Homeschool high school: transcripts, testing and college

Graduation and diplomas

In many states the parent decides when a student has finished high school and issues the diploma and transcript. Some states set rules for homeschool graduation or diplomas – your state guide shows any rules we found, and the U.S. Department of Education points families to their state education agency for diploma options.

Transcripts

• There is no national transcript format. Colleges want a clear list of courses by year, with credits, grades, a GPA, a grading scale and a signature.
• Many homeschools use the usual school convention: 1 credit for a full-year course and 0.5 for a semester course. Say on the transcript how you count credits.
• Mark the level of each course – Regular, Honors, AP, IB or Dual enrollment – and list where outside courses were taken.
• Keep course descriptions and a reading list: some colleges ask for them.

Use our transcript template, or build it from your records in Classfern Family.

Working out GPA

We use the same rules as Classfern Family’s transcript builder:

• Grade points: A 4.0 (A+ also 4.0), A- 3.7, B+ 3.3, B 3.0, B- 2.7, C+ 2.3, C 2.0, C- 1.7, D+ 1.3, D 1.0, D- 0.7, F 0.
• Weighted GPA: add 0.5 for Honors and 1.0 for AP, IB and dual enrollment courses – but never to an F.
• Pass (P): earns credit but isn’t counted in the GPA.
• Credit-weighted: multiply each course’s points by its credits, add them up and divide by the total credits.

Show both the unweighted and the weighted GPA, and print the scale on the transcript. Colleges may recalculate GPA in their own way.

SAT, ACT, CLT and AP Exams

• SAT and PSAT: when you register, use the high school code for homeschoolers, 970000.
• ACT: homeschool students sign up themselves by creating a MyACT account. ACT says its scores are recognized by every U.S. college and university.
• CLT: the Classic Learning Test can be taken online at home. Check that the colleges your student is applying to accept it.
• AP Exams: homeschoolers generally can’t order AP Exams themselves. Arrange to test at a school that gives them – contact its AP coordinator early, because schools submit exam orders by mid-November.

GED and HiSET

• The GED has four subject tests: Mathematical Reasoning, Reasoning Through Language Arts, Social Studies and Science.
• The HiSET covers five areas: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts – Reading and Language Arts – Writing.
• Which test your state offers, and who can take it (including minimum ages and rules for under-18s), is set by each state.
• A homeschool diploma and a high school equivalency credential are different things. Many homeschoolers never take either test – check what your student’s colleges, employers or the military ask for.

Dual enrollment

Dual enrollment means taking college courses while in high school, for both high school and college credit. Whether homeschoolers can join a state program, and who pays, depends on your state and the college – ask the college’s dual enrollment office and check your state guide. On the transcript, list the college and mark the course “Dual enrollment”.

Applying to college

• Colleges set their own requirements for homeschooled applicants – check each college’s admissions pages for a homeschool section.
• On the Common App, the parent usually takes the school counselor’s role for a homeschooled student – submitting the school report, the transcript and a counselor letter. Check the Common App help center for the current steps.
• Federal student aid: a student who completed secondary education in a homeschool can qualify, if the homeschool is treated as a homeschool or private school under state law (and has a homeschool completion credential where state law requires one).

Going back to school in high school

If your teen moves to a public high school, the district (and sometimes the state) decides which homeschool credits count toward its diploma. Some districts review the transcript and work, some use tests or a trial period in the next course, and some award no credit for homeschool work. Ask the school counselor before enrolling, and bring the transcript, course descriptions and test scores. See going back to school: placement and credits.

Planning several years of courses? Classfern Family’s transcript builder keeps courses, credits and grades together and works out both GPAs for you.