One of the questions we hear over and over from parents considering homeschooling is “Can you homeschool high school?” and the answer to this is an enthusiastic yes. And when that is answered a whole host of other questions pop up. In this post we will try to answer these questions for those who are considering homeschooling high school.

• Do you need to homeschool high school through an accredited school? No. There is no need to go through an accredited school. For more info on accreditation, read this post by Farrar.

• Will your student be required to take the GED? No. As a homeschool parent, you will graduate your student from your homeschool and provide them with transcripts. Nearly all colleges accept homeschool transcripts and a homeschool diploma. If you come across a college that wants your student to take the GED, that school is either ignnorant in regards to homeschoolers or not homeschool friendly.

• Do homeschool students receive a diploma? Yes. Homeschools will issue a diploma for their student. There are many websites that can help the homeschool parent with creating a diploma for their student. The parents signature will be on the diploma making it official.

• Should you name your homeschool? Before high school it doesn’t matter either way if you name it or not. For homeschooling high school, it is usually helpful to name your homeschool as you will most likely need a name when creating transcripts, apply to colleges, and create a diploma.

• How much does it cost to homeschool high school? It varies. Some parents spend very little while others spend thousands of dollars on online courses, classes, and tutors. If you have a small budget you will need to invest in time. Time to research, time to find free or low cost resources, and time to teach your high schooler one-on-one. WIth time you will be able to homeschool your student successfully. Some great resources for a smaller budget – the internet, the library, eBay (there is a ton of used curriculum being sold on there), other homeschoolers, resources in the community.

• Can my student take AP classes? Yes. There are many College Board approved AP courses for homeschoolers online and as a homeschool parent you may also get your own syllabus approved. For more info on how to get your own syllabus approved, read my post on that here. Just a reminder that in order to list a course as an AP course on your student’s transcript, they must be enrolled in a College Board approved class. However, your student may take the AP exam without taking an AP course. Many homeschoolers take that path.

• Will my student be able to take the SAT, ACT, or AP exams? Yes. Homeschoolers have access to these tests just as other students do. For the SAT or ACT you will sign your student up online just as other parents do. AP exams are a little trickier for homeschoolers. As a homeschool parent you have to call high schools in your area and find a place for your student to take the exam. Some high schools are very open to homeschoolers coming in to take APs, others are more difficult to work with. It’s best to start calling schools several months before the exam to make sure your student has a place to take the test.

• Are there requirements that my student must meet? There may be requirements in your state, and as this varies from state to state, you will want to research your own state laws prior to beginning. Then there may be requirements from colleges and universities your student wants to apply to. It is a good idea to do a little research to make sure your student is on track to apply to any schools that is on their list.

• Can you start homeschooling high school at any time in the year? Yes you can but if your student is able to, finishing up the semester is usually a good idea. If your student is being bullied or is very unhappy in school, then pull them as soon as possible. Just remember to ask for their transcripts from their previous school for your records.

• Do you need to homeschool high school for all four years? This also varies from state to state, but usually once you begin homeschooling high school it is best to see it through until the end. In some states it is hard to go from homeschooling high school to  back to the public school. Again this varies from state-to-state so if you are thinking you may only homeschool for part of high school, do some research prior to beginning.

If you are looking for support for homeschooling high school you may want to join our Facebook group College Confident Homeschoolers. If you would like more individual support reach out to us here at Simplify. We would love to aid you on your homeschool journey.