A Parent's Guide to Homeschooling Through High School
What Every Parent Needs to Know
The Plan
Planning for high school at home starts in the middle school years. This is when strong foundations in math, language arts and science needs to be refined and developed. Look into purchasing a high school planner or design one of your own using a daily planner. Planners are inexpensive and they will help you keep your sanity.
Contact your state's Department of Education and find out what the requirements are for high school graduation. Ask for current requirements and if any changes are being proposed to these requirements. Finally, ask if your state issues diplomas to high school students. Most states do not, but Tennessee is one of the few states that issue a diploma to homeschooled students.
Once you have the state's requirements for high school graduation, you have a basis of what to go on. Use the requirements as an outline for your student's high school career. This plan will include how many credits are required and what basic courses should be taken.
Courses and Credits
A basic outline for most high school students will be a minimum of 4 credits of math, 4 credits of science, 4 credits of language arts, 2 credit of a foreign language, 3 to 4 credits of social sciences, 1 credit of music, 1 credit of art, and 4 or more credits of electives. Course choices should be determined by if the student has plans to attend college or not. College bound students should take as many higher level courses as possible.
According to the Home School Legal Defense Association, high school credits are determined as follows: 1 credit is given for a course that takes two semesters or 180 hours to complete and ½ credit is given for courses that take one semester or about 90 hours to complete. Keep records in the form of a daily log as to what was accomplished.
Advanced Placement or AP courses are counted differently if the AP exam is taken and passed at the end of the year. AP courses are counted as college level courses at most colleges.
Typical Schedules
Most high school students take Algebra I, Earth Science or Biology, American History, a language arts course, music, and a foreign language in the 9th grade. Health and Physical Education should be included as well as driver's education (depending on your state's driving laws)
In the 10th grade students usually take Geometry, Chemistry, World History, Art, a language arts course, a second year of a foreign language, and electives that interest the student. If the student plans to go to college the PSAT/NMSQT should be taken at this time. The scores from the PSAT is entered into the National Merit Scholarship and up to $500 in scholarship money is available to high scoring students.
The junior and senior years of high school should focus on courses geared toward college admissions or career planning. AP courses, high level math like trigonometry, algebra II, and pre calculus are taken by many students. Sciences like physics and AP biology are recommended. Electives should take up a lot of the schedule. This is when the ACT or SAT tests are taken. Preparation for these tests is a must for a good score.
In addition to school work, many homeschool high school students participate in clubs, church or synagogue, sports and community service. It is important to allow for these activities as well as for school work.
Teaching
Who will teach your homeschooled high school student? As a parent, we cannot think we can teach everything. There are many online and correspondence courses available to homeschoolers. A wonderful free resource for AP classes is Hippo Campus. Classes are online, and they are free. The textbooks are not required but they can be found online inexpensively.
Many homeschool groups offer co-ops for high school classes. Another option is an online high school. Look into what is available and then make your decision based on what is best for your family's particular situation.
Homeschooling through high school is possible. Take time to plan and organize before the start of the high school years. This way you as a parent will have a clear course of action and you and your student will be prepared for the exciting journey that lies ahead of you.
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Published by Lynda Altman
Lynda Altman is a freelance writer, blogger and researcher. Her experience includes published print articles in Family Chronicle Magazine, writing and researching for private clients, and writing online cont... View profile
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