This article is adapted from Davidson Institute’s “Homeschooling – Considering Homeschooling: A Guidebook for Investigating an Alternative Path to Education”, part of our collection of free guidebooks for gifted and 2e families. For a deeper dive into supporting your gifted or twice-exceptional child, we encourage you to explore the full guide.
For families seeking additional support, Davidson Academy Online offers a structured yet flexible online learning environment tailored to profoundly gifted students. It complements the homeschooling experience with advanced academics and a community of like-minded peers, making it a valuable ally for parents navigating this journey.
If homeschooling through high school, some basic information about graduation you should know includes how to determine readiness to graduate, obtain a diploma, hold a commencement ceremony and create transcripts.
Determining Readiness
When determining academic readiness to graduate from high school, at least two major factors should be considered. One is your state’s graduation requirements and/or content standards. You can typically find this information via your state Department of Education and/or a state homeschooling association. Some states do not have any regulations for homeschooled students. In that case, you might only need to consider the next factor: the requirements of certain colleges.
A recommended course of study outlined in College Admission includes four years of English, three or four years of mathematics and foreign language, two to four years of science, two to three years of history, and at least two semesters of arts. Similar guidelines can be found on the Home School Legal Defense Association’s (HSLDA) website.
Requirements and expectations vary by college and specialty (i.e. students wishing to study engineering at a competitive school must have taken Calculus, Physics, etc.), so be sure to check the specific websites of the colleges and programs in which your student is interested.
Obtaining a High School Diploma
You may have concerns about obtaining a high school diploma. A blank diploma can be purchased from several organizations, or you can create your own. Some general guidelines, such as including a signature and date of issue, are listed on HSLDA’s High School FAQ page.
Depending on which college your student wishes to attend, you may forego a high school diploma. According to an interview with educational author Cafi Cohen, who wrote Homeschooling: The Teen Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 13- to 18- Year-Old, “Contrary to popular belief, most colleges and universities do not require a diploma for admission. Harvard’s catalog specifically states that they do not require a high school diploma.”
Once again, check with the specific colleges/programs in which your student is interested. If they need an accredited diploma, they may have to consider taking the GED.
Holding a Commencement Ceremony
When it comes to celebrating a commencement ceremony, check with your local and/or state homeschooling organizations and support groups, some of which may hold homeschool graduation ceremonies similar to traditional commencement ceremonies. Another option is hosting your own graduation party among family and friends. See the article “Planning a Homeschool Graduation” and conduct an Internet search for further ideas.
Creating Transcripts
Another part of the graduation process is creating transcripts. A good transcript is well organized, whether chronologically, by subject, or in some other easy-to-understand format. Educator Wes Beach advises that although there is no universally accepted way to write a transcript, you should consider inputting some of the following information: “Along with the course titles you devise for learning experiences, write course descriptions; assign grades, credits and a grade point average; include test scores; create reading lists and lists of resources; use narratives to describe any aspects of your student’s experiences; and include or attach recommendations and evaluations from anyone who has expertise and a relationship with your student. The fewer recognized outside resources you’ve used–college classes, standardized tests, etc.––the more detail you should include.”
When preparing transcripts for college admissions, Mr. Beach has advised that the course descriptions provide ample details. He notes that “without detailed course descriptions, an admissions officer will have no idea, for example, how rigorous [YS’s] ‘Literature Analysis’ course was or what readings his ‘Ancient and Medieval History’ course consisted of . . . Don’t overwhelm with erroneous information, but provide enough detail so the admissions department isn’t sitting around after reading through his or her transcript and thinking to themselves that they still don’t know what your student has done.”
For further information on creating transcripts, please visit the following resources:
- Forging Paths: Beyond Traditional Schooling by Wes Beach
- Setting the Record Straight: How to Craft Homeschool Transcripts and Course Descriptions for College Admissions and Scholarships by Lee Binz
- Transcripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler’s Guide to High School Paperwork by Janice Campbell
- A to Z Home’s Cool Homeschooling – Transcripts page
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