Hello all - I could really use some help from experienced homeschool parents. We are not currently homeschoolers. My son is 17 and technically in 11th grade. He left his public high school after 10th grade (with a 4.0) because he was unchallenged and didn’t like the big public school after 9 years at a tiny, wonderful private school. He is pursuing an associate’s degree in Computer Science at our great local community college and will finish his first year with all As (including these academic stats in case it’s pertinent to people’s advice). So far, we have been working with the public school and attempting to also have him complete his high school degree at the same time, essentially fitting four years of school into two. However, it is becoming sort of ridiculous and cumbersome. It’s possible for him to finish both, but it will mean taking several classes this summer, and 5 classes each semester at the community college. He’s taking things like discrete math and university physics next year, so I worry about the heavy course load and burnout.
I am worried about whether or not this is worth it. It would be a lot easier and more pleasant for him to do what a lot of homeschoolers in the area have done and finish at the community college as a “homeschooled high school student”. Essentially, we would give the high school out Notice of Intent to homeschool (we are in Virginia) and he would formally be withdrawn from public school. The part that makes me really nervous (since we are not homeschoolers) is this whole business of “creating your own high school transcript” when applying to college. One advisor told us that because he has been in community college for what would have been his 11th and 12th grade years, we have a ready-made transcript. Another told me that we would also need to “create” a sheet that shows how he also satisfied his high school requirements. I am making myself crazy trying to figure out which way to go - I would rather him do both degrees because it seems more official. (He needs English 12, Economics, US History and US Government to graduate from high school).
I guess the real question at the root of all of this is: will formally pulling him from high school and forging our own path (GED or created transcript) for high school completion look odd and hurt his college chances? His reach schools are places like M.I.T. and Carnegie Mellon. I would so appreciate any input, thank you very much.
Really, the high school transcript is not a big deal, so try not to let that intimidate you.
It’s important that he displays an ability to handle the rigorous course work ahead, get great grades, and use his time well (part-time job, volunteer work, hobby, etc).
There are a lot of resources to help put together the HS transcript when the time comes.
Thanks, I appreciate your input. It’s confusing trying to figure out how we make 2 years of community college look like he also completed his high school diploma - but the transfer specialist told me that homeschool families just create the transcript themselves, as you say.
Don’t do the GED.
Echoing that making a transcript is no big deal and I imagine there are plenty of homeschoolers who would be willing to help you. Just reach out to a local group.
My second is in a private school and the transcript template they use is bare bones, just a list of courses with grades and a GPA column in the right. It really doesn’t have to be complicated.
Writing course descriptions is occasionally necessary and can be cumbersome, but if she using a CC, that won’t be an issue because that’s done for you.
Do you really need those specific course to issue a homeschool diploma? Are they required by your state? If not, I’d be inclined to start with what the colleges you are looking at require and build on that.
Talk to your community college. In Washington, finishing an associates at CC can earn you a state high school diploma. Or, there could be another high school completion path that would use the credits he’s already doing. Homeschoolers do not usually take the GED due to the “high school dropout” stigma.
Also, if you are at a private school, check with the public school. He may still need US history and government, but their graduation requirements may be somewhat different as well.
Finally, check with your state homeschool association, if you have one, to understand any obligations you have under state law. Some states have a lot of regulation of homeschooling, and others have very little. If you are going to be homeschoolers you want to make sure you understand your local homeschool law.
I would definitely explain your decision to drop out of school for 12th grade. It shouldn’t be a big deal, but if you don’t explain it, that leaves the adcoms to guess at the reasons.
Once you decide what to do, come back and ask about how to document it if you need help. Since you will have a high school transcript and a community college transcript and no home-taught courses, really you’re just putting a cover sheet on stuff that already exists. It won’t be that hard.
Thank you so much, all of you, for responding. He won’t really be leaving any school - he’s been in the local CC for 11th, and would continue there for what would be 12th. Thanks especially for the input about the GED - that was my gut feeling, was that it was a bad idea. In Virginia, all you need to do is issue the school your notice of intent to homeschool. The homeschool diploma is really just based on the word of the parents that the student has finished. So really my concern is this business of a created transcript and worrying that colleges will think it’s less desirable than one from a regular public high school. From what I’m reading here, it looks like people do fine without it. He has taken the SAT and he will take the math/chemistry subject tests in June, so we will have those as well to support the transcript.
Again, thanks for taking the time to respond 