Homeschooling High School: 13 Great Resources
In all the talk you hear around your homeschool groups, or online at the blogs and websites you frequent, you have likely heard, seen, and felt the buzz around the sheer thought of homeschooling high school years.
If you started homeschooling when your kids were young (in elementary or even preschool), the high school years likely seemed so far off. But it’s remarkable how the homeschool years fly by, and suddenly the high school years are looming closer or are already upon your family!
Don’t Fret about Homeschooling High School
Over the summer I was with a group of homeschooling mothers and our topic of conversation rolled to homeschooling high school. One mother, a homeschool “veteran,” was preparing to send her oldest to a private high school.
The decision was one the child made with the support of her parents. Then two weeks before school began, the child decided homeschooling was the better option! Mom was in a pinch as she wasn’t planning on homeschooling high school and she wasn’t at all prepared.
This woman I considered a veteran homeschooler was fretting about the upcoming high school years. She expressed her concerns over making the transition from a more unschooling style to a more concrete record-keeping style.
She pointed out that the reason for my lack of serious anxiety over this topic may be because of the extensive record-keeping I already do. (Two years ago I started using Homeschool Tracker and have felt a sense of organization and order come over our homeschooling days.)
Homeschooling High School: There Are Plenty of Options!
An important thing to remember about homeschooling high school is this: there isn’t just one way to go about it. A lot depends on what your student’s plans are for after high school. (There’s a good chance your middle grader or early high schooler doesn’t yet have a concrete plan in mind … and that’s fine, too!)
Taking the direct path from high school immediately to college is one way to go, but it’s not the only way. Some students finish most or all required coursework, but because diplomas aren’t issued to homeschoolers in those states, they end up getting a GED or some equivalent.
I have seen homeschool kids take courses at a local community college and then go on to other four-year schools to finish their degrees. Some kids choose to take their GED, and some don’t. Some sit for all the exams like Regents exams, ACT, SAT, etc, while others don’t.
What I am trying to point out here is that if you didn’t dot an “i” or cross a “t” somewhere along the way, it’s not like the doors are shut forever. There are many paths and many options to get from homeschooling high school to college or life beyond.
That said, here’s a helpful roundup of posts gathered from homeschool websites on the topic of homeschooling high school.
Homeschooling High School – The Roundup
The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling High School
4 Must-Have Resources for Planning the Homeschool High School Years
4 Practical Ways to Be Your Teen’s Homeschool Guidance Counselor
The Best Homeschool Curriculum for High School
3 Ways to Plan for High School
Homeschooling High School with YOUR CHILD in Mind
Homeschooling High School Pros and Cons You Need to Know
How to Crush Homeschool High School Science (Even If Your Kid Hates Chemistry)
Massive List of Homeschool High School History Curriculum Options
Homeschooling High School on a Budget
Should You Homeschool Your College-Bound High Schooler?
Earn College Credit While Homeschooling High School
How to Assign High School Credit for Electives
We hope you found this list of resources helpful! Do you have any go-to resources when it comes to homeschooling high school? We’d love to hear about them!
I started homeschooling my oldest in 9th grade this year. I did have to change from a more relaxed record keeping style to an attendance and grade book. There have been a few bumps in the road- she can’t understand why she has to do so many writing assignments or read so much ‘boring’ classic literature, but I am very happy with our decision.
I think there are so many benefits to having them home, even in high school. The task is more daunting for us as their parents, but I think the end result is worth it. I have been working my daughter up to a more rigorous and in-depth schedule since she started 7th grade. Each year we talk extensively about what the coming year will bring as far as exact course work and the overall expectation of more.
We started homeschooling 9th grade with our oldest this year. While I am not doing attendance or keeping record of each assignment, she does take tests/quizzes in each subject and I will assign her overall grades based on both those grades and the effort she’s put into her assignments. Since my husband teaches at one of the local 4 year colleges in our town and I used to teach there we have a pretty good idea of what she will need for college. She can also get her feet wet taking a few low level classes before she officially starts college. High school should not be a stressful time but it is an important time for them to learn how to study well and work hard so they can succeed in College if they choose to go. May God bless you and guide you along this path. It will be worth it in the end!