Homeschooling High School: Diplomas and College Classes

Homeschooling HelpHomeschoolNYCHigh SchoolTeensCollege ClassesDiploma Equivalents
Written By Laurie Spigel

Scroll down to find:

  • High School Diploma Equivalents (there are six) and why you might not need one

  • College Courses where high school students can earn credits

  • Precollege Programs

  • Free Open courses

  • SPLASH Events

Colleges actively seek out homeschoolers. They find them to be independent, self-directed learners, and far more diverse than regularly schooled students. Ask the college you are interested in if their application process is any different for homeschoolers than it is for regularly schooled students. Many colleges use the same application process and requirements for all students, but some have additional requirements for homeschoolers.

Friends and family were aghast when my older son, after trying out public school in middle school, returned to homeschooling for high school. Repeatedly, I heard, “But I thought you wanted him to go to college.” or “What bout college?” Concerns about him applying to college as a homeschooler were needless. Homeschooling turned out to be an asset rather than a liability. Colleges respect these kids as independent learners and want them for their diverse educational backgrounds. —from Education Uncensoredby Laurie Block Spigel

READ these articles from Stanford and MIT that prove what I’m saying

In a Class by Themselves - article published in Stanford University’s alumni magazine, explaining why the university is so keen on homeschoolers. They add what they are looking for from a homeschooled student.

MIT’s Admissions page For Home Educators, explaining that their requirements are the same for homeschoolers as for other students, adding what they are looking for.

High School Diploma Equivalents

New York State does not issue a high school diploma or equivalency to homeschoolers. Read on about what the DoE does offer.

It is important to note that most private colleges DO NOT REQUIRE a diploma or equivalent. Most state schools, such as SUNY, do require a diploma or equivalent.

My sons were accepted to their first-choice schools, NYU Film School and College of the Atlantic (in Maine), and neither had a high school diploma or equivalency. Private colleges tend to ask for proof of four years of high school. We did this with a home-made transcript, test scores, letters of recommendation, a well-written essay and application, and a portfolio or interview.

  • Diploma from a distance learning or other high school.

  • Some schools accept a "letter of completion" which the DoE is supposed to provide (see below).

  • Some schools will accept a "letter of substantial equivalency" which is a DoE superintendent can provide but may prefer not to. (I have never heard of a NYC homeschooler who was able to obtain a letter of substantial equivalency. If you know someone, please let me know!)

  • Passing all requirements for five Regents examinations in: English, math, social studies, science, and a 5th Regents of the student’s choice.

  • TASC (formerly GED) or high school equivalency exam.

  • Completing 24 semester hours at a college (6 semester hours in English Language Arts, 3 semester hours in Math, 3 semester hours in Natural Sciences, 3 semester hours in Social Sciences, 3 semester hours in Humanities, and 6 semester hours in any other courses), totaling 24 credits.

Obtaining a Diploma from a Distance School

Homeschoolers can obtain a diploma from an accredited distance school, and some families prefer to use and”umbrella school” that offers accredited courses and will validate courses taken outside of their program. Below are two “umbrella schools” that have issued homeschoolers high school diplomas: North Atlantic Regional High School (with a campus in Maine) and Clonlara (with a campus in Ann Arbor, MI).

North Atlantic Regional High School (NARHS) will accept a student for just their senior year (for an additional fee), and also offers transcript services, consultations and course planning, and an accredited diploma. SUNY Maritime College accepted a NARHS diploma from one of my former students. This was many years ago, when NARHS offered no real program (which they do today). Here’s the parent’s review of NARHS from many years ago:

"We used NARHS for all four years of high school, and one of my sons attended SUNY Maritime. SUNY had no problem with the NARHS diploma. We were fairly happy with NARHS. However, we left in the last year of the "old" NARHS. The founder retired and sold the business to someone else, who changed various things. So I can't really comment on today's NARHS. At the time, they offered no courses and there was no distance learning option. It was entirely up to you to find your own courses, whether self-designed, community college, on-line, etc. Many people thought that NARHS offered some sort of "program" but it did not. Which was fine with me, as I wasn't looking for a program, just accreditation of the work we were doing already. They required a lot of documentation, but overall they were extremely flexible. You could do almost anything you liked, as long as you could document the work." ~~homeschooling parent

Clonlara offers distance courses for K-12and has an active campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with international affiliates. I know a family who used Clonlara for high school in order to obtain an accredited distance diploma. When their daughter applied to college they learned they didn’t need the diploma. They had a good experience with Clonlara. One of my students, who was attending Clonlara, needed outside courses validated, and I had to send them an outline and a signed letter in order to validate the student’s studies. Clonlara has a strong reputation and may require more ways of validating and may also charge more than NARHS.

NOTE: this information may be dated, since schools change all the time. When you research distance schools, ask if they will validate outside courses and what that process entails. Find out if they will accept a student for just their senior year and issue a diploma, what they would require for that diploma, and what the additional costs would be.

Letter of Completion from the DoE

Parents of homeschoolers who are approaching age 17, or are at the start of their senior year, should request, in writing, a Letter of Completion from the DoE homeschooling office. This letter states that you have fulfilled the homeschooling requirements. Some colleges have accepted this letter as a diploma equivalent, so please don’t point out that it isn’t one, just be aware that on close scrutiny it may not work as a diploma equivalent. This is because NYS does not require four years of high school.

The Letter of Completion has exactly the same content, whether a student in grade 11 or 12 receives it.

The NYC DoE Homeschooling Office prefers that you stop filing when you “age out” or turn 17 by June, in which case you do not need to file for your senior year. Of course, you can continue homeschooling for that fourth year of high school without filing with the DoE, and you can include everything done that year in the student’s high school transcript.

NOTE: Some homeschooling parents have had difficulty in obtaining the Letter of Completion. The DoE Homeschooling Office may decline to give it to the student if it is requested late in the year or near the end of grade 12. Lately, the DoE sometimes ignores or misinterprets the regs. If you want this letter, request it early in the year.

Letter of Substantial Equivalency

The homeschooling regulations state « For students of compulsory school age, the superintendent, upon request of the student, is required to perform the evaluation for the substantial equivalency determination. In the case of students beyond compulsory school age who ask for the evaluation for the substantial equivalency determination, the State Education Department strongly encourages the superintendent to perform this evaluation. »

Unfortunately, I have never met a homeschooling parent who was able to obtain this letter of substantial equivalency, even though they are “required” and “strongly encouraged” in the regs. If you know someone who has succeeded in obtaining this letter, or if you can refer other homeschoolers to a superintendent who is willing to comply with this request, please let me know.

Regents Exams

Regents exams are not a requirement for homeschoolers, but they can lead to a diploma equivalent. You need to have a passing score and have completed all requirements for the following five Regents exams, or you nee to have approved alternative assessment for these Regents exams: English language arts, one mathematics Regents (Algebra I, Geometry, or Algebra II), one sec ill studies Regents (US History and Government or Global History and Geography II), one science Regents (Living Environment, Earth Science, Chemistry, or Physics), global history and geography. Passing scores must be 65 or higher. Here are past Regents exams you can look at and use for practice.

You will have to request a seat for a Regents exam given at a NYC school. This can be a challenge, as some schools may not have any available seats. Call early in the year, requesting a seat in Sept. or early October for a January exam, or in January for a June exam. Expect to pay a fee. You may have better luck contacting a private school instead of a public school. When you call the school, ask to speak to the testing coordinator. You can also contact the Homeschooling Office to see if they can direct you to a testing coordinator in your district. Contact information (email and phone) for the NYC DoE homeschooling office can be found at the bottom of this page.

If you want to turn the five Regents scores into a diploma equivalency, you must send copies of the actual scores, along with the date and location of each Regents exam, in an application to the New York State Dept. of Education. This is the same process for obtaining a diploma equivalency with a passing score on the Home Equivalency Exam (TASC, formerly GED).

High School Equivalency (HSE) Exam (GED/TASC)

This exam was the GED, then the TASC, and now it’s the GED again. Here’s the homepage for the GED where you can make an account and begin to prepare. Usually you have to be over age 19, with no high school diploma, in order to qualify, but you can qualify at age 17 if you are a homeschooled student. You may need to make a request to the homeschooling office for proof of age and homeschooling status so you can qualify. I believe the Home Equivalency Exam is free.

Information on the GED

More information on the NYS High School Equivalency Exam

In order to turn the HSE exam into a diploma equivalency, you will have to send an application to the New York State Dept. of Education with a copy of your official test score and the date and place where you took the exam.

24 Semester Hours at College earning 24 credits

It is possible for a high school teen to earn 24 college credits as part of their high school experience. Scroll down to see college courses for high school students.

Credits earned must be in the following subjects: 6 credits (semester hours) in English Language Arts, 3 in Math, 3 in Natural Sciences, 3 in Social Sciences, 3 in Humanities, and 6 in any other courses.

You must be at least age 17 before you can apply to the New York State Dept. of Education for a high school diploma equivalency based on earning 24 college credits.

Here’s information on the college credit equivalency.

Here’s the application for college credit high school equivalency.

College Courses for High School Students

Reasons to Take College Courses in High School

  1. Earn grades from an accredited institution that can provide you with a GPA. More than one course grade allows you to create an average for a GPA. A course in English, history or humanities, as well as one in math or science (STEM), can indicate the student’s ability in different subject areas.

  2. Earn college credits that can be transferable. Credits are worth money, so taking free credit-bearing classes at College Now is a good deal. Credits can be used later towards a degree and also look impressive on a college application.

  3. Become comfortable on a college campus and in a traditional class setting. Taking one course a semester can introduce a student to campus life on a part-time basis, making full enrollment later an easier transition.

  4. Student ID usually comes with enrollment, even for a single course. This ID should allow access to the library, cafeteria, gym (if they have one), and other campus facilities.

    When my sons applied to college, they had earned 24 and 12 credits, respectively, during their high school years. Both chose to apply as entering freshmen rather than as transfer students. During their college years, they transferred previously earned credits as needed, such as making up credits for a course they chose to drop.

CUNY / College Now

Homeschooling parents, whose kids have taken courses through College Now, say that it's best to approach individual campuses and not just rely on the website. It is better to contact the colleges individually for more accurate course offerings. Here is a partial list of CUNY colleges with links, contact info and the College Now contact person (where available).

One parent’s comment: The staff at BMCC are helpful, kind, and prompt in all their replies. Many homeschooling parents recommended the biology department there. On their website, biology was not listed as a course offered in College Now, but after speaking to them it appears that they are going to allow our daughter to enroll in a biology lecture and lab. I encourage you to speak with the directors of the College Now program at each school to see what they might be able to offer you. To apply, an application, test scores, teacher recommendation (if you don't have Regent scores) are required. Do this sooner rather than later.

Eligibility for College Now

Homeschoolers in 11th and 12th grade (and in some cases 10th graders) are welcome to participate in summer or year-long credit-bearing courses for FREE, at any of the participating CUNY branches. Students need to prove academic readiness with a test score, PSAT or SAT or ACT, or with a GPA. My sons attended this program. They needed a minimum SAT score of 480 in English to take a class in English, History, Drama (any humanities course), or a 530 in math to take a class in math or science. Students are limited to one course per semester, but can take courses in summer as well as fall and spring. Popular courses, such as forensics at John Jay, music at Hunter, theater at Lehman, and others, fill up fast. Register early! It can help to go directly to the College Now office on the campus of your choice, speak to an administrator in that office and register in person. Here are a few College Now contacts on campus.

Below is a PARTIAL list of College Now on-campus offices. You can do a search for any CUNY branch and College Now, to find that office.

Pace University

High School Summer Bridge Program allows juniors and seniors with a good academic record the ability to take one introductory course for credit over the summer, for a fee. In the past, Pace has also offered precollege programs during the year. Campuses are in downtown Manhattan and Westchester.

Mercy College

I know homeschooled high school students who took credit-bearing classes at Mercy College (Dobbs Ferry Campus and midtown Manhattan Campus), paying discounted tuition (I believe it was 1/3 less than full price). They had to prove grade level, which they did by showing the Letter of Compliance (or IHIP Approval Letter). These students had to register during late-registration, choosing from what was still available. Knowing this in advance, they came prepared with a first, second and third choice for courses. Information about discount tuition for high school students is not on the website, so I suggest you call the admissions office at the campus of your choice (Manhattan: (877) 637-2946, Westchester: (914) 674-7600, ask for Admissions).

School of Visual Arts

My older son took courses here from age 13 on, at the Continuing Ed. Dept. (which had no age minimum) and in the precollege program for high school students (see below). There were no tuition discounts. Courses included animation, mask making and more.

Precollege Programs

Many colleges offer summer, fall and spring “precollege” courses for high school students, mostly in-person but sometimes virtually. Credit-bearing courses earn transferable credits , while other courses are non-credit. If there’s a college that interests your kid, visit their website and look for precollege and summer programs for middle and high school, which gives them a chance to try the place out.

Below are some precollege programs in and near New York City.

Columbia University precollege - 203 Lewisohn Hall, 2970 Broadway, MC 4119, NY, NY

Browse summer programs, programs during the academic year, and general course offerings. They also have two- and three-week special programs. No mention of credits, so courses may be noncredit. Ask them!

NYUPrecollege programs - 50 W. 4th St., NY, NY

Credit-bearing courses offered to 11th and 12th grades students, in a wide variety of subjects in the categories of arts & media, STEM, Humanities and Social Science, and Business. There is also a noncredit 5-week college writing course offered in summer, and a noncredit business webinar course.

School of Visual Arts - 209 E. 23rd St., NY, NY

For high school students ages 14-18. Summer precollege courses earn three credits, fall and spring Saturday courses earn one credit. Courses include animation, drawing, painting, film making, sculpture, photography, game cinematics and more.

The New School - Parsons Academy - 66 W. 12th St., NY, NY

Saturday precollege programs in art and music. An intensive summer program offers credits but the Saturday fall and spring programs are noncredit.

FIT (Fashion Institute/SUNY) - 227 W. 27th St., NY, NY

Summer, fall and spring Saturday precollege courses, noncredit, in fashion and the arts, including Toy Design, find arts portfolio, graphic design, jewelry design, photography, sewing, interior design and more. Additional high school programs.

Sarah Lawrence - just north of NYC in Bronxville (Westchester).

Credit-bearing summer courses including an intensive Writer’s Week, three-week summer Visual Arts Program, and week-long Hudson River Ecology course.

Online courses (mostly noncredit and free)

SPLASH events (Learning Unlimited)

Participating universities (Columbia, Cornell, Princeton, Yale, and many more) host one- and two-day programs for middle and/or high school students called SPLASH events. MIT SPLASH is the longest running Splash event, which takes place every year the weekend before Thanksgiving. Students often register for courses as soon as they come available, planning their Splash trip many months in advance. For middle school, MIT has an event called MIT SPARK (for grades 7-10, in March). For a fee, students have the run of the campus while current students and alum offer classes. These events help a high school student become comfortable on a college campus, while they learn and have fun. Here’s a map of SPASH events across the country.

Links to Related Info

  • Student Exchange Programs (High School Year Abroad / World Schooling)

    ————COMING SOON————-

  • What a College Application Needs

    • High School Transcripts

    • College Entrance Exams

  • Finding the Right College

  • Alternatives to College

  • Additional Resources

Have a question? Want to share a resource? Contact me.


Laurie Spigel
Next

World Schooling