Who here has graduated a homeschooler? Jacob is only entering 6th grade, but I want to set him up for the future. I would like to use a curriculum that could carry us through graduation.

I've seen a few curricula that offer a diploma and even a graduation ceremony if you so choose. I guess I feel like that is kind of important and would like to explore that option.

Does it really matter what I do now in 6th grade? Or is that something I should just look into when he enters those upper grades? Am I a bit premature in that?

If you do not explore that option, do most HSers just go on to get their GED then? Does a GED limit them in certain areas?

In our state (IL), the parents can issue a high school diploma. I'm not sure if I will be doing this yet or not, but I've researched it just in case. Some of my friends do go with a purchased program that issues a diploma with the belief that it makes college entrance easier but I haven't researched that yet. Hmm, maybe I'll call university admissions here and ask them. I'll let you know if I do. ;)

I just called. The lady I talked to was so supportive. They have lots of homeschoolers. I just need to keep a transcript and have her take the ACT. They have a list of recommended classes, but they're pretty flexible. She encouraged me to call if I had any other questions.

Oh cool! So, what do you do? Have them take a GED or just the parent issued diploma? I'll have to research that for my state. Thanks! :)

My oldest just graduated from homeschool. I made out a transcript for him and he was accepted at NCState university! But he opted to go to Wake Tech to do his general college - cheaper, and an easier transition to college life. He has several friends going there as well. They have a great program to basically get an AS degree then a guaranteed transfer into UNC or NC State.

We are basically unschoolers, although he chose to take some classes in preparation for college. He took a calculus and physics class, we worked through a biology book, read a lot of lit and discussed it together ,etc...

I wrote his transcript and mailed it to the college. I also issued his diploma. (theoretically, I haven't actually gotten a diploma printed up -although I might if he wants one.

Who here has graduated a homeschooler? Jacob is only entering 6th grade, but I want to set him up for the future. I would like to use a curriculum that could carry us through graduation.

I've seen a few curricula that offer a diploma and even a graduation ceremony if you so choose. I guess I feel like that is kind of important and would like to explore that option.

Does it really matter what I do now in 6th grade? Or is that something I should just look into when he enters those upper grades? Am I a bit premature in that?

If you do not explore that option, do most HSers just go on to get their GED then? Does a GED limit them in certain areas?

I graduated our eldest in 2006. No GED, as that has a stigma attached. I issued a diploma from here, and wrote his transcript. He took the SAT's and the ACT. He had an odd enough combination of major/minor that there were only 5 schools in the country that had what he wanted. He applied to four and was accepted at all four with scholarship offers. Colleges are used to evaluating homeschoolers by now - ds didn't encounter any difficulties particular to being homeschooled.

I am gearing up this summer for my next highschool-aged child, as ds #2 will be in 9th grade. This is the time where I start keeping a transcript, tailoring coursework, etc. I don't really do anything before grade 9. The other thing I do in 9th grade is have them take their standardized test at the local public school - we are allowed to do that here at any time, but I only do it in 9th grade. This gives them an experience of testing in a public school setting *before* they're doing a PSAT, taking the anxiety edge off as it were. My children have always been homeschooled, though, so if your dc have already had some experience in being in school, you could probably skip that precaution.

Thanks mama! :)

Now...when you issue a report card from home, do you use an ABCDF system or Pass/Fail? How do you do that?

I'm using homeschool tracker, assigning a certain number of points for each assignment and giving a grade. I thought it would be easier for me so I can do an official GPA. If we do hs through high school I will not have her take the GED; I will issue my own diploma.

I did assign letter grades so he could have a GPA. We actually ended up needing his transcript before college apps, as he applied for and got a cool summer opportunity doing an internship thingie, so I was glad I'd been doing the transcript all along.

He took some community college courses as well and I just merged those grades in our homeschool transcript.

I just googled for the transcript form, found a whole bunch, and downloaded the one that felt best to me.

Also, meant to say before that there are plenty of places online where you can purchase diploma forms to fill in, some specifically geared to homeschoolers. We bought a beautiful one with his name in calligraphy and goldleaf - it's just beautiful and cost about $40 IIRC.

We did a ceremony here at home, but others join the state's homeschool graduation ceremony. Depends on the person's wishes, our ds wanted a home ceremony.