Homeschooling High School: Five Questions to Ask

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For many, the thought of homeschooling during the high school years fills them with dread. How will they make sure their high schooler takes all the necessary courses if they want to go to college? How can someone teach courses that they never understand or enjoyed during their own high school years? Yet homeschooling the high school years does not need to be difficult. In February, I participated in a blog series on Homeschool on the Range, where many homeschoolers shared how to homeschool the upper grades. If you are thinking about taking the plunge and homeschooling your high schooler next year, what are the questions you should ask before you get started? 

Five Questions to Ask 

1. What are your state or local requirements for high school or homeschooling in general? 
2. What does your high schooler want to do after they graduate? 
3. Do you prefer to choose an all-inclusive curriculum or put together courses from various companies or locations for your homeschool? 
4. What does your high schooler need to know in terms of life skills? 
5. Is your high schooler going to participate in high school sports, clubs, or activities? 

Local Requirements 

It is always a good idea to look at Home School Legal Defense Association as a starting point. You can take a look at their various pages that can help answer questions regarding state homeschool laws, how to record grades, and more. Another place to look is at your state education site. You can often find information there that can help guide you as to the homeschooling laws in your state. 

After High School 

There are many options available to high schoolers after they graduate. They could go to college or university, start work, start their own business, enter a technical training program, enter an apprenticeship, or start a family. It always good to have a basic plan before starting high school, but it may change multiple times as your high schooler works through his or her curriculum. 

Curriculum 

There are so many options when it comes to homeschooling and curriculum. You can choose ones that provide the whole package of language arts, science, mathematics, history, and more or pick and choose from one company or another. Here are just a few places you can check out to see if they would work for your homeschooled high schooler. 

Please note clicking through links may provide a small commission to me at no cost to you. 

• SchoolhouseTeachers.com (Read how we use ST for our high schooler here: 11th grade and 12th grade) 
• Timberdoodle (Read my post about their extras for high school here: Finding The Fun in Homeschooling)
• Sonlight (Read my post about one of their extras here: Hands-On Projects are the Most Remembered) 
• My Father's World (read my review of their Kindergarten curriculum here: Studying God's Creation from A to Z) 
• Calvert Homeschool 
• Abeka 
• Notgrass History  
• Apologia

Life Skills 

What things do you want your high schooler to know how to do before they graduate high school that will help them as an adult? I would recommend writing a list of all the things you do as a parent and homeowner/renter and seeing how many things your high schooler can do. These activities or tasks might be covered by taking a cooking class or economics course or being a part of their curriculum in another way. It is amazing what can be included in our homeschooling lessons, as all of life includes teaching and learning. 

High School Activities 

Does your high schooler have any interest in playing sports, participating in clubs, groups, or other typical high school activities? Every school district has different rules and regulations concerning whether or not homeschooled students can participate in their clubs and sports. So, you will need to check locally to see what is allowed and not allowed.

If you join a homeschool co-op, your homeschooler may have the opportunity to participate in various groups and activities with other homeschoolers. You might also be able to find activities and groups through your church.

Can you homeschool high school?

"The idea of homeschooling through high school can be scary, but homeschooling your high-schooler may be easier than you think." Visit Sparks Academy to download your very own copy of a 71-page eBook that includes the following topics to help you homeschool the upper grades: 

• Homeschooling high school 
• Life skills
• College-bound 
• Unique circumstances 
• Reading and the arts