High School HS question

[Fortune Teller]

How does it work if a child starts high school by homeschooling, and then transfers to a 'real' high school later on?  Without official transcripts I wonder how the local high school would place her, if say she were to transfer over for her sophomore year.  I suspect it isn't as easy as me going in there saying "she's a sophomore"...

Anyone have any knowledge or experience with this?  

Just trying to anticipate and plan for my daughter's future flip-floppiness :)

[Linda on the move]

High school isn't age based, its credit based. Students earn credits for specific  subjects. Highschools have the right to determine how to count what the student did before they came.

Generally, high schools only accept credit from "regionally accredited" schools.  There are ways to get that credit with homestudy by using on-line or coorespdence schools that are regiounally accredited.

However, there is a difference between being "accredited" and being "regionally accredited."  It comes down to who accredited the program, and if the high school recognizes the accrediting agency. If you are considering this path, it would be wise to check out who accredited the homestudy classes you are considering and find out if the major highschools where you live accept their credits.This is the tricky fine print that could screw things up.

There are homeschooling umbrella schools that create transcripts for homeschools based on what the parent said the child did, but these schools, even though they may be "accredited," are not usually "regionally accredited."

Another option is to homeschool for the beginning of highschool, and then attend junior college rather than highschool when ready for more formal study.

[Fortune Teller]

Eh, I'm not interested in doing an accredited program, even though I know it makes things easier if you anticipate a transfer or applications to college.

I guess what I was asking was how open public high schools are to evaluating and accepting alternative forms of education-  No transcripts, just perhaps (our) records and portfolios of her studies and learning experiences.  

I have heard of homeschoolers taking junior college coursework to gain some credits-  seems to work well as a gateway into college too, without an official diploma or GED.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Fortune Teller 

I guess what I was asking was how open public high schools are to evaluating and accepting alternative forms of education-  No transcripts, just perhaps (our) records and portfolios of her studies and learning experiences.  

I have heard of homeschoolers taking junior college coursework to gain some credits-  seems to work well as a gateway into college too, without an official diploma or GED.

Highschools in general don't accept credit for homeschooling. However, it really doesn't matter what happens "in general."  It only matters how the highschool your DD would be attending would view her studies. Call them.

The community college where I live limits the number of credit hours that can be taken by someone who has neither a diploma or a GED to 15 hours. You should check out your own community college and find out what their policies are.

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by Linda on the move 

However, it really doesn't matter what happens "in general."  It only matters how the highschool your DD would be attending would view her studies. Call them.

Agree! We were lucky to have a high school that was very receptive to self-led study. They granted my eldest dd credit for a lot of what she had done as an unschooler. I know this isn't something you can count on from all, or even most, high schools, but in our case it worked out really well.

Miranda