Homeschooling Highschool
Helpful High School Links
Be sure to click around on any of the websites I have linked to because you can learn so much about high school and resources just by “vegging out” for a couple (several!) hours and following rabbit trails! Just make sure you are learning from reputable sources.
Lots of good blanket, basic info here. This is the program we use for lower grades and several courses for upper.
https://allinonehighschool.com/college/
https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/authoritative-guide-to-planning-homeschool-high-school/
https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/homeschool-high-school-planning/
https://thecurriculumchoice.com/high-school-homeschool-curriculum/
For curriculum choices for high school
Some general guidelines to get you thinking and started toward your transcript. Remember, just adding the word “Official” to your transcript makes it...official! Having it notarized is the final step for presenting to a college and most require it to be in a sealed envelope.
https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/authoritative-guide-to-homeschool-high-school-transcript/
https://www.homeschool.com/articles/homeschool-high-school-transcript-template-download/
https://www.homeschool.com/articles/free-guide-to-creating-homeschool-high-school-transcripts/
https://www.homehighschoolhelp.com/blog/add-an-abbreviated-activities-list-to-your-transcript-1
https://blog.prepscholar.com/how-do-you-calculate-gpa
This is a blog about calculating the GPA for your transcript.
What does “hours of instruction mean” in earning credits in homeschool high school?
When a student is in traditional school, the phrase “hours of instruction” connotes time sitting in a classroom, learning from a teacher. In homeschooling high school, “hours of instruction” can happen a number of ways:
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Time with parent, tutor or mentor discussing or experiencing the subject
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Independent study with textbook (with parent guidance when necessary)
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Independent study by personal research
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Participating in online courses
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Live (for instance, our friends at FundaFunda Academy or True North Academy.)
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Self-paced (for instance, self-paced Fine Arts)
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Educational experiences
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Movies, documentaries
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Dual enrollment college courses
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CLEP testing
https://www.yearroundhomeschooling.com/tracking-high-school-credit-hours-non-textbook-subjects/
More info and examples for transcripts:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_sZZ5tHaIPKauY6EO_ifvCMHuv7tfdJ6/view?usp=sharing
This is what I used to add the extra recognition pieces to my 3rd child’s transcript!
Below is generally what you will find if you are wondering if you can add one of the “Cum Laude” designations to your child’s diploma (we did!):
Summa Cum Laude – This is the highest honor you can receive as a student, and it shows you were among the best students in your year academically. In Latin, the phrase “Summa Cum Laude” means “With the highest honor.” To attain this honor, you need to have a GPA of 3.9, which means you need to get As in all your classes.
Magna Cum Laude – It’s the second level of honors at a high school graduation, and to qualify for it, you need a GPA of 3.75. “Magna Cum Laude” means “With great honor” in Latin.
Cum Laude – The phrase “Cum Laude” means “with praise” in Latin, and the honor is given to students with a GPA of 3.5. It’s the lowest of the three Latin cords, indicating that a student has a few Bs in their transcripts. Nonetheless, it is still an honor to be proud of.
https://www.homehighschoolhelp.com/
This is a giant website with great blog articles and helps. Beware….she sells her programs! (If you want to look at these, please ask around as some of us bought into it ;)
THIS IS WHAT I REFER TO OVER AND OVER…the state requirements for graduation:
file:///C:/Users/pooh_/Downloads/sidebysidegraduationprograms030114.pdf
***Tell me if you are unable to open and view this! You may need to copy and paste to your browser search bar***
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.mfwbooks.com/downloads/pdfs/HS_Course_of_Study_2022.pdf
This is how I started planning for my big kids and adapted as I found Texas requirements, even though I know I don’t specifically have to fulfill them to graduate my student.
https://www.mfwbooks.com/wps/portal/c/HSPlanningGuide
This is a pretty in depth guide to help you along the way. I really don’t do these, but probably should!!
https://allinonehighschool.com/foundations/
This is a great course by Easy Peasy... Course Description: Students will gain foundational knowledge to apply to life and learning in the years to come. The major topics covered are character, critical thinking, logic, public speaking and study skills. Note taking, test taking, planning, reviewing and time management will be learned and practiced. Students will explore learning styles and a variety of study methods. Students will learn how to research, evaluate resources and use unique primary sources to learn about the past. Public speaking topics include active listening, overcoming fear, job interview skills, business communication, as well as preparing and giving a variety of types of speeches. Logical fallacies will be taught and examined in propaganda and in a variety of bias examples found in media and in the classroom. Daily critical thinking exercises as well as logic and brain training games will sharpen students’ focus and attention. A short daily reading based on a character trait will remind students of how their attitudes and actions affect others around them. Other minor topics include manners and etiquette, reading cursive, signature practice, money management, internet safety, personal information safety and spotting online scams.
The next 3 links are about the TSI or Accuplacer exam which is needed for college admission, especially to junior colleges like Navarro. Navarro College has an open door policy. You apply with only an “official transcript” and are admitted. You then take the TSI (whether applying as dual credit student or college student) to assess your readiness for college level classes. If you pass the reading comprehension and writing portions you are able to take classes like History and English, etc. If you pass the math portion you can take math and science classes. Check out the class description of the courses you are interested in and it will list prerequisites. Entry level classes will generally list which TSI portion(s) you need to have passed in order to register for that course. If you fail a portion, you can retake it or register for a remedial class. You are not allowed to register for remedial classes as a dual credit student.
https://www.cedarvalleycollege.edu/apply-reg/testing/pages/faq-tsi-assessment.aspx
https://www.cedarvalleycollege.edu/apply-reg/hsprog/pages/tsi-dual-credit.aspx
https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students/prepare-for-accuplacer/practice
Dual Credit links:
THIS IS A REALLY COOL LINK to check out to assist you in WHERE to put your Dual Credit COLLEGE courses on your high school transcript! In other words, what does this college course equal in high school credits?
https://www.navarrocollege.edu/dual-credit/partnership.html
If your student has any thoughts at all of playing a sport in college you will need to check out the next 2 links regarding eligibility.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/eligibility_center/Student_Resources/CBSA.pdf
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/eligibility_center/Student_Resources/Home_School_Toolkit_for_Public.pdf
If your child may consider the military at any point (I had NO IDEA we would need to consider this option LOL!):
https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Apply/Home-Schooled-Candidates.php
Here is some examples and info for trade schools!
https://www.best-trade-schools.net/programs/
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/admissions/apply/status/first_freshmen/
This is Texas Tech’s admission requirements. If you scroll down you can click on a portion to view the high school course requirements.
http://navarrocollege.edu/attachments/admissions/Checklist.pdf
NC’s admissions guide/checklist.
https://collegeprepgenius.com/
This is all about preparing to take the SAT if that is something you are wanting to include. Beware, it is a website selling the program! Some of us have this if you want to take a look. They are usually at the homeschool conferences as well.
This is an odd new bill requiring public schools to teach students how to interact with peace officers. Just thought this was an interesting FYI.
https://tea.texas.gov/graduation.aspx
This is just a general tab on TEA’s website regarding graduation requirements with lots of links you can click around on.
This is the LOOONG version of graduation/course requirements. **Do not open this if you don’t love reading very wordy, complicated, in depth documents. The only reason I look over this every now and then is to get ideas of a class to fulfill a specific requirement or to double check what I was thinking on something specific.
Updated links to take you to the right documents: https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/ch074b.pdf
https://fhs.myfisd.com/explore-fhs/academics
This one has a really huge comprehensive high school planning guide from a texas school district for next year. I love the checklists. If you take time to scroll through the subjects you can see many options for the credits you’re looking to fill.
Some super helpful links just by clicking around on the right things on their website:
https://fhs.myfisd.com/explore-fhs/ccr
VIRTUAL COLLEGE TOURS! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/u/1/d/1sO7pVos0EvK0BvXoMbnyg00K6r7hXbOQE0HNXF4N4eM/htmlview?urp=gmail_link&gxids=7757
Getting ready for SAT chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1628015706/myfisdcom/uwoxh4hehyyclsxuxbwb/pdf_a-parents-guide-getting-your-teen-ready-for-the-sat.pdf
Career choice/path links from their site:
https://www.careeronestop.org/default.aspx
https://texasrealitycheck.com/
https://www.episd.org/cms/lib/TX02201707/Centricity/Domain/173/TEA%20HB5%20Graduation%20Toolkit.pdf
This one is much like the one above from Friendswood but directly from TEA so it covers their specific requirements. Don’t get confused by that first section with 3 credits needed. That is bare minimum to graduate and doesn’t fulfill most college admission requirements. Remember to look for that endorsement or Recommended path. It’s basically 4 credits in math, English, science, and social sciences plus the other credits like PE, FA, etc. Stay focused on your long term goals and remembering that your child may want to enroll in a college program when they are 30 and would do well to have fulfilled the same requirements as other students comparable in age.
https://texasrealitycheck.com/
https://twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/career-exploration-trends
http://www.texascaresonline.com/
https://twc.texas.gov/jobseekers/career-schools-colleges-students
https://jwuonline.emsicc.com/?radius=®ion=Boston-Cambridge-Newton%2C%20MA-NH
Career assessment tool
https://allinonehighschool.com/2019/05/19/low-cost-college-credit/ is a little info about ACE exams and if you read the comments, there is more info including CLEP, DSST, etc.
How to Pay for College Without Student Loans
https://www.tstc.edu/programs/
https://www.7sistershomeschool.com/tips-for-homeschooling-high-school-interview-with-natalie-mack/