Kym Kent, a veteran homeschooler and director at the eXtend Homeschool Tutorial, guides parents through a student-centered journey—starting with elementary and middle school foundational skills, navigating the mental and emotional challenges (“the Head Game”) of high school homeschooling, and crafting a strong high school transcript that supports college and career success. She emphasizes using diverse educational options—traditional and non-traditional classes, dual enrollment, internships, apprenticeships, community programs—to enrich learning and build academic, experiential, and portfolio credentials. Beyond academics, Kent addresses the emotional journey of homeschooling high schoolers—offering encouragement, flexibility, and reassurance that homeschooling can lead to fulfilling bonding moments and successful transitions to post-secondary life.

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Homeschooling to College and Career

About the Author

Kym Kent is an Entrepreneur-In-Residence at FEE. She is a veteran homeschool mom, self-proclaimed Homeschool Mythbuster, and the co-founder and director of eXtend Homeschool Tutorial in the suburbs of Washington, DC.

A graduate of the University of Maryland with a degree in Economics, Kym began her real education in 2004 with the start of her family’s homeschooling journey. So far, Kym has graduated five of her six homeschooled children into college with scholarships, and serves as a teacher, mentor, speaker, and coach in the homeschool community.

Introduction

For many homeschooling parents, their journey begins in the elementary years with a decision to exit or forgo the traditional model of education and forge a new path for their children. The reasons behind this decision are as varied as homeschoolers themselves. For some, it is a matter of emotional and physical safety from bullying and/or physical or emotional violence that continues to be a concern in public schools. Others find that the one-size-fits-all system doesn’t work for a child who may learn differently and need individualized support, or may excel in ways that cannot be accommodated in the standard classroom setting. Still others are driven by deeply held personal values and family beliefs that clash with the curriculum and methodology of their local school systems, leading them to seek out programs outside of the conventional learning space. According to the US Department of Education, “concern about the environment of other schools, including safety, drugs, and negative peer pressure” is a top motivator for today’s homeschoolers. Regardless of the reason, families have chosen to leave the traditional education box in favor of an environment that better meets the needs of their unique children.

Somewhere towards the end of the middle school years, many parents contemplate putting their children back into the conventional schools they opted out of just a few years prior. Perhaps this is you. Perhaps you have been wrestling with the agonizing question of whether or not to return your child to a conventional classroom. If so, please know that you are not alone. You are seen and heard, and this e-book is for you. Or maybe you are in the early stages of homeschooling and are contemplating the years ahead, wondering whether you can do this for the long haul. If so, I have great news! This e-book is also for you. Regardless of where you are on the homeschooling continuum, this e-book was created with you in mind.

In the coming sections, you’ll find encouragement as well as practical strategies and solutions to succeed in homeschooling your
student through the high school years and beyond. As a homeschool mom of six who has successfully graduated five of her children to college (my youngest is currently a high school junior), and as the co-founder and director of eXtend Homeschool Tutorial, a K-12 academic homeschool program in Maryland, I can assure you that this is possible. In the end, you’ll discover that your kids will not only be fine—they will thrive. And you, as a parent, will not lose your mind. Instead, you’ll gain a depth of relationship with your student and with yourself that you could have never imagined, and reap those rewards for years to come.

The saying “Without a vision, the people perish” holds true for homeschooling. Having a clear vision is crucial. Know your “why,” because from your “why” flows your “how.” With so many available options in homeschooling, having a clear vision helps ensure your decisions align with your homeschooling goals. Whether your goals are practical ones (college, vocational training, or entrepreneurship) or more esoteric (reclaiming a love for learning or finding a student’s passion), your vision lays the foundation for creating the roadmap to achieving those goals. A clear vision also provides needed encouragement and focus through every stage of homeschooling, when your “why” can sometimes be eclipsed by the mechanics of instruction. Returning to that vision can provide needed emotional fuel for your journey. Finally, a vision with built-in benchmarks helps evaluate progress towards that final goal. Is what you’re doing with your student moving you closer to or further away from those goals? That question can help guide needed adjustments. As a very practical measure, I always recommend preparing your student to be successful in a two- or four-year college or university, even if your student ultimately pursues a vocational, service, or entrepreneurial path. The foundational skills built during these years will support your student’s success regardless of his or her
chosen road.

Last, but certainly not least, allow for flexibility in your plan. Part of this journey of discovery will involve redirection as your student’s dreams and passions emerge in the process, and a flexible plan allows you to pivot effectively to meet your student’s needs and desires.

In the following pages, you will learn how to set the stage for success in homeschooling through high school, and you’ll gain an understanding of the inevitable “head game” that accompanies the homeschooling process. You’ll also gain practical information on how to build a strong transcript for your high schooler, utilizing both traditional and unconventional classes. Finally, you’ll leave encouraged in your homeschooling journey—a journey that will challenge and fulfill both you and your child in ways you never imagined.

I. Setting the Stage in the Elementary and Middle School Years

Whenever I am in a public setting, a question that I am often asked is when to begin preparing a student for college or a career. After over 20 years of homeschooling, I can confidently respond that the preparation begins in the early years, and by early, I mean those elementary and middle years. These are years of discovery for both you and your student, and the information you learn about your child will help shape what the “end goal” looks like.

Become a Student of Your Student
The elementary and middle school years are beautiful years of discovery for you and your child. It’s during these years that you, as the parent, have the opportunity to become a student of your student: to learn who they are and how they learn. It’s a time to discover what makes them tick and understand how they take in information and the world around them. It’s a time to discover their passion—what keeps them up at night and what gets them up every morning. Accept the invitation into their world, and learn who they are and how they learn. I learned this firsthand with my son, Joshua. When Josh was about five years old, I was sitting on the living room floor teaching a hands-on history lesson with him and his sister, Samantha, who was 18 months older. Like many five-year-old boys, Joshua was in constant motion. Frustrated, I stopped my lesson, looked him squarely in the eyes, and asked him to tell me what I was just speaking about. I sat stunned as he offered up a perfect recitation of everything I was teaching. In that moment, I learned that my active son was a kinesthetic learner—he needed to be in motion to take in information. To this day, he is a creative with a bachelor’s degree in Media Arts and Animation, and is working in a museum where creativity and need for movement intersect. I share that story with you to encourage you to learn how your student learns. Nowadays, there are countless resources about children’s learning styles and even free online assessments from sites such as HSLDA, Goally, and Homeschool On. As a new homeschooler, my resource was The Way They Learn by Cynthia Tobias.

Understanding how your child learns and crafting a program based on this information can help both of you more fully enjoy your homeschooling journey. Whether you choose to instruct your child yourself across the kitchen table or utilize a homeschool tutorial, microschool, learning pod, online class, or a combination of these sources, I encourage you to make sure the curriculum used in your homeschooling aligns with your child’s learning style and your family’s values. Some great resources are Cathy Duffy Reviews and TheHomeSchoolMom, where you’ll find reviews for practically every homeschool curriculum on the market in essentially every field of study.

Build the Foundational Skills: Reading, Writing, Arithmetic
There’s really no substitute for the basics, and there are no shortcuts, either. Regardless of what your child wants to do in life, having a command of the fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic is essential. These foundational skills are the building blocks for success in life, and they will be readily put to use whether in college, trade school, any form of service, or while running a business.

All of my kids learned to read using a phonics-based program focused on fundamental reading and decoding skills. For a fascinating and insightful look into reading instruction over the years and a return to phonics-based instruction, I highly recommend the podcast series Sold A Story by Emily Hanford through American Public Media. At eXtend, our instructors primarily use Shurley English and Excellence in Writing, coupled with Lost Tools of Writing. We also use strong literature selections to build English/language arts and writing skills. Ultimately, I recommend finding a program that works for you and your student and that builds strong reading and writing skills. These are the building blocks for strong communication, which will serve your student for life.

Every child needs math. At eXtend, we like to say, “Math is a life skill,” and, “You don’t want your money to be funny or your change to be strange.” Whether your student ends up sitting in a college math class, becomes a hair stylist who needs to know what amount to charge clients to ensure that the business stays afloat, or simply shops at a grocery store looking for deals and needs to make change, math competency will be necessary. To that end, at eXtend, we primarily use Horizons Math in the early years, followed by classic Saxon Math from 8th grade on. However you choose to do it, and with whatever curriculum works for you, building math competency skills in your students will also serve them for life.

For all of my kids, having a command of these skills has allowed them to shine inside and outside of the classroom. My oldest son, Joshua, treated the essay portion of his on-site application to the Art Institute as a pressure write, which is an exercise where a student writes an essay under a deadline of only a few minutes. The admissions counselor was stunned and reported that it was one of the best essays he had ever read. My son’s response? “That’s what years of Shurley Grammar and Excellence in Writing will do for you.”

My youngest daughter followed in the footsteps of her older siblings, with her first job at a local farm working during their Fall Harvest Festival. At 14, she was one of only a handful of workers who knew how to count change accurately, so she ran the register at the pumpkin patch. All of my children—and in fact, almost all of the students in our tutorial who dual-enroll in college classes as high schoolers—quickly rise to the top of their English classes because they have been equipped as competent written and oral communicators. The gifts of math and written competency are high on the list of skills you want to equip your kids with during your homeschooling journey, and the foundation for both is best laid in the early years.

II. The “Head” Game — Preparing to Homeschool
Through High School

I recently had a conversation with a close friend who homeschooled her three kids back when my oldest kids were in middle and high school. Like so many parents, she homeschooled in elementary and middle school and planned to send them to a traditional public school for high school. This worked for her oldest daughter, who was accepted into a selective program at the local high school, and this same plan was set for her middle daughter. However, after one month in public high school, her daughter begged to return to homeschooling. My friend’s exact word was terrified when asked to describe how she felt about the prospect of homeschooling her high school daughter. Her trepidation was so intense that she had her daughter write a paper arguing her position, and then drew up a formal contract, part of which included a commitment by her daughter to finish that first year in public school. In truth, my friend needed the extra time to prepare mentally for homeschooling, and secretly hoped that her daughter would change her mind about this “high school homeschooling thing.” She didn’t. With the signed contract in hand and the agreed-upon year of public school completed, my friend’s next question was: “How in the world am I going to do this?”

Perhaps this is you. You’ve downloaded this e-book, and internally, that very same question is not only swirling in your head but also infiltrating every cell of your body. Maybe you are also asking the same follow-up question my friend asked herself: “Is my kid going to get ‘enough’ with me homeschooling her in high school?” If you get nothing else from this e-book, please understand that you are more than able to homeschool your student through high school. Half the battle of homeschooling happens in your mind, and once you recognize this and know that you CAN do this, everything else becomes much more manageable. Understand that what you offer your kids will be more than enough, and that the opportunities available to your student eclipse anything that an average public high school offers.

A February 21, 2024, article in Education Week, titled “High School Students Think They Are Ready for College. But They Aren’t,” reported on the rise of remedial math and English classes to address deficiencies in incoming students. Professors noted widespread difficulties in grasping basic skills. In personal conversations with professors from two different colleges, the words abysmal and substandard were used to describe the writing skills of incoming freshman students. When I asked my kids and their homeschooled peers about their experiences taking English 1010 at the community college, there was universal agreement that they found themselves to be the most competent in their respective classes, and all were shocked by how poorly their traditionally schooled classmates wrote.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card, recently released data regarding the math and reading scores of 4th- and 8th-grade students. It reported that 39% of 4th graders were at or above proficiency in math, meaning that 61% of the nation’s 4th graders were below basic levels in math. For 8th graders, the results were worse, with only 28% of 8th-grade students at or above grade-level proficiency in math. A shocking 72% of 8th-grade students, whose next step is high school, do not perform at a basic level in math. The reading scores for 4th graders dropped to only 31% of students at or above proficiency, meaning 69% were below grade level in reading. For 8th-grade students, only 38% were at or above grade level in reading, meaning 62% were not reading proficiently. This summer, NAEP is set to release information regarding high school students, and I would not be surprised if a similar picture emerges.

Given this data, please know that when you, the parent, take over the reins of homeschooling, you are in the best position to ensure that your student emerges from high school fully competent in the fundamental skills of reading and math. You are in the best position to ensure that your student can communicate with his or her professors and self-advocate when necessary. You are in the best position to ensure that your student develops beneficial habits, such as attending class (I am not joking—this is a real challenge for many college freshmen!), that will lead to success in the college environment and in his or her chosen career. You are enough.

The great news in all of this is that you also don’t have to do this alone. While the responsibility of homeschooling is solely yours as the parent, the actual teaching, especially in subjects that are not your forte, can be outsourced and can be done in community. The pool of available, affordable, quality outsourced classes is already vast and seems to expand exponentially with each passing day. Knowing this should provide a measure of relief. So, yes, you can breathe now. You’ve got this.

My friend, who was initially terrified of homeschooling her daughter through high school, went on to do so successfully. Her daughter graduated with honors and went on to college with multiple scholarships. My friend discovered that with the support of others in the homeschooling community, educating her daughter through high school was completely doable. In fact, she went on to teach formal logic classes at her daughter’s homeschool tutorial, becoming part of the support system for other high school homeschooling families. She would be the first to tell you that if she could do this, you absolutely can as well.

III. Classes, Classes, and More Classes

Successfully homeschooling through high school involves building a high school transcript reflecting substantive classes that will equip your student with skills necessary to navigate his or her future, whether college or career. Finding classes is easier than you may think, and these classes may be traditionally or creatively sourced depending on you and your student. If you’re looking for rigor, it’s there. If you’re looking for ways to tap into your student’s passion, it’s there. If you’re looking for help because Trigonometry or dissecting animals in your kitchen is not your jam, it’s there. Whatever you and your student need, rest assured that it’s there for you to access so that you can successfully homeschool your student through high school into post-graduation life.

Traditional Classes

Classes that follow a “traditional” model, which utilize a set curriculum delivered by the parent, by an online entity, in community through a co-op or tutorial, in the structured setting of a community college, or even as a self-study by the student, offer familiarity and convenience for homeschoolers. These classes are also easily recognizable on a student’s transcript and available in an array of delivery models.

Following COVID, organizations such as Khan Academy and Outschool emerged as leaders in online learning, paving the way for others to follow suit. Nowadays, it is not uncommon for families to include online courses within the high school experience, and in fact, it is entirely possible to homeschool successfully solely through online classes. The availability of high-quality classes enables parents to outsource subjects that they feel are beyond their capacity. Vendors such as ThinkWell Homeschool and Blue Tent Online have been serving high school homeschoolers for years. Moreover, the number of completely virtual schools, especially those offering high school classes, seems to grow daily. Curriculum publishers, colleges, universities, and educational entrepreneurs have  gotten  into  the  mix.  For  students  who  thrive  in  virtual

environments, finding great classes to build or enhance their high school experience is as easy as performing a Google search.

In addition to online classes, in-person classes through co-ops, academic tutorials, microschools, and learning pods remain a popular means of conducting classes, as they provide opportunities for the students to engage with one another through group instruction. This is a must for families such as mine who need to connect with others and love the community experience. With the continued rise of these learning environments, especially those that offer à la carte options, parents have many choices for fulfilling those high school learning blocks. In-person classes, as is the case with online ones, are a great way for parents to outsource subjects that are outside of their areas of expertise.

Over the years, the local community centers in my area have increased the number of classes offered specifically for homeschoolers, from coding to health and nutrition. My daughters have participated in homeschool dance and art classes at our local community center, with the art class appearing on my middle daughter’s transcript. Community centers are a fantastic resource, especially for elective classes for your high schooler.

In the Kent house, I am often heard saying, “I don’t want to blow things up in my kitchen.” It is for this very reason that I utilize tutorials—a term Maryland homeschoolers use to describe academic cooperative programs. Not only do I have zero desire to blow up my kitchen for Chemistry class; I also have an immense distaste for slimy, smelly carcasses of cats and frogs, cow’s heart and eyeballs, 8–10- inch earthworms, or whatever else my kids would be dissecting in a Biology or Anatomy & Physiology class. I will gladly take my kids to a class outside my home where they can join other homeschoolers under the tutelage of an instructor who is passionate about digging around the innards of animals.

Whether self-study, online, or in person, traditional classes are an easy way to educate your high school student and build a powerful transcript. Additionally, over the years, I have learned that my kids will do for others what they may not necessarily do for me. It’s one

thing to blow a deadline with Mom; it’s a totally different ballgame to blow a deadline in Mrs. Bracey’s Trigonometry class. Traditional classes can offer a measure of accountability and structure for your student as they learn to manage their time and deadlines.

Not-So-Traditional Classes — Use EVERYTHING

One of the most liberating moments as a homeschooler happened with the realization that I could use EVERYTHING in my world as an opportunity to teach. In the early years, trips to the doctor and dentist counted as teaching when we were covering health. Regular visits to the Amish farms, where my kids learned that chicken didn’t come from grocery stores, and our journey into milling our own flour from wheat berries, then using the flour to make bread and pancakes totally from scratch, counted as nutrition classes. The possibilities are literally endless, and there’s no reason for this to stop once your student enters high school!

High school classes need not remain in the confines of the traditional box. Classes may follow an unconventional approach with experiential learning opportunities, including involvement in specialized clubs and organizations (e.g., 4-H, robotics team, drama clubs, community orchestras, scouting), internships, apprenticeships, volunteering, and even employment. Many of the skills learned through these experiences can easily and creatively be translated into high school credits.

For example, several students at eXtend are members of The Irrational Engineers, a FIRST Robotics team comprised entirely of homeschooled students. My two oldest children earned high school credits in technology education and basic engineering through their involvement on this robotics team. They spent hours learning coding, building and programming the robot, testing and refining its functions, and preparing for and participating in local, regional, and national robotics competitions.

One of our graduating seniors spent time volunteering for the Humane Rescue Alliance and then worked closely with a local veterinarian. Her duties, which included assisting with direct care to the animals, translated into a high school Veterinary Science

course, fulfilling a necessary lab science credit. She is now heading to Tuskegee University on a scholarship to study Animal Science in preparation for a career as a veterinarian.

While preparing this e-book, I heard from a parent of Tyler Dawkins, one of the Class of 2024 graduates. While in high school, Tyler served on a local county Youth Council, working with a local politician, Angela Alsobrooks. This culminated in him assisting in her successful US Senate campaign. Through these experiences, he earned a high school Social Studies credit in Intro to Public Policy. Tyler’s mom recently shared a photo of his first day at the US Capitol in his new position as the Communications Intern for Senator Alsobrooks.

Rich experiences such as these have every right to be placed on your student’s transcript, and access to these opportunities often begins with a quick Google search, followed by reaching out to your local community. Experiences such as participation in community theater count for Fine Art; involvement in organized sports can translate into a high school Physical Education credit; involvement in Speech and Debate teams can form the basis for Communications I and II, English core courses, or electives. These opportunities are ripe with possibilities for becoming meaningful credits on your student’s high school transcript, so use everything! It all counts!

Finally, know that you have complete liberty in determining what you name these courses. When doing so, consider titles that are more easily recognizable by those who will ultimately be looking at your student’s transcript for admission into a college, trade school, or the military, or for scholarship applications.

Dual Enrollment: Your Not-So-Secret Weapon

I use the term “not-so-secret” because homeschoolers have been utilizing dual enrollment for years. Through dual, or concurrent, enrollment, students have the opportunity to take community college or university courses during their high school years, earning both high school and college credits. Oftentimes, these college credits are transferable between institutions and can result in

multiplied cost and time savings. Additionally, a semester course taken at the community college translates into a full high school credit. For this reason, many dual-enrolled students exceed state requirements for a diploma, and some graduate early because they have met all the course requirements set by their state.

Amassing transferable college credits during the high school years can propel students along as they enter college. Instead of entering as a freshman, some high schoolers enter with enough credits to bypass the first year of college. My youngest son has already taken two of the three required English courses and one required math course for his degree thanks to dual enrollment, and is also on track to test out of his first year of math classes. Because of dual enrollment, one of the students in the graduating Class of 2024 entered his college of choice as an “advanced sophomore.” Similar stories can be found all over the unconventional learning landscape, as homeschoolers regularly harness the power and benefits of dual enrollment.

At eXtend, we equip students to dual-enroll at their local community college no later than their senior year of high school so that they can benefit from all that dual enrollment offers. The presence of college classes on a high school transcript signals to colleges and universities that the student is fully capable of handling the rigors of collegiate-level coursework and is worthy of a second look when making admissions decisions. Additionally, these classes can open doors to scholarships, as the same messages that have been communicated to colleges and universities are now also communicated to scholarship committees who want to know that their investment will result in students completing their degrees.

Aside from the benefit of earning college credits while in high school, the dual enrollment experience serves as excellent preparation for students heading to college following graduation. With most classes meeting only twice a week, students learn vital time management and study skills, in addition to learning how to self-advocate and interact with professors and college administrators. Students learn to adjust to the rigor and expectations of collegiate courses while

still in high school, allowing for a much smoother and more successful transition into collegiate life.

An additional benefit of dual enrollment is the opportunity it affords students to explore their passions and help determine future career paths. I often share the story of my daughter Sarah, who discovered her passion for vocal performance during the spring semester of her junior year of high school. She participated in her first-ever music class and found her voice, literally. Her time at Prince George’s Community College as a dual-enrolled student led her to gain acceptance to the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she is on a full academic and artistic scholarship studying vocal performance. Now preparing for her senior year, Sarah was recently accepted into the master’s program and will take graduate- level classes during her final year, enabling her to earn her master’s degree a year after earning her bachelor’s. Stories like Sarah’s are found throughout the homeschooling community, where dual- enrolled students can take classes across various fields and disciplines to discover their life’s passions and begin pursuing them early on.

Over the years, dual enrollment in Maryland has become easier to access, and we have worked with community college staff specifically dedicated to assisting dual-enrolled students. When my oldest children participated in college classes as high schoolers, they were required to sit for an assessment using the Accuplacer exam to determine placement for math and English classes. However, years later, when my youngest son dual-enrolled during his senior year, all the community college needed was his transcript. The greater availability and accessibility of college classes for high school students make dual enrollment an attractive option for many homeschooled students.

Community Programs, Internships, and Apprenticeships

Living in the suburbs of Washington, DC, we discovered some of our best resources from programs sponsored and conducted in local museums, regional parks, community centers, community organizations, and universities. Many of these programs can serve

as springboards to career paths for students by providing hands-on training and by building skills that can be utilized in both the workplace and the classroom.

For example, the National Museum of Natural History conducts a summer paid internship program for high school students interested in museum-related careers. The National Park Service’s Youth Conservation Corps is one of several programs offering internships, paid positions, and volunteer opportunities for youth interested in conservation. Local community centers and park and recreation departments typically offer summer jobs for high school students that can lead to long-term employment opportunities following high school.

Universities such as Stanford University, MIT, Johns Hopkins University, and Duke University offer summer programs, some of which are free and others of which offer stipends, for high school students across various fields. The Office of Naval Research’s Science and Engineering Apprentices Program (SEAP) offers a paid summer program for students, where students apprentice in Department of Defense laboratories. For two summers, my oldest son participated in the Gains in Education of Math and Science Program (GEMS) through the Army Education Outreach Program (AEOP). The AEOP continues to offer high school summer internships, and programs like these can be incorporated into your student’s transcript and provide opportunities for employment beyond the program. MIT also offers a paid summer internship program specifically for STEM-focused high school homeschoolers.

Please don’t think that you have to live next to a booming metropolis to find activities and programs to build and enhance your student’s homeschool experience. Local libraries and museums, historical sites, nature centers, local governments, community service organizations such as the Lion’s Club, Kawanis, Rotary Club, and Knights of Columbus, and many professional organizations offer opportunities for students to engage in activities that can translate into high school credits and lead to career opportunities once they graduate.

Finally, youth apprenticeship programs exist throughout the US, offering opportunities for students to work and gain experience that can be translated into high school credit. Because apprenticeship programs vary across states, the best way to identify and access a local program is through an online search. Additionally, many states celebrate National Apprenticeship Day/Week in the spring and share information on any available apprenticeship opportunities.

Remember my friend who was terrified at the prospect of homeschooling her middle daughter in high school? During those high school years, her daughter served as an intern in the Maryland General Assembly, something she would have never had the time to do if she were in a traditional school setting. She is now at the top of her class in law school and works as a legislative intern in Arizona.

To locate summer programs and internships, conduct a Google search for programs in your area for high school students. Be aware of application deadlines that may fall as early as November or run into the spring, and take advantage of every opportunity in your community.

IV. It’s Not the Diploma — It’s the Transcript!

The question I am most often asked by parents about high-school homeschooling surrounds a student’s diploma. In my response, I remind parents that admissions offices rarely, if ever, ask for diplomas; instead, they ask for transcripts. In high school, whether in a traditional or unconventional setting, students are building transcripts, and the key to building a successful transcript begins with a plan. Parents have also asked whether classes need to be accredited. Generally speaking, there is no requirement for accreditation. In special circumstances, such as for students pursuing opportunities to play in the NCAA, the transcript will require supplemental information, such as course descriptions and curriculum with ISBNs. Also, most community colleges that offer dual enrollment courses for high schoolers are accredited and can provide an official transcript documenting any courses taken.

Transcripts can be produced by you the parent, by the umbrella organization overseeing your homeschooling, by an online school offering these services for a fee, or by any other company offering transcript services. If you are keeping records of your student’s classes and awarding grades for those classes, understand that you are fully capable of producing your student’s transcript on your own. Additionally, there are numerous free transcript templates available that are only a Google search away.

When viewed from this lens, homeschooling through high school is no longer the herculean task it’s often portrayed to be. All that is needed is an executable plan for building a transcript. Thankfully, the skeletal high school plan is fairly common and straightforward, and when geared for successful entry into a two- or four-year institution, it will also work beautifully should your student decide instead to go the trade or entrepreneurship route. What “meat” is placed around that skeletal plan will vary depending on the individual student’s interests, and, as noted in the prior section, there are many options for sourcing that “meat.”

As with most everything, the best way to create a successful high school plan is to begin with the end in mind. If a student has an

idea of what they want their future to look like, planning it out becomes much easier, and you’ll be able to tailor a high school plan to include classes that fit their chosen career field. For example, the plan for an aspiring performing artist will look very different from that of a budding engineer, and both of those will look very different for a student interested in law or medicine. If your student has no idea what he or she wants to do, which is very common, stick with the basic skeleton plan and allow room for flexibility, as your student may begin to gravitate to a chosen career field as he or she moves through the high school years.

The transcript you create for your student will identify classes, and with each high school class is an award of either a full or half credit. This credit, also known as a Carnegie Unit, equates to approximately 120 hours of study, which encompasses instructional time, study time, time doing homework, time working on projects, and any other activity that can be related to the course. In the unconventional learning space, these 120 hours can encompass traditional class time (such as in-person, virtual, and self-instruction), application time (through homework, assessments, and associated projects), and experiential learning (e.g., field trips, internships, and supplemental programs). Although you are in the unconventional learning space, please check your state graduation requirements, as well as the entrance requirements for your state’s public universities, as they can be a helpful guide when creating your high school plan.

Before we get into this plan, I’d like to offer two suggestions. First, depending on your particular state and local education agency, you may want to consider having your homeschooling oversight provided by an umbrella program. A number of years ago, I filmed a video about umbrellas to help parents make informed choices about who provides their oversight. These organizations act as an intermediary between the homeschooling family and the local education agency, and are typically authorized by the state educational department to verify that you are meeting the state homeschooling requirements. Because state statutes differ, make sure to check your state’s homeschooling regulations, as some states do not recognize umbrella organizations or related third-

party entities. In Maryland, the State education department website lists names and contact information for nonpublic entities approved to oversee homeschooling for easy reference. Because umbrella requirements differ in cost and oversight from one organization to another, please research those in your area to ensure that they align with your homeschool objectives.

Typically, homeschool umbrellas utilize a peer-portfolio review process with veteran homeschoolers serving as reviewers and mentors for other homeschoolers. As someone who serves as a reviewer in my homeschool umbrella and is fully invested in the success of the families I oversee, I can attest to the strength and benefits of an umbrella program, especially in the high school years. Peer reviewers usually become mentors offering encouragement as well as suggestions and strategies for long-term success.

My second suggestion is that you use a template for effective record- keeping, as this is key to building successful transcripts. You’ll find many available options online to choose from. With most templates, you’ll find that much of the record-keeping will involve cutting and pasting and light inputting, approximately twice a year, making it very manageable even for those who struggle with organization. With most templates, at the beginning of the year, you’ll enter information such as the name of the class, and in a supplemental section, you’ll add the course description and curriculum information. Then, at the end of the year, you’ll award a grade.

Your Student’s High School Transcript — Basic Information

As I mentioned earlier, a critical component of successfully homeschooling to college and career involves recordkeeping, especially in the high school years, as these records will be used to produce your student’s transcript. Countless online transcript services are fee-based, including HSLDA’s Transcript Services and FastTranscript, but a simple Google search reveals numerous free templates available for use.

Your transcript is an official document and should include the following sections:

1. Identifying student and homeschool information: This information includes your student’s full name, date of birth, physical address, email address, contact number, and the name of your homeschool (or umbrella) with that address, contact name, email address, and contact number.
2. Academic Record: These are the courses and grades taken, which will be outlined in the next section. If high school classes are taken during 8th grade, these would be included in this area.
3. Grading Scale: This is typically a box that contains letter grades and their score equivalents, along with the points awarded on a four-point scale. For example, A = 90–100, 4; B = 80–89, 3; and so forth. This scale can also include information for weighted grades, which can vary for honors classes, AP classes, and dual enrollment courses. For example, in our umbrella, an honors course is typically “weighted” with an additional half point. In other instances, a dual enrollment course may be weighted with an additional full point. So, an A in a college English course would be weighted 5 points on the grading scale, while an A in an Honors Science class would be weighted 4.5 points on the grading scale. Including the scale helps the transcript reader accurately interpret the information you present on your student’s transcript.
4. Academic Summary: This is a summary of each academic year, which includes the GPA for each academic year, the cumulative GPA, total credits earned, and graduation date.
5. Notes: This would include additional information such as a designation for high school classes taken during the 8th grade, a designation for the location of college classes taken, and classes that may be in progress.
6. Certification/Validation: This contains the signature of the person—either you as the high school “counselor” or your umbrella or third-party director—certifying the transcript, and the date of certification/validation.

The Academic Record

Based on what most two- and four-year institutions look for in applicants, the academic record portion of your high school transcript will include the class information listed below. Know that for the sake of this publication, I have listed four years (or four credits) of English and Math, although a number of colleges will be satisfied with three. Also know that if your student dual-enrolls at your local community college, each semester class translates into a full credit/full year on the transcript. This is a general guideline, but please do whatever works best for you and your student.

1. Four years of English: The names of these classes can be as basic as English 9, English 10, English 11, and English 12. However, because we’re building this transcript for admission to a two- or four-year institution, consider classes such as Grammar and Composition, American Literature, World Literature, Advanced Composition, Research Writing, Literature through Film, African-American Literature, and Classical and Contemporary Literature. This list is by no means exhaustive, and as the parent, you can create an English class that engages your high schooler and give it a name that best reflects the content and what was accomplished. Ultimately, the idea is to include classes that communicate to the transcript reader that your student is participating in a variety of classes involving literary analysis and writing.
2. Four years of Math: Most colleges are looking for a minimum of Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry. Depending on your student’s goals, consider adding advanced math classes such as Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus, or courses such as Business Math, Consumer Math, and Accounting. For highly selective colleges or certain competitive degree programs, such as Business or Engineering, taking Calculus in one’s senior year is often expected. Once again, this is not an exhaustive list. Rather, these are ideas regarding how to round out your student’s math studies.
3. Three years of Lab Science: Four years of Science is ideal, with at least three of those courses involving a lab component. Common courses include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Other sciences to consider are Earth Science, Environmental Science, Astronomy, and Anatomy & Physiology. My youngest son studied Aviation Science in his senior year, which covered Aerodynamics, Space Science, Meteorology, Anatomy, and Physics, and also had a lab component that included flight time in a Cessna-172. Again, this list is not exhaustive, but is meant to offer ideas of classes to include on your student’s transcript.
4. Three (to four) years of Social Studies/History: Common classes include American History, World History, and US Government. Government is considered by many colleges to be a necessary class on the transcript.
5. Two years of Foreign Language: Students are expected to study at least two years of the same foreign language. My youngest daughter was excited to learn that many colleges consider American Sign Language (ASL) a foreign language, and in the fall, she’ll dual-enroll to continue her study of ASL. Some highly selective colleges and universities require four years of the same foreign language.
6. One year or one credit of Fine Arts: Most states require a credit of Fine Arts, which can range from visual or studio arts, such as painting, sculpture, and ceramics, to the performing arts, such as dance, theater, and music, to photography, videography, digital art, and film. Fine Arts can also include the study of classical and contemporary artists and artworks from the varied disciplines previously mentioned.
7. Physical Education and Health: States vary regarding their requirements for Physical Education (PE) and Health Education, with states such as New York requiring four credits, or eight semesters, of PE and one credit of Health. My  home  state  of  Maryland  recently  updated  its requirements, with high schoolers needing one credit of PE and one credit of Health to graduate. If you are homeschooling under an umbrella, that entity will outline the requirements for PE and Health, and they may differ from what the state requires.
8. Electives: Just as states have different requirements for physical education and health, there are different requirements for electives. These elective classes are as unique as your student and will round out your student’s education. If your student is a budding chef, consider a class in Culinary Arts or even a farm-to-table class. If your student is considering Business, perhaps a class on the fundamentals of entrepreneurship would be fruitful. Ideally, elective classes will reflect your student’s passions and future aspirations.

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I created this high school transcript plan to help you document everything needed for your student’s transcript. The first page outlines subjects and credits needed, and I recommend checking your specific state’s graduation requirements. Not surprisingly, many homeschooled students graduate with credits that exceed the state requirements. At eXtend, our 8th grade Science class uses a lab-based, high school curriculum, and our 8th graders receive high school credit once they successfully complete that course. Therefore, a section for 8th grade is included to document any high school credits obtained during that academic year.

The second tab of this transcript resource tracks classes, with the final grade earned and credits awarded—information that is needed when producing a transcript. I recommend entering the course name along with the expected earned credit prior to the start of the course. Once the course is complete, add in the grade.

The third and fourth tabs of this resource allow for additional course information and associated curriculum. This information may be requested depending on the college or university, and is necessary  for  students  pursuing  NCAA  athletics.  I  recommend entering this information prior to beginning a course, as this information is easily obtained from the course syllabus.

The fifth tab of this plan will correspond to the part of your student’s transcript that lists activities, organizational memberships, and awards. This is a great place for recording internships, specialized summer programs, relevant volunteering, and employment that supports your student’s field of interest. For example, if your student served as a legislative aide and wants to enter the field of Political Science, his or her position as a legislative aide would appear on the second page of the final transcript. This page can also be used to produce a résumé for your student to be used with scholarship applications and the like.

This transcript is the official document that college admissions offices and trade schools will look at to determine acceptance, so you’ll want to ensure that it reflects the coursework and competencies that allow your student to shine.

High School Homeschool Portfolios

Similar to your elementary and middle school homeschool portfolio, your high school portfolio documents the instruction you have been providing to your student. A good rule of thumb is to keep one or two documents per month per class, each labeled with your student’s name and the date. Please make sure to follow your state’s homeschooling requirements regarding portfolio contents. Depending on your state, this portfolio may be reviewed either by your local education agency or an umbrella organization to ensure compliance with state-specific homeschooling statutes.

If your student is participating in a traditional class or is dual- enrolled, progress reports, any work produced, or an assessment that includes your student’s name and date, along with his or her final grade in the class, should suffice. If you are utilizing an unconventional class, the documentation for your portfolio could include pictures or videos of projects, work or activity logs, monthly summaries, programs from specific events, lab reports, or anything else that accurately reflects the work your student was engaged in. One family that I oversee has begun creating a digital portfolio of their student’s work and uses that for our semi-annual reviews. This has offered a creative permanent record of progress and achievement for the student.

Extracurricular Activities

You might be familiar with the expression “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” The homeschool equivalent would be “All academics and no extracurriculars make your student appear one- dimensional.” Most colleges are looking for well-rounded students and want to see information about the student that goes beyond the books. Extracurricular activities can be anything your student participates in that isn’t specific to earning class credits, and fortunately, they can be found everywhere! For example, some local community centers offer activities such as book clubs, sewing clubs, crafting groups, drama groups, and fitness clubs. Within the wider community, there are swim teams, track and field teams, community choirs, musical organizations, chess clubs, advocacy groups, and a host of volunteer opportunities. Groups such as 4-H, Beta Club, National Honor Society, and local community organizations also represent wonderful extracurricular activities.

Ideally, extracurriculars mirror a student’s passions and can even reflect your student’s character and community involvement. Every year, beginning in middle school and continuing through her high school years, my oldest daughter volunteered with preschool children in the nursery, as well as during summer Vacation Bible School, where she also painted elaborate murals on the classroom wall reflecting each year’s theme. Her extensive time volunteering and artistic contributions were reflected on her transcript and résumé, and schools saw a picture of a student who was not only academically prepared for college, but one who would also invest her time and talents in others, including their campus community. My youngest son has amassed almost 1,000 volunteer hours since middle school, and in his senior year joined Beta Club, a national service organization. His extensive community involvement signaled to colleges that he would bring a high level of community awareness and contribution to their campuses. When students engage in extracurricular activities that align with their chosen field of study, such as robotics for engineering students, this can give them an edge in the college admissions process.

V. The Emotional Journey Is REAL

One area of homeschooling that doesn’t get enough attention is the emotional journey that parents often take with their high schoolers. I haven’t come across many resources that speak to this, perhaps because every family, every child, and every homeschooling path is so unique. Despite the differences, the emotional component of homeschooling is very, very real.

Homeschooling as a whole offers many highs and lows. Let me help you. There will be days when you will look at that yellow school bus going by, and you’ll feel ready to plop your student on it. When that happens, think about why you’re homeschooling, and if necessary, reach out to a trusted fellow homeschooler who will assure you that you’re not alone in feeling this way. That person has been there, done that, and has words of wisdom to share. That person will talk you off the proverbial ledge, and together you’ll later laugh about it. I stopped counting how many times I felt that way. Looking at where all of my kids are now, I am so grateful that I stayed the course. I am grateful for all those who listened and continue to walk with me through my homeschooling journey.

Homeschooling in the high school years offers bonding time with your student unlike any you’ll experience at any other time. The old saying “The days are long, but the years are short” rings especially true during the high school years. These four years are a time when teenagers are actively forming their identities and pulling away in healthy, developmental ways. With that pulling away comes a range of emotions from both sides, and we as parents begin the difficult task of laying down the pen we’ve been using to write our child’s story.

I’ve now homeschooled five children through high school, and each time, usually somewhere in the middle of senior year, the same wave of emotions hits. Up until that point, I have had the privilege of being the most influential voice in my kids’ lives, serving as their guide, encourager, and constant companion. I have held that pen tightly. But as senior year progresses, an internal panic creeps in as I become painfully aware that our time together under the same roof is quickly running out. While I’m filled with gratitude for making it this far, I also find myself longing for just a little more time.

This past year with my youngest son, who just graduated and will be starting his freshman year in college this fall, has been one of the most powerful in our relationship. From navigating the college application process together to taking a whirlwind ten-day road trip visiting multiple colleges from Florida to Ohio, we’ve shared honest conversations with moments of deep connection, as well as lots of playful banter. This was all made possible because of homeschooling. Together, we’ve learned a lot about our fears, our weaknesses, and our strengths. Now, facing the reality that he is off to college, I yearn for more time.

As much as I want to hold on to that pen, my son reminded me that my work with him has come to a close, and that the decisions he makes going forward are ones that he’s now responsible for. He told me that it was time to let go and trust that everything I poured into him has benefited him and is what he’ll need in the future as he takes over. He’s completely right. His words were a source of comfort, assurance, and hope. That internal aching, knowing that he’s off to college, while still there in the background, is now overshadowed by the joy and excitement I have for him and his future as a commercial airline pilot. These are just a few of the highs and lows we’ve experienced. Your emotional journey will be different, but I can assure you that it will be no less impactful. Embrace it and lean into it. Let it shape you as much as it shapes your child. These years will stretch your heart, but they will also fill it in ways you could have never imagined.

VI. Some Final Thoughts

I continue to view the last four years of schooling each of my kids under my roof as my last shot to pour in the last of everything I can, all the while understanding that my time with them is limited and that soon they would be out on their own. With that in mind, I offer the following thoughts:

1. Know that you will always be the best advocate for your student, and that you are the best source and resource for your child. No one knows your child better than you, no one is as invested in your child’s success as you, and no one is willing to go to the lengths that you are willing to go to ensure your student has the best possible opportunity to succeed in life. You are “the one” for your student. Understand that, and hold on to that when you encounter resistance or criticism. You are the one who is in the best position to set your student up for success. Moreover, based on the most recent information from the NAEP, please know that you can and will do better for your student than what is currently being reported as the state of education for the nation’s students.
2. Allow yourself a level of flexibility. A long time ago, a friend gave me the 11th Commandment: “The flexible will not be broken.” I have lived with that as a family motto ever since, and it has shaped me as a homeschooler. Because every child is different, we have to be willing to make changes when either something isn’t working or when we see a strategy or route that better suits our kids. Homeschooling allows for pivots, and one of the greatest lessons you can model for your student is that adjustments and changing course are a part of life. They are nothing to fear.
3. Give yourself and your child permission to make mistakes and have do-overs, and embrace them when they happen. I like to tell my students that failure is not the end of the world; it’s the beginning of learning. Thomas Edison famously said, “I have not failed 10,000 times; I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” My early years of homeschooling were filled with trial and error, and we always adjusted. In allowing for mistakes and embracing them as opportunities to learn, we remove the fear and shame that is so often attached to failure. When we model this for our students, we empower them to think differently when mistakes happen and build resiliency that will carry them throughout their lives.
4. Get connected to some form of healthy community. There will be moments of frustration and moments of celebration. There were days when I seriously considered putting my kids on that yellow school bus, and others when I was beyond grateful that they weren’t on it. In those moments of struggle, I had a community of fellow homeschoolers who helped me realize that I was not alone, that my feelings were valid, that every storm does eventually pass, and that if I allow it, struggle can lead to tremendous growth for both me and my student. Find a veteran homeschooler that you can learn from and another homeschooler who’s at a similar stage as you, and as you progress in your journey, find a new homeschooler that you can pour into. There is tremendous strength and support when you homeschool in community.
5. Have fun! Homeschooling can be an incredible adventure if you allow it to be so. Be willing to laugh at yourself and laugh alongside your kids. If you look for humor and wonder in everything you do, I promise you’ll find it. The ability to laugh, especially when things go awry, is a gift you can give your kids that will enrich them for the rest of their lives.
6. You can do this even if… fill in the blank. After over 20 years of homeschooling and running an academic homeschool tutorial since 2016, I have seen parents of every walk of life successfully homeschool their children. I have seen working parents, single parents, and even single fathers and widowed mothers successfully homeschool their children. They have all done it, harnessing the power of community. They have built the necessary scaffolding around their students and around their homeschool plans and have successfully homeschooled through high school into college. If your heart is to homeschool, I assure you, you can do this. If you need a community to help you, know that you will find it, and it may even find you. You CAN do this.

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Hopefully, you’ve come to the end of this e-book with the confidence that you absolutely can homeschool your kids through high school into college and career. Whether your student is headed for a two- or four-year college, for a trade school, or the path of entrepreneurship, you have readily available tools and resources to prepare your student for whatever lies ahead. You can do this! I wish you and your student every joy and success in your homeschooling journey.