How Does a Homeschooled Senior Get a Diploma?
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion Archive: Archive April 2005:
How Does a Homeschooled Senior Get a Diploma?
I homeschool my third child, who is finishing up his junior year. We have done it since mid-term last year. Our school district will not grant a diploma to homeschooled high schoolers. They say that a diploma is a certificate of achievement, and that they only have the parents' word that they accomplished the requirements. This is so, regardless of whether you have kept meticulous records.
I know that there are a lot of diplomas that you can buy online, and bestow on your home schooler. However, are they "legal" for admittance to college, the military, etc?
We have friends who homeschooled all eight of their kids, and they went and got GED's. Is this as good?
My older kids went to public school and graduated. However, that was ten to fifteen years ago, and the school system was much better then.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
A GED serves the same purpose as a diploma, it basically means you have completed the requirements for graduation.
HOWEVER - now, in Louisiana, there are different *levels* of high school diplomas - there are different honors diplomas, there are some that indicate technical, etc. I can't remember all the details.
Someone who has homeschooled would be better qualified to answer your question. :-)
The SAT, and other such exams are more imprtant than a physical diploma. The colleges will want test results and this is the same for public school kids. Diplomas can be made as can transcripts. A great website for more information is listed below.
http://forms.donnayoung.org/planners/index.htm
The GED is designed to be an alternative to a diploma so yes, it's as good as it technically. The only problem with it is the stigma attached to it.
But in what context are you concerned about it?
That's really worth thinking about. I got my diploma and I have NEVER had to produce it for anyone. Even if I wanted to go to university now it would be irrelevent. As a 'mature student' I just don't need it.
If it's in terms of jobs I wouldn't worry. I have never applied for a job where I was asked for my diploma let alone whether I even received one. The standard question about education on an application asks what the last level of education to be completed was. Your child could honestly answer Grade 12 as he would have completed it. If somehow they did ask for a diploma he could explain that he was homeschooled and the state doesn't grant diplomas in the case. There are employers who look favourably on homeschooled applicants because they sometimes offer different strengths and skills then schooled ones.
If it's college your concerned about look into that now. Many trade schools won't be concerned with a GED at all because they often have people come to them from that route. Kids for whom a conventional school was a poor fit but trade school seems geared to their talents. Both my brothers left high school, wrote their GEDs and went on to a trade (aircraft engineers) with little trouble.
For university it's more of a mixed bag. Some are fairly rigid with admissions but many universities are crafting specific policies for homeschoolers and some (Harvard) actively recruit them. A HSer can write SAT's, submit portfolio's, etc.
Try homeschoolzone.com . They have some information in their FAQ section about graduation & hs diplomas. Good Luck! 
Karrie
We did our homeschooling thru Gateway Christian School in Memphis. After I sent in ds's final grades, they sent him a diploma,
Thanks, All! I, too, have never been asked to show my diploma. It is tucked away up on the closet shelf, and it is 39 years old!
You're right...a GED has a stigma attached, even though it is wrong. Somehow, people think that you are a "drop out".
I'll try those sites. Thanks again. I can always find answers here.
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