How to Get a Homeschool Diploma
With families wanting a more personalized and flexible approach to education, homeschooling is becoming more popular than ever! However, a large barrier can be graduation — what happens when a homeschooler graduates high school?
Diplomas have always been a tool to unlock higher education and job opportunities. Homeschoolers can and do earn diplomas, although the process looks a little different. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about homeschool diplomas, from graduation paths to diploma fairness laws and more!
What is a Homeschool Diploma?
A high school homeschool diploma is awarded upon graduation, often created and administered by a parent. Many state education agencies do not award diplomas to homeschool students as they would to public high school students.
Like homeschool diplomas, traditional high school diplomas are awarded upon completion of specific graduation requirements for each student. However, these diplomas may be provided by the state or are state-sanctioned in some way. Public high school diplomas are always accepted by colleges and employers as proof of a high school education, while homeschool high school diplomas may not be as readily accepted.
In many states, the graduation requirements for homeschoolers are decided by each family instead of being regulated by the state’s education department. In states without diploma fairness laws, some colleges and employers may not accept homeschool diplomas. To avoid this, many homeschoolers take the GED or HiSET exam to earn an official high school equivalency diploma.
Why is a Homeschool Diploma Important?
For a student, a high school diploma represents years of hard work and dedication in school and is the key to future opportunities and careers. Diplomas are also important for colleges and universities (many won’t let you apply without one) and employers because they serve as proof of education.
Most U.S. states recognize homeschool diplomas as equivalent to traditional high school diplomas, allowing homeschool graduates to apply for college or jobs without discrimination. A diploma or its equivalent can be the key to your student’s future, so it’s important to know what your options are and how to get one.
How to Get a Homeschool Diploma
1. Create a graduation path, or four-year plan.
When you create your graduation path, you’ll be setting yearly course completion goals and the amount of credits needed to graduate. Also known as a “four-year plan,” this path helps ensure your student finishes their education on time.
Many parents model their graduation path after their state’s public high school graduation standards, with a few personalized touches. If your student is being homeschooled after the 9th grade, it can be helpful to adjust your graduation path based on already completed courses. You can find your state’s high school graduation standards on your education department website or view our MiaPrep Online High School graduation requirements as an example:
| Course Category | RequiredCredits | Notes |
| English | 4 | Students must complete English 1 and 2. |
| Math | 3 | Students must complete Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2. Four credits are recommended for many colleges. |
| Science | 3 | Students must complete at least 3 of these 4 credits: Integrated Physics and Chemistry (replaces Physical Science), Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. |
| Social Studies | 4 | Students must complete World History, U.S. History, and either Civics or Economics |
| World Language | 2 | Both credits must be for the same language. |
| P.E./Health | 1 | Required credits must be 0.5 PE credit and 0.5 Health credit. |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 1 | Students must complete at least two of the following: Theatre Arts 1, Theatre Arts 2, and Elements of Art 1. |
| Electives | 6 | Students may take additional or advanced courses in any of the above categories to satisfy elective requirements. Students must complete Financial Literacy.Note that many elective courses are 0.5 credits. |
| Total credits | 24 |
2. Meet your state’s homeschooling requirements and standards.
If it’s your first time homeschooling, you may be surprised to learn that homeschooling is not federally regulated. The homeschooling laws and regulations you need to follow are determined by your individual state.
Your state may require certain subjects, annual testing, or submission of test scores to your local superintendent. To make sure you’re in compliance with your state’s laws, check out our easy-to-follow State Laws page.
3. Keep thorough records of academic progress.
Thorough record keeping is critical for high school students! After all, how can you award a diploma without a record of what they’ve learned? Keeping thorough records of your child’s high school academic career can ensure they’ve met all requirements by graduation. Some items to keep track of include:
- Subject and course names
- Credit hours
- Final grades
- Standardized test results
- Attendance, if applicable
- SAT or ACT scores, if applicable
We recommend creating a homeschool portfolio for safekeeping. This can be a physical folder, binder, or even a digital folder. If you choose an online high school curriculum, the record keeping may be completed automatically for you.
4. Complete testing and submit records, if required.
Depending on your state’s laws, you may be required to test your high school student annually and provide these records to your superintendent or state agency. Some states also require you to notify them when your student graduates or to provide a homeschool transcript proving that they have completed their graduation requirements.
Once you have completed these steps and your student is ready to graduate, you can award your student their hard-earned diploma! There are also many homeschool groups and organizations that can assist you with awarding your student a diploma.
You can create your own diploma or order one online.
You can also have an at-home graduation ceremony or contact your local homeschool organization to see if they host one your student can participate in.
Are Homeschool Diplomas Accepted Everywhere?
Generally, homeschool high school diplomas are accepted by most colleges and employers, including the military. Most colleges, universities, and employers will recognize a homeschool diploma as valid but may ask for additional documentation to demonstrate academic quality or rigor.
Some states, such as Ohio and Florida, have laws in place that protect homeschooled students from this type of bias. If your state doesn’t have a diploma fairness policy, there are some ways to enhance the credibility of your diploma to an employer or school.
In addition to your homeschool diploma, consider providing:
- A high school transcript or portfolio
- Any SAT or ACT test scores
- State exam results
Common Misconceptions About Homeschool Diplomas
- Colleges or employers won’t accept homeschool diplomas.
This is simply not true! Many colleges and universities around the country accept homeschool diplomas. At most, your admissions advisor may ask to see your transcript to verify your education’s rigor, but most colleges won’t disqualify a homeschooled applicant due to their diploma.
Similarly, an employer may request additional documentation, such as a transcript — but otherwise, most employers in the country will accept a homeschool diploma as proof of education.
- Homeschool diplomas don’t offer a real graduation.
People may think that without a formal ceremony, a homeschool diploma is less significant. Again, this is simply not true! A diploma is a huge accomplishment for a student and signifies all their hard work and dedication. No matter how big or small the ceremony is, the diploma itself is just as meaningful.
Many homeschoolers have at-home graduation ceremonies or attend ceremonies held by a local co-op or homeschool group. Whatever the case, many homeschoolers choose to celebrate their graduation in their own unique way — no pomp and circumstance necessary!
- Homeschool diplomas are only valid in certain states.
There’s a misconception that homeschool diplomas are only recognized in the state where the student was homeschooled. This one is tricky because it depends on the state you live in and which state you’re planning to work or go to school in. Many education departments across the country don’t recognize homeschool diplomas since the homeschool process is not under their jurisdiction. If your student plans to attend school or work outside of the state their diploma was earned in, it’ll be up to their school or employer whether or not their diploma will be considered valid.
- Homeschool diplomas aren’t as challenging to get.
Some believe that a homeschool education isn’t as challenging as a traditional public school education, making a homeschool diploma less valuable. Many states hold homeschools to the same academic standards as public schools and include requirements such as subjects, instructional hour minimums, and standardized testing. Homeschools are often just as rigorous, and sometimes even more so, than public high schools.
Homeschooling in High School with MiaPrep
When considering homeschool for your high school student, it’s important to include your student’s plans for the future. If you’re comfortable creating your own four-year plan and diploma, then MiaPrep can be a great option for you! Or if you’d prefer additional instructor support and a traditional diploma and graduation ceremony, check out MiaPrep Online High School! Whichever option you choose, earning a high school diploma is a huge accomplishment, and we’re here to help you get there!
To help you start homeschooling your high school student, we have an extensive state law guide and funding resources to get you started. In addition, our friendly customer service team is always standing by to help with anything you need!
Published 9/3/2024