Homeschooling High School
Start and End with the Transcript
Transcripts matter. I would say that even if your child has zero interest in advance academics, keeping a transcript as a solid record is a good idea. We never know where life may take us, and people’s plans change.
Transcripts seems complicated because they are so formal. They come sealed, only schools can make them, and they have a general air of mystery.
They are not mysterious.
High school plans differ state by state in three different areas: Carnegie Units, Endorsements, and non-academic requirements for graduation. Here’s a brief explanation on this info:
Carnegie Units: These are credit hours. They range from 13 hours to 24. In Texas, the main graduation plan is actually 26 hours. (Our transcript guide has two options - a 22 hour and a 26) Generally core credits are required in the same amount across the board, and fine arts and elective credits vary state by state. Some states don’t even require fine arts or electives.
Endorsements: This is often where students have classes that combine into a career track, noted as an endorsement upon graduation. A student can be endorsed for the humanities, fine arts, STEM, etc.
Non-Academic Requirements: These requirements vary from answering Naturalization questions to volunteer hours. It depends on the state.
If you’re interested in knowing more about state comparisons for graduation requirements there is a handy report here.
That is the best advice I can give regarding high school - start and end with the transcript. Lay out the whole four years initially in ninth grade, and then modify as needed. Revise the transcript at the end and sign that baby, then go on a vacation. You are an amazing parent and teacher. Congratulations on your graduate.
Engage your Child on their plans
In the book Atomic Habits, by James Clear, he suggests that people pursue a career based on:
their particular skill set
their strengths
Clearly, I am paraphrasing.
Mr. Clear makes an excellent point though; and this can be applied to high school studies as well.
You are your child’s best high school counselor since you know them so well. It’s a great time to sit back and think on their natural skills, strengths, and abilities and talk to them about what they’d like to pursue in light of that knowledge.
Build their high school schedule on that knowledge, and if it changes, that is okay. It is not set in stone. No road map ever is. We modify as needed to achieve a desired end result.
Keep the Focus on Mastery throughout
“Have five or six activities you use again and again in your classroom, but with different stories and literature,” I counseled a new English teacher, years after I had left the classroom.
How boring of me. Nay, nay.
This isn’t a boring bit of counsel. It’s also not a shortcut. When you ask for an essay, your child should know the format inherently. Once the initial essays are taught (creative, persuasive, narrative) your child will be able to manipulate the building blocks of said essays to be whatever they need to be.
The same thing goes for all kinds of assignments. If a science paper follows the same format time and time again you have just removed mental strain from your child, who should not have to do mental gymnastics on assignment format and content. It’s advice I live by.
Putting assignments that show mastery on autopilot lets kids focus in depth on what they’re studying, and that is the whole point.
An added benefit is they will internalize the things they have been taught (teaching outlining comes to mind) and they will use it forever, modifying it as needed.
Use this focus on mastering SKILLS and not just SUBJECTS to give your child an excellent high school education.
My Texas Homeschool Transcript Guide
If you found this article helpful, and appreciate the linked grade level plans, please consider buying our My Texas Homeschool Transcript Guide. It’s an excellent resource for only $18. It contains information that far exceeds this article, plus two graduation plan templates, planning pages, and other helpful building blocks to guide you on constructing your very own High School experience.
In this guide we answer these questions, and more:
Should Homeschoolers match the state plan?
How do I choose or find classes?
Do I need to calculate GPA? (and how to do it!)
What has to be on a transcript?
The guide also includes:
Two plan it out worksheets based on which high school plan you prefer
An editable, crisp transcript with instructions on how to seal it for collegiate applications
