High School At Home
Beginning in ninth grade, the parent must begin making the student's transcript. Course work needs to be documented (through tests and lists of materials used) to support the grade and class shown on the transcript. View the Sunshine State standards here.
You do not have to abide by the above requirements, but having the appropriate number of credits on the transcript will look better. When your student is ready to graduate, you may award a diploma printed on your computer or at a print shop. The transcript and test scores (SAT or ACT) are what colleges and universities are interested in!
Many options, from online high schools to co-ops, are available to assist with higher level classes.
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Many families are considering college at home. See this page for more information.
Florida Virtual School
Home educated students may enroll tuition-free in Florida Virtual School, Florida's online, public high school. Students enrolled in the home education program with the county get priority over private (umbrella) school students; however, public school students have the highest priority so some classes may be difficult to get into. Existing students may choose first, so a good strategy would be to enroll in a less popular class to "get your foot in the door." Students younger than high school level may enroll in classes.High School Correspondence Programs
Some students prefer to earn their high school diploma online. Correspondence programs have been around for many years, but the internet has made online high school incredibly popular! Students who enjoy working at their own pace are excellent candidates for a diploma online program. Unlike Florida Virtual School, these programs charge tuition, but because they are not governed by Florida laws, their rules may be more flexible. They may offer different or more rigorous classes. Online high schools award diplomas to their graduates, so you will not need to print your own.Keystone High School
Texas Tech K-12 (offers dual college credit)
Univ. of Nebraska independent study high school
American School (the "old man" of high school correspondence)
Indiana University (online high school and college)
Dual Enrollment at the Local Community College
Your homeschooled student can attend college classes at the local community college to earn an Associate's degree or one or more vocational certificates. The best news is that tuition is FREE! Homeschooled students must only buy books.
Who Can Enroll in Dual Enrollment? Any homeschooled high school student with good grades can enroll. Minimum grade point average is shown below:
- 3.00 for an Associate in Arts Degree (transferable to state universities)
- 2.50 for an Associate in Science Degree (not transferable!)
- 2.00 for Vocational Certificate
Local Community Colleges by County
Below is a list of the community colleges where North Florida homeschooled students may enroll. Sometimes students are allowed to dual enroll at a community college not in their area, University of Florida, or Florida State University if the student can qualify for a program not offered locally. Check with your local college's advisor to see if this is a possibility.
- Florida Gateway College, for students in Baker, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, and Union Counties. Contact Linda Williams at 386-754-4443
- North Florida Community College, for students in Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor Counties. Contact Bobby Scott at 850-973-1612.
- Tallahassee Community College, for students in Gadsden, Leon, and Wakulla Counties. Contact Enrollment Services at 850-201-8555.
- Santa Fe College, for Alachua and Bradford County students. Contact Brenda Evans at 352-395-5490.
When Can a Homeschooled Student Begin Dual Enrollment?
Students must have at least enough high school credits to be in tenth grade. Your student must have completed Algebra I and know grammar in order to pass the admission test, the CPT. (See below.) Additionally, your local college may have age requirements. Please see the individual website for details.
Classroom or Distance Learning (On-line) Courses?
Homeschoolers are able to take regular classroom classes or distance learning classes. Both methods have benefits, but keep in mind that all courses will have a mixture of ages -- from teen to senior! If you are concerned about putting your teen in an adult environment, you may want to stick to on-line classes as much as possible. Distance learning also allows more flexibility in completion of assignments; however, the student must be motivated to keep up with his/her work without a teacher giving reminders. Students taking on-line classes must also go on-campus periodically for proctored exams.
Admission Process
- Obtain a notarized copy of your student's transcript. If you are enrolled as a homeschooler with the county, you can make a listing of course name, credit hours, and grade with the words "HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT FOR HOMESCHOOLED STUDENT" as the title. Make sure to include your student's name and social security number on the transcript.
- Plan to attend an orientation session for dual enrolled students. See your local college's website for a schedule.
- Call to schedule the Computerized Placement Test (CPT.) This computerized, multiple-choice test includes reading comprehension, sentence skills, and basic algebra. If your student does not pass an area, he/she must take "prep" courses (at your expense!) or wait a month or more to retake the test. SAT and ACT scores may take the place of the CPT.
- Decide together what classes your student wishes to take. Consult the catalog and the degree or certificate program for ideas.
- Visit a counselor to turn in all paperwork and register for classes. It is advisable to have both student and parent attend this as signatures are required.
Credit By Examination
BCC accepts CLEP and DANTES/DSST credit-by-exam testing credits. To earn credits in this manner, the student studies college-level material and upon passing the test is awarded college credit. How can a student study? College textbooks are readily available on the used market for very inexpensive prices if you get an older version. An outstanding and fascinating way to learn college level information is through "The Great Courses" of The Teaching Company, a business that makes videos the best of college professors from around the country. The entire family will enjoy The Teaching Company's programs!
A variety of CLEP and DANTES/DSST tests are available, and the cost to take each one is approximately $77, plus a "testing fee" which is usually $20-$25. See your local college's website or call for details of what course requirements are satisfied when a passing CLEP score is submitted.
While this price may seem steep, your student will be able to accelerate his/her graduation using CLEP and also will avoid being bored in classes that he/she has already covered at home. BCC offers the CLEP and DANTES/DSST tests on a monthly basis.
See the College Board website for more information on CLEP testing and the Get College Credit site for more information on the DSST/DANTES.
