Could I Start Homeschooling My Senior Year?

I've always attended public school, and this is my senior year of high school. Is homeschooling an option for me?

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Homeschooling is always an option. The question is whether it is the right option for your particular situation.

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Homeschooling offers a young adult many advantages. You are not bound by the school year or timetable. You can tailor your curriculum to meet your needs, your interests, and your schedule. You can take as many or as few courses as you choose, in whatever subjects you wish. You have far more scheduling flexibility than the typical high school student. Many homeschooled teens have combined their senior year studies with community college courses, paid work, community service, internships, or travel.

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Homeschooling in Virginia is easy for any grade level, including 12th grade. The requirements are the same for every grade level. Your parents have to submit a notice of intent to the school division at the beginning of the school year (or whenever you withdraw from school), along with a description of the curriculum you will be following. At the end of the school year, you have to demonstrate evidence of progress through a standardized test or evaluation, and submit the results to the local school division.

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So, what’s the catch?

Here it is: If you leave public school to homeschool during your senior year, you probably will not earn an official high school diploma.

According to the Virginia Department of Education, “school boards do not award diplomas to students who are not enrolled in public schools under their supervision.”

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Some states issue “certificates of completion” to homeschool graduates. Virginia does not do this, nor are there plans for it to do so in the future.

If you leave public school and homeschool high school for a year or two, and then return, you may possibly receive some high school credit towards graduation for your homeschool work. (Every school division handles transfer credit somewhat differently, so how much credit you receive may vary.) However, this is not an option if you homeschool your senior year, because you are not returning to public school.

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