How to Walk a Successful Path to Graduation Through Homeschooling
There is nothing as exciting as starting the first day of high school as a homeschool student and realizing that you are in control of your education. Students have the chance to set their own schedule and learn at their personal pace which can be faster or slower than what is recommended in the course lesson planner. The objective is to start 9th grade with a goal and a path to graduation which is exactly what the best homeschooling programs for high school provide for parents and students alike.
The guidance counselor with the school platform will begin by talking with the student to understand their future goals, interests and hobbies so that together they can build an organized plan to graduation. This includes selecting classes and electives that the student will be interested in studying and that will help them with their intended major in college. The freshman year of high school sets the stage for what comes later but can be adjusted easily due to the communication and partnership between the student and their counselor. Interactions are undertaken through email and phone calls on a consistent schedule so that the student feels comfortable and part of the decision-making process. Minimum core requirements and credits will be communicated during this time so that both parent and student know what the expectations are to reach graduation.
The next step is identifying the tests and non-academic requirements such as community hours that the student needs to satisfy as part of their curriculum and building for the future. Accredited online homeschool platforms already have the necessary certifications for academic eligibility, so students will not have any issues with the college or university accepting their transcript record with the list of courses they took in the four years. However, SAT and ACT scores are often required to apply to top education institutions as well, so these should be taken for the first time in 10thgrade and then re-taken in the following years if a higher score is needed. Check with the school to see if they offer an online prep class for these exams or check out the online resources and links available for studying and taking practice tests in advance of the real thing.
Honor and AP classes should be an option for high school students who want to enhance their transcript and learn at a higher level so when checking out the homeschool programs for high school make sure that these are listed. Another benefit to look for is the dual enrollment program which allows students to graduate with a high school diploma and an Associate degree due to the connection with an accredited college. This program is typically offered to 11thand 12thgraders and requires that they meet specific criteria to be enrolled and have the ability to manage both workloads. The guidance counselor is still very much part of this process and working with the student regularly to ensure that they are staying on course and that everything is progressing well. This achievement decreases the amount of college time after graduation and allows the student to add another enhancement to their application.
On the parents’ side, it’s important to have open communication and be consistently checking in with your teen to see how they are doing and managing the school work. High school homeschool students learn self-sufficiency and self-discipline which are characteristics that will help them as adults, but they can also take on too much without letting parents know and this can have an adverse effect on their education. The easiest way to be engaged and stay in touch is to use the parent portal provided so that you can look at grades and progress and support them where they need it most. This may mean letting them sleep in and start schoolwork at a later time or trying out different schedules until they find the one that works best for them. Every student is unique and the purpose of homeschooling is to give them the flexibility and environment that maximizes their skills and abilities to do a great job.
After doing the work, following the steps and making the accomplishments, the student will be ready to graduate and move to the next step whether that is directly into the workforce or onto further education at the college of their choice. The top homeschool programs for high schoolers are designed to create a successful learning atmosphere with solid curriculum, user-friendly tools and portal and providing direction along with organized documentation tracking. A quality support system from the school in form of teachers and administrative staff can help to make these years easier and well-organized for everyone. Whether homeschooling starts in high school or at an earlier age, make sure the platform has everything your teen will need to make this time smooth and positive so they can focus on studies instead of distractions.
Written by Ashly William
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Tag:ACT, college planning, curriculum, high school, homeschooling, SAT
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