Considering Homeschooling Your Teen?

The truth is that homeschool graduates are excelling in every area of life, from college to career to community involvement. While their education might be unconventional, it can provide many opportunities for them to discover who they are, what they want their future to look like, and how to relate to a wide variety of people.

Homeschooling can offer your child the time and flexibility to deepen knowledge or further develop skill in areas where they’re demonstrating interest or ability, such the arts, athletics and academics, often leading to specific scholarships and/or further training opportunities.

Homeschoolers can present exemplary records of academics, extracurricular activities, and other pursuits which reveals the richness of homeschooling during the teen years, and which make them ideal candidates for college, trade apprenticeships, jobs, and the military.

It’s not unreasonable to wonder whether your teen will be missing out on “typical” high school experiences such as sports and prom.

First, it’s vital to take your teen’s thoughts into consideration. Ask for their input and gauge how important experiences like these are to them.

Second, know that there are dozens of opportunities available to homeschool students similar to those of traditionally schooled teens. In fact, in some states, public school activities are available to homeschool students so even if your student is doing academics at home, they may be able to do extracurricular activities at public school. (Check your state’s public school access laws here).

But even outside of public school, there are opportunities for homeschool students:

• Many homeschool groups host high school dances. You can find a local homeschool group through our group search feature.
• There are many ways that your teen can get involved in sports as a homeschooler. Learn more here!
• Homeschooling can actually increase the amount of time that teens have to spend in extracurricular activities and social clubs. Keep an eye out in your community for opportunities like theater groups, 4-H, speech and debate, crafting groups, chess clubs, etc.

One of the most common concerns for parents is teaching high-school-level classes. As the expectation for more complicated material increases in grades 9–12, parents often feel ill-equipped to do a good job. Rest assured that you don’t have to be a trained educator to have your teen excel in high school at home.

You can become a partner with your teen by sharing responsibility for the learning process. Aim to engage with the content yourself and learn alongside your teen. This partnership can help your student take ownership of their education and strengthen the relationship between the two of you, too.

But you and your teen don’t have to go it alone, particularly in subjects that are just too complicated for the both of you. You can look into outside courses, such as dual enrollment or co-ops.

First, check your state’s homeschool law to see if there are any graduation requirements. As long as you're meeting state requirements, you have the freedom to choose what your teen will cover in high school!

Second, make a formalized high school plan with your teen's after-graduation goals in mind. Homeschooling allows you to build a plan catered to what your student wants to do after school. Even if they are unsure about what they want to do “when they grow up”, that’s okay! HSLDA members can check out these sample high school plans that will work for any teen.

The dizzying number of curriculum options can be quite confusing! Go to our Finding Curriculum series, where you can find different ways to source and evaluate curriculum.

Homeschool parents are the ones who create their teen’s transcript.

That may make you wonder: Is a homeschool transcript actually official and will it be accepted by colleges, the military, and other programs? Yes, to both questions!

If the thought of making a transcript intimidates you, you can use one of HSLDA’s transcript templates or purchase HSLDA’s transcript service! For practical step-by-step advice on how to fill one out, check out What Information Goes on My High Schooler’s Transcript?

When it comes to homeschool graduations, you and your teen get to decide how you want to celebrate!

Want to go the traditional route? Your teen could participate in a state homeschool organization’s graduation ceremony or join a local grad ceremony organized by a homeschool group in your community.

If those options aren’t available or don’t work for you, you could combine resources with other local families for a joint graduation ceremony.

Are you drawn towards something more personalized and unique? You can have fun customizing your grad’s celebration to highlight their achievements and reflect their personality and interests. This might look like a senior trip, an art show, a concert, an original play, a party, a barbeque honoring those who have invested in your teen, or something entirely different.