Good evening. I am a homeschooling mom of 5 children. We pulled our children from the ps about 2 years ago. My oldest is in 7th grade now and I am so torn as to what I should do in her high school years. I am praying that I can receive some advice from parents who have already dealt with this. My main worry is that if I don't enroll my kids into an "accredided" high school or teach through some unbrella school, my kids won't be accepted into a good college. I have been stressing over this issue for months now and would really like some honest opinions from other homeschooling parents. My husband asked if our children could still recieve a diplomia without going through an expensive curriculum. I appreciate any ideas or comments you may share with me. This is my first time and I worry I may be making a mistake with my children's education. Thanks again, Gail
My kids are all younger so I don't have actual experience but from everything I've read, you can home school high school without using an umbrella or "accredited diploma" program. There are many books and resources on homeschooling thru high school. Lots of colleges are accepting (and recruiting) homeschoolers because they are great students and love to learn. You might check out www.apologia.com and www.hslda.com for info on high school. Dr. Wile has a CD I know on homeschooling teens (and not just for the science that Apologia is known for) and HSLDA has lots of info too. My state HS organization has seminars, etc on the topic as well. www.heav.org I know lots of folks chose to use an "accredited" program and I have no clue what we'll do at this point (my oldest is a 4th grader) but I'm pondering this very question for the future. I also know many that don't have their children have been successful in getting into college. I'm sure the "vets" of the group will chime in soon. BTW, this is our first full year...we hit the one year mark in a week (woohoo!!). Rhonda C.
We have used Abeka and Abeka Academy for 13 years. My boys are graduating this May from Abeka Academy. Two thumbs up for Abeka Academy!
I have been assured again and again that my children will be accepted into a great college, university etc based on thier merit, thier education not the acredidation , After all how many colleges actually ask to see the diploma, and have any of you read an application to college that asks you if your school was acredited? I havent yet!
Here's a great page with information on the matter: http://learninfreedom.org/colleges_4_hmsc.html It has this surprising fact: The idea that you need a diploma ia a popular myth. Heck, my brother got into college after he dropped out of high school and without even a GED, he simply waited a few years until he was eligible for mature student status.
One thing I'm not sure of, whether universities pay any attention to 'accreditation'. This would be something to research with some universities before paying for expensive curriculum.
Many colleges are now actively recruiting homeschool students. My nephew (homeschooled through high school) is currently attending a local community college (with a scholarship) and is currently trying to decide where to continue his degree. He is looking at some really good schools too. We are homeschooling my sd who is in high school. We currently are using Abeka for literature and History but I am not sure I really like the way they are set up so I am looking at alternatives for next year. We use Saxon for Math and as a former teacher can tell you it is an excellent program to prepare the kids. We also use Apologia for our sciences. We even do labs and disections just like in the accrediated schools. Fear about college should really not hinder you in choosing to homeschool through high school. I have not met a homeschool student who did not get into the college they wanted to.
It depends on the school. You can check your local community college's website. There are some that are dependent on finances and some that are mainly academic. I am not sure which scholarship he got but I think it paid for a good deal of his tuition.
I don't know what state you are in, but in mine, since I am my own 'school' so I am able to give my own 'diploma' after my dc have completed the studies I require. I hope that makes sense. We do follow requirements for what our state univ. system requires for admissions but have tweaked for what we want for the children. These are curricula I plan to use and credits our 'school' require: 4 credits math ---Teaching Textbooks/Saxon 4 credits English --- Lightning Literature Voc. from Classical Roots/Jensen Vocab Writing Strands Grammar (undecided) 4 credits History ---Trisms (possibly Notgrass) 3 credits Science --- Apologia 2 credits music -- private 1 credit PE -- their choice 3 electives --their choice 2 credits language- their choice I feel like I've missed something, but that is the general idea. edit:1 credit Logic (I knew I forgot something) They are tested every year so that I know exactly where they academically, and they will take the PSAT and SATs when their peers do. I really haven't heard of ANY problems stemming from non-accredited hs'ers getting into universities. On the contrary, they are generally welcomed because they have been held to much higher academic standards than ps. Please try not to stress--I know that is nearly impossible. You can do this!!
I know I hear you too! IT is so hard, and my dd who has the chance to go out to a private school for the next two years , is thinking shed rather stay homeschooled all the way through, I would love that IF I get my Video text math! I also would maybe do SOS for her lang arts next year, as well as the History.. this year she has world history next would be US... Right? She will be 11th grade in that, YIIKEEESS!
