How do home schooled kids graduate high schoo?

Question

I've always wondered, how do people who are home schooled graduate high school? Do they just get their GED or take some tests in order to get a regular high school diploma?

Answer 1

If you are home schooled how do you get a diploma? It really depends on how you are home schooled. If you attend an online charter school like k12 or Connections Academy, they will provide you with a diploma and transcripts. My son attended an online charter school and now attends the University of Dayton ( a private college ) and he has scholarships as well no different then if he had attended a regular public school or a private school.

If you are doing traditional homeschooling then chances are you will not receive a diploma or transcripts in the sense that most people think of them. The important thing is NOT the diploma. The transcripts are the ONLY really important thing. The transcripts are really the only thing the colleges and possibly employers want to look at.

A diploma is just something to frame and hang.

If you were traditionally home schooled by a parent for example, then your parent needs to prepare a transcript for you.

Answer 2

The diplomas are issued in the name of the private homeschool that the children are a part of.  Most parents name their homeschool, so the diplomas, class rings, etc are in that name.

Answer 3

It depends. I just finished all the courses required to graduate in my state plus some (OK, twice the required number of science credits, but I'm a nerd so that just sort of happened) and I submitted my SAT scores and transcript to the school I was applying to and got into the honors program, no trouble at all. Since I finished high school a year early, I went to a local public school for AP courses the following year (what would have been my senior year). It's still not well-known that I did not actually graduate from the public high school, since I didn't have the right kind of credits for the diploma, and even less well-known that I never 'graduated' and I don't have a diploma. And, I've discovered, that once you're in college, the diploma doesn't matter at all.

Answer 4

Homeschoolers, though nontraditional are actively recruited by employers and colleges.  I have even been to seminars put on by colleges to lure hsers.

Some homeschoolers, as mentioned above, go under umbrella schools.  In this case the program keeps all tests and records and the program will issue a diploma.  The vast majority of these programs are accredited, which means the diploma will be regarded the same as a private school or public school diploma.  In fact, in my state, my umbrella program is viewed legally as a private school.  In this case a potential college will want to see this diploma and a transcript of credits, and maybe SAT/ACT scores.  This may depend on the college, since some are moving away from test scores for entrance.  In our program the staff acts as a guidance counselor in tandem with the parent.

Some students are involved in a home program that is actually part of the public school system.  In this case the public school issues a diploma.

For those not in an umbrella program the parent can, if they choose, buy a diploma certificate and issue it if they wish, but like someone said above, it is for framing.  The potential colleges will want to see a transcript and a portfolio of work done and maybe SAT/ACT scores depending on the college.  In this case usually the parent does the work of the guidance counselor, but usually they have a network of support for information through groups, etc.  You wouldn't believe the wealth of knowledge that can be gleaned in a support group.

Some homeschoolers choose to take the GED for several reasons.  Sometimes the potential college will add a scholarship incentive and it can also help with getting lottery scholarships/grants.  I have talked personally with many college admissions counselors and they have told me that they do not look down on a homeschooler who chooses to take the GED.  In these cases the bureaucrats just like to be able to check certain boxes on their paperwork, so it streamlines things.

In 17 yrs of doing this, I have never known a homeschooler who was asked by a potential employer to see a diploma; having written on the application that they are graduates was enough.

Additionally, it is a myth that homeschoolers cannot join the armed forces.  They are actively pursued and even offered a special enlistment bonus. In particular it is not true that a homeschool student cannot become a marine.

Edit:

Most do not realize that hs groups offer graduation ceremonies.  Because there are usually less graduates than the public school system has, the group offers a more elaborate ceremony.  I have graduated 2 students both had cap/gown, diploma/cover, pomp and circumstance, small buffet afterwards, and even a opportunity to display talent through performance and display boards.

Answer 5

No, they don't have to get a GED or do any testing through a public school.  Parents, as homeschool administrators and teachers, award a diploma when the student has fulfilled the graduation requirements set down by the parents.  These requirements range pretty widely - from completing a high school curriculum, to service in things like Civil Air Patrol, to college credits (or a degree).  It all depends on the child, their goals, and their abilities.

Parents also are responsible for formatting their student's transcript and doing the paperwork a guidance office would normally handle.  In many states homeschools are legally viewed as private schools, and in others as valid homeschools.

Hope that helps!

Answer 6

Depends on where you live and how you want to graduate.

Where I live, in Alberta, if you want a provincial diploma, you need to do the same type of work as those in school, take exams for the courses and even take provinical exams for certain grade 12 courses. You need to earn the appropriate credits to get the provincial diploma. Parents can issue a diploma if they wish, but it's not recognized except by perhaps the smallest homeschool-friendly colleges. In Canada, it's the provincial diploma that is seen as the only "real" high school diploma.

Btw, a person can graduate from high school without a diploma. But that's a whole other topic.

Answer 7

The diploma is issued by the parent upon completion of the material assigned. That, as well as a transcript, SAT scores, and portfolio are presented to the college that they want to apply too. I have been involved with several families who have children who are in college and have completed college doing this, so I know from experience that the diploma my child is issued, by me, is just as valid as one from a public school. As a matter of fact, most colleges seek out home school students now.

Answer 8

You have really good answers above.

So... instead of repeating that good information I'll tell you our specific plan for our rising sophomore...

Completion of a rigorous college  prep course of study (29 credits).

The Jr. and Sr. years will be dual enrollment.  The goal is to graduate concurrently with a "high school diploma" and an Associates degree.

Our circumstances are a bit different than some others - we operate under what is called an "umbrella school" which is an accredited private school.  So, our son will be awarded an accredited high school diploma through that program.