Pros and Cons of Homeschooling High School
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Is homeschooling high school a good idea? We’ll go through the pros and cons of homeschooling high school so you can make an informed decision.
As a new homeschooler, I often wondered why the homeschool groups we joined always had a huge number of elementary school-aged kids but only a handful of high schoolers. After a few years, we realized that homeschooling high school scared most homeschooling parents back to public school.
There are absolutely pros and cons of homeschooling high school, but it doesn’t have to be as intimidating as you may think it is.
Pros of Homeschooling High School
There are some great positives that come with homeschooling your high schooler. These will vary from family to family but, in general, these are some of the perks of homeschooling your teen:
Personalized Curriculum
Rather than sticking to a set curriculum and being limited to the classes your local school offers, high school homeschoolers can explore any subject that they are interested in. We have gone back and forth between homeschooling and public school and this is what my kids miss the most when they are in public school.
Self-paced learning
Some kids do things at their own speed, whether that means flying through material that is easier (or they are interested in) or taking a bit of extra time to understand the information they are studying.
One of my family’s favorite tools to allow kids to go at their own pace is Study.com, an online learning platform that lets kids learn at any pace they’d like. Because they can access their courses on their phone, computer, or tablet, it is really easy to take advantage of any extra time and use it to move ahead in a favorite class. I’ve found that when given the option, my kids have usually spent more time learning, rather than less and since they are in charge of how and when they learn, they often retain more information.
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More opportunities for hands-on learning
One of the best things about homeschooling is it gets rid of all the busy work so teens have more time to focus on hands-on learning opportunities, including volunteer work or getting a part-time job. As I’ve watched my own teens, they’ve learned some very important lessons through their work experience and it having the experience of earning their own money has helped them to think ahead to how they want to provide for themselves in the future.
Homeschool High School in a Safe Environment
One of the sad facts of life today is high school is not always a safe place. If you live in an area where you are worried about your teen’s safety at school or have experienced negative peer pressure and your teen wants to step away from that, homeschooling high school may be a great option.
That being said, there are safety risks everywhere, so I wouldn’t make this a primary consideration, but it is an important one for many parents.
Travel without getting behind in school
Some families want to travel more often (or even travel full-time). In a traditional school environment, students would miss too much school but homeschoolers can take school with them wherever they go. Traveling can be a great way to learn more about other cultures, visit educational museums that aren’t available locally, and learn important life skills.
Homeschooling high school can let teens graduate early
For teens who are very self-motivated, graduating early or taking college classes in high school and graduating with an associate’s degree may be an option. The simplest option is to earn college credits through Study.com (just double-check with your future college to be sure the credits you choose transfer).
Some local community colleges offer low-cost or free tuition to homeschooled high school students so that may also be a good option if that is available in your area.
Learn valuable time management skills
Homeschooling high school often lets students be in charge of their own schedule to some degree. With that comes the responsibility of managing their time and using it to do the tasks that are most important. Having a flexible school schedule also lets teens work at times that are optimal for them, which may help them be more efficient, but also requires them to learn some important time management skills.
Cons of Homeschooling High School
As with anything, there are some negatives to homeschooling in high school. Again, every family is different (and some of these may not even be a negative to you) so you’ll need to decide the weight you place on any of these issues.
Students may graduate with a non-traditional high school diploma
This will vary state by state but in many places homeschooled high schoolers will either graduate with a homeschooled diploma (which is not accredited) or take their GED. An alternative is to complete an associate’s degree by the time the student graduates high school because once they have their associate’s degree future colleges and job applications will not ask about high school.
Homeschooled high schoolers have the option to earn college credits through Study.com or their local community college if they are concerned about not having a traditional diploma.
Some students prefer the structure of a traditional high school
What works for one teen may not work for another. Some of my kids love working independently and others thrive in the more social environment of a traditional high school. As a parent, you’ll need to evaluate your child’s personality to decide which option is best for them. There are plenty of ways to provide structure in your homeschool day and find opportunities to socialize with friends while homeschooling but some teens may prefer a traditional high school.
Milestones look a bit different
Traditional milestones such as prom and a large graduation may look different when homeschooling high school. Some kids love that they can create milestones that are meaningful for them and many homeschool groups even offer homeschool prom and other events. Other teens may feel like they are missing out by not participating in the same milestones as some of their friends.
Tips to homeschool high school the easy way
If you decide to homeschool high school, there are some ways to simplify the process and make sure teens get the individual education they need.
- Join a local homeschool group to get access to group events, parties, and field trips
- Provide opportunities for your teen to work ahead in subjects they enjoy using online platforms such as Study.com that make it easy to explore a wider variety of subjects than students would get in a traditional high school
- Be flexible and ready to make changes if something isn’t working. That’s part of the beauty of homeschooling. You can always pivot if you need to
- Connect with other parents who are homeschooling high school. high school parents are in a different place than homeschooling parents with younger kids so it helps to have someone experienced who can offer advice
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