Have you settled on homeschooling high school and are wondering what subjects to schedule in your child’s four-year plan?
When our family was looking into transitioning to high school, I had done extensive research to make sure we complied with our state’s laws for homeschooling high school. Following are a few main points that will help you navigate through your own journey:
Homeschool Laws
HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) has done an excellent job in compiling homeschooling state laws including testing, mandatory subjects, and much more. If you have homeschooled your children through their elementary years, you already know what your state requires. If this is your first year of homeschooling, please visit HSLDA Homeschool Laws by State and follow the prompts to find the information pertaining to your state.
State’s Course Requirements for High School Graduation
You will notice that no matter where you reside, each state presents you with a number of compulsory subjects in order to graduate. In MOST states, however, the homeschoolers are not mandated to follow these requirements. You as a parent will determine which courses your child should complete to graduate. Nevertheless, it is a good practice to follow the public school’s classes in case your child decides to continue their education in college.
You can find your individual state requirements at https://internal-search.ecs.org/comparisons/high-school-graduation-requirements-01.
How Many Credits Are Needed to Graduate High School?
High school, unlike the elementary education, is based on a number of credits, which the student achieves during their four-year period. Each subject your child studies is assigned a specific credit value. In addition to that, each state has different requirements for the number of credits that are necessary to graduate.
Education Commission of the States provides an outline for the high school credits graduation requirements. For example, if you reside in the state of South Carolina, your high schooler will need 24 credits, while in Iowa only 14 credits are needed. However, keep in mind that this is a bare minimum. You will find out that most homeschoolers in general reach beyond these numbers.
What Are the Typical High School Classes?
There is almost no limit to the possible high school classes that your child may take. Following is a sample list of some of the options:
- Language Arts: Fundamentals in Literature, American Literature, British Literature, World Literature, Analyzing Literature, Composition, English (grade level)
- Mathematics: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Consumer Math
- Science: Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Life Science, Zoology, Astronomy
- Social Studies: US History, American Government, World History, World Geography, Political Science, World Religions
- Foreign Language: Most popular – Spanish, French, German, Latin; on the rise – Chinese, Russian
- Physical Education: any sport or class your child participates in
- Electives: Business, Computer Science, Visual Arts, Performing Arts
In addition to the “regular” classes, there are multiple other options to consider if your child chooses to pursue a college path. Colleges are not only looking for the achieved grades, but also for the rigor of the courses accomplished. Honor and AP classes add credibility to the student’s ability to succeed in college. However, whether your child is college-bound or not, only the sky is the limit to the variety of courses that are available to be included in a student’s four-year plan.
In spite of these limitless possibilities, keep in mind that the final product of your homeschooling high school should not necessarily be a high school diploma and transcript. You have been given a privilege to spend four more years with your child for the purpose of instructing them in how to navigate through life successfully and make educated decisions. Enjoy this time and make wonderful memories that will remain with you and your child for the rest of your lives.
Which courses are you planning to schedule in your family’s high school? Please leave your comment below. We would love to hear from you!
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HOW TO HOMESCHOOL HIGH SCHOOL eBook PLUS editable TEMPLATES
