evaluate their teenager's learning and decide What's Enough?" This article by Cafi Cohen helps answer the question, "How Do We Know When We're Done?"
Taking Charge - "Should we homeschoolers be worried about getting conventional credentials? Are homeschoolers' futures jeopardized because the path to a conventional diploma is less clear-cut than it is for a student in a conventional school? Why and how is the process of getting a diploma becoming more complex? What choices do we have?" This article by Larry and Susan Kaseman addresses these questions.
