December 2009
Homeschooling High School
by: Christine Pritt
Are you trembling at the thought of homeschooling your child through high school? Worried about applying to college? Take a deep breath and relax. It can be done! Here are a few tips to help you get started.
1. Plan ahead. Sit down and map out what your child will study each year. Look at college websites; many schools have a page that talks about high school preparation. You don’t want to find out in your daughter’s senior year that her dream college recommends four years of a foreign language! If you’re not sure where to start, try the top schools, for example, Harvard's admissions site. If your child is prepared to get into Harvard, she’s prepared to get in anywhere—and maybe with a scholarship!
2. Don’t think you have to do it all yourself! Many parents feel overwhelmed facing high school. They think, “How can I possibly teach my child Calculus when I barely passed Algebra II?” Many resources are available to help you. Students can take classes at FCC, and many co-ops offer high school courses. Check out www.pahomeschoolers.com for excellent online classes!
3. Keep records. If you plan on keeping your own transcript (i.e., if you are not part of an umbrella group), start keeping records in ninth grade. Keep a list of courses, grades, textbooks used, and how coursework was graded. You can find sample transcripts online here.
Some students avoid record-keeping by taking the GED. However, not all colleges will accept the GED and many insist on transcripts. So this route could backfire if your child changes their mind and wants to attend a college that does require transcripts. It's much easier to keep track of everything as you go along than to try to get it all together later if your plans change.
4. Be sure you have objective measures to back up your child’s grades. SAT Subject Tests and Advanced Placement Tests are an effective way to show colleges that your child has learned a particular subject as well as the best public or private school students. See www.collegeboard.com and http://apcentral.collegeboard.com for lists of available tests and information on how to prepare for them.
5. Look at college applications. You will see that there are places to list extracurricular activities, community service, honors, and awards. These areas are difficult for homeschoolers, so give them some thought. Are there essay contests your child can enter? How about the science fair? Your son is dreaming of being a vet—could he volunteer at the Humane Society? What about sports? Colleges are looking for serious, long-term commitment. It is better to stick with an activity throughout high school than to try a little of everything.
Homeschooling through high school is not easy. It takes some thought and planning as well as dedication and discipline, but the rewards are great. May you learn and grow as you take this next step in your journey with your child!
Christine Pritt lives in Walkersville, where she has been homeschooling her six children, with lots of help from her husband Mark, since 1998. Her two oldest were homeschooled through twelfth grade and are both students at Harvard. Her children at home are 16 (11th grade), 14 (9th grade), 13 (7th grade), and 11 (6th grade). This is is the first in a series of articles on homeschooling through high school.
More High School Advice
"My son is in the process of reapplying to one of the service academies...It is a great way to get an extraordinary education paid for; in fact, they even pay you a small monthly stipend I am told. In exchange you get to serve your country as a military officer for a few years, or perhaps make a career out of it!The key is to start early; middle school would be great- in order to see what the high school requirements are! If only we had known.
He thought this year he would look into the Air Force Academy. Well, they require two years of a spoken foreign language, and Latin doesn't count! (He took Latin two years.) They also require one year of a computer science. They desire SAT verbal and math scores in the 600s or higher.
All of the academies require participation in athletics and they prefer that you play on a competitive team as a captain, or at least that you earn a letter. You also MUST receive a nomination from a Congressman, or Senator, etc. In addition, their medical requirements are strict.
SO, if your child might be even remotely interested in attending a service academy, scan the websites for Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marines , Naval Academy, or West Point, NOW to get an idea of what you should strive for. They all have special sections addressed to homeschoolers.
--Frederick Homeschooling Mom"
More High School Advice
"My son is in the process of reapplying to one of the service academies...It is a great way to get an extraordinary education paid for; in fact, they even pay you a small monthly stipend I am told. In exchange you get to serve your country as a military officer for a few years, or perhaps make a career out of it!The key is to start early; middle school would be great- in order to see what the high school requirements are! If only we had known.
He thought this year he would look into the Air Force Academy. Well, they require two years of a spoken foreign language, and Latin doesn't count! (He took Latin two years.) They also require one year of a computer science. They desire SAT verbal and math scores in the 600s or higher.
All of the academies require participation in athletics and they prefer that you play on a competitive team as a captain, or at least that you earn a letter. You also MUST receive a nomination from a Congressman, or Senator, etc. In addition, their medical requirements are strict.
SO, if your child might be even remotely interested in attending a service academy, scan the websites for Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, Merchant Marines , Naval Academy, or West Point, NOW to get an idea of what you should strive for. They all have special sections addressed to homeschoolers.
--Frederick Homeschooling Mom"