The transition from middle school to high school can seem like a daunting experience, but there is grace and FSP is here to help. (FSP offers an optional High School Certification Program, where we do your transcript!)
Although a student’s work in high school has more significant ramifications (college/career) than in the early years, the decision to home school through high school is really the same core decision as choosing to home school a child at any grade. More importantly, God’s grace is sufficient for us as we consider homeschooling at the high school level! It is helpful to remember that many others have gone before us (and their kids have graduated successfully).
Questions like, “How do I teach upper level math?” or “What about English and literature?” Or “I don’t remember biology!” can resonate with many of us.
But there are many options for families in FSP. Some families choose to study subjects primarily at home with self-created or packaged curricula (using resources such as Teaching Textbooks, Apologia, Alpha Omega, or Auralog).
Other families take advantage of online classes such as Write from the Heart, Write at Home, or classes through Potter’s School or Pennsylvania Homeschoolers.
Other good options include co-ops and courses through organizations such as Montgomery Christian Institute (MCI) or Chieftain Institute. For parents of juniors and seniors, the option of taking early college classes at Montgomery College may be something to consider. Many families choose a combination of home based education, outside learning and distance learning.
A great way to find out what curriculum options are available for high school students is to attend a home schooling conference and limit your focus to perusing only high school materials. As you make decisions about what homeschool high school should like, it’s important to answer the following questions for your own family:
- Why are we homeschooling?
Are the reasons still the same now that the child(ren) are older? - What do we want to build into our children (godliness and character) to prepare them for adulthood?
- What do we want our school schedule to look like considering our unique circumstances and capacity?
- What’s our budget?
{A smaller budget does not necessarily mean you have to provide an inferior education.} - What do we want our child(ren) to learn after having studied a given subject?
- What types of electives and extracurricular activities can we participate in? Do these contribute to the goals we have as a family?
By saying yes to a given activity, what adjustments will we need to make as a family? - How does our child learn best?
What type of curriculum or course would serve them? - Are there particular study skills or core academic skills that need to be taught in order to do high school work?
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