Home School Graduation?

Question

Is there a type of homeschool where I can still where a cap and gown and walk? If not, I won't home school.

Answer 1

Haha, you can always go buy one and do it in your back yard.

But, you'll have no one to share it and enjoy and celebrate it with.

=/

Answer 2

Many areas have homeschool graduations for all local kids who have homeschooled.

Check with your local homeschool association for more information.

Answer 3

Every type!

You could attend a charter school (which isn't homeschooling, but one alternative) that has a graduation ceremony at the end of highschool.

You could homeschool under an umbrella school in your area that has a graduation ceremony.

You could (and SHOULD no matter how you homeschool) join your local homeschool group or co-op (google "Homeschool groups <your area>") and participate in their graduation ceremony. You'll celebrate graduation with everyone in the group who is graduating when you do.

You could join your state wide homeschooling association (do a similar google search) and attend a graduation ceremony at the anual homeschool convention in your state. (Florida has one. Not sure about others) and walk with all the other homeschoolers in the state who are graduating.

Or you could do what many homeschoolers do and have a totally individualized graduation ceremony. This is what I'm doing. Mom's renting out an event room in a restaurant and we're sending out invites/announcements to all my friends, relatives, family friends, former teachers, etc. We're getting a cap and gown from a company that sells supplies for graduation ceremonies to homeschoolers and homeschool groups, and I get to choose the color (I'm going with traditional navy blue or white), and Mom thinks I should wear an honor chord as well if my GPA from the college duel enrollment classes is high enough for the tradition. Everyone will come and enjoy dinner, and we'll have unique projects, art, and just highlights of my best work on display around the edges of the room. There will be a video/slide show as well to highlight the best homeschool moments (a lot of pictures and clips of things done with friends too that related to homeschooling since alot of my friends will be there). Mom's keeping most of this a surprise, but something she talked about and that I've seen done at individual homeschool grad ceremonies is mom and dad and teachers, coaches, or just people who know the graduate well will speak a bit, and then mom or dad will present the diploma (when you're homeschooled, your parents are legally allowed to issue you a diploma that is worth just as much as a regular school diploma.... Colleges don't give a flying hoot about diplomas despite what some may have told you. It's your transcripts, test scores, and extracurricular envolvement that matters.) For mine, we're planning on having a more friends only party back at the house afterwards where my friends and I will swim, play games, hang out, listen to music, and some will spend the night.

Some people will do something similar to what I described, only in their homes. They'll decorate and have a big open house party to celebrate, and at some time durrng the party the parents will give the graduate the diploma if they want to go through all that superficial ritual.

That really is all it ammounts to. Honestly, i'm not even sure if I'm going to wear a cap and gown just because it is just fluff, really. I might, and I mentioned it to emphasize that you can still enjoy that tradition. It doesn't matter what kind of homeschooling you do or what program you use, and choosing a program based on that is ridiculous anyway, but you don't need to. You can still have a graduation ceremony whether you're in a program, in a homeschool group, or have one that's all about you.

Good luck, and happy graduating!

Answer 4

Our local state organization holds a graduation ceremony at the convention in May.  Hundreds participate.

The neatest graduation I attended was where parents held the ceremony in a local church.   They had several of the people to speak and then presented their son with his diploma.   The son made a speech and then we had refreshments.

It was wonderful and all of those closest to him were able to take part in the ceremony instead of only being allowed to have 4 family members attend (as is the case in our local public high school).

He wore a cap and gown and marched down the aisle to "Pomp and Circumstance" played on the piano.

Answer 5

Many homeschool co-ops have graduations. Also, many State homeschool organizations have graduations.

There are often also homeschool proms, dances, etc.