20+ Credits Needed for Graduation

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast: 20+ Credits Needed for Graduation.

20+ Credits Needed for Graduation

Lots of homeschooling parents feel intimidated by transcripts. They worry if they will include the correct courses and credits for a successful launch for their homeschool high schoolers into the next phase of life.

That’s why I (7Sister Vicki) am excited to talk about homeschool transcripts! I know this can be a stressful topic for new homeschooling parents, but once you get used to it, it’s a fun game!

Start with: This is a game to learn to play!

Creating your teen’s homeschool transcript is a game. It can be fun!

So, let’s all take a deep breath and say to ourselves, “This is a game. I can play the game, and it can be fun.”

So we practice a positive attitude, and it won’t be so bad! (Believe me, it is true. We have successfully helped our teens and hundreds of our local advisees create a successful transcript.)

There’s not ONE right way

Anyway, let me remind you that there’s not one right way to homeschool high school. (We say that all the time!) And it is especially true about transcripts.

There’s not one right way to do transcripts. Even if you had a teen in a public school, every school’s transcript looks different. Thus, you get to adapt anything I share to meet your teens’ needs.

BTW- at 7SistersHomeschool, when you download our transcript package, you will find a transcript in an editable format that we have used with all our teens. You, too, can use it to make your own transcript. The how-tos are all included! It has been useful for homeschool graduates for admission into college, the military, trade schools, or whatever their next steps are.

Just like there’s not one right way to create a transcript, there’s not one right way to decide how many credits to put on the transcript. Every state has a different set of requirements for what kinds and number of credits are needed for graduation.

In our umbrella school, we had kids from Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Thus, we had to require the highest number of credits from each state’s graduation requirements. Our teens needed twenty-six credits on their transcripts.

With this in mind, adjust these tips for your teens’ needs and your state’s requirements.

Courses your teens need on their transcripts

Homeschool high schoolers need several kinds of courses on their homeschool transcripts:

Core courses

The core courses are the basic academics that teens need for graduation. Most states require the same core subjects, but may vary in the number of credits for each category.

Core courses for the homeschool transcript include:

• English/Language Arts (ELA)– usually four credits
  • ELA usually includes literature and literature analysis, writing, vocabulary, grammar/editing, and public speaking
    • Literature can be a mix of genres or include an emphasis on one topic, such as American Literature, Cinema Studies for Literature Learning, British Literature, or other specialty topics such as C.S. Lewis Studies.
• Maths- usually three or four credits
  • These credits usually include Algebra and Geometry; many states also require Algebra II. College-bound teens may need Pre-Calculus or Calculus, according to their major. Some states add Financial Literacy or Consumer Math to these requirements.
• Social Studies/History- usually three or four credits
  • Many states require American History, World History, some Civics, some Economics, some Geography, and some Social Sciences like Psychology or Human Development.
• Science- usually three or four credits
  • Many states require Biology and Chemistry credits. Some also include Health, Physical Science, or Physics.
• World Languages- usually two to three credits
  • Usually, states will require that two of the credits be in the same World Language. (Teens love our Cousin Karim Morato’s Homeschool Spanish Courses.)

Other required courses

Many states have additional required credits, such as:

• Physical Education- usually one or two credits
  • This can include sports leagues, lessons, or fitness courses such as 7Sisters Foundations of Physical Fitness and Framework for Physical Fitness.   (7Sisters’ Fitness Courses include how-to videos by personal trainers.)
• Fine Arts- usually one credit
  • This can include drama, art, music, and sometimes dance, if it’s not counted as Phys Ed.
• Technology- usually one credit
• Career Pathways- usually one to four credits
  • A few states require Career Exploration, followed by courses that build experience in a possible career choice.
    • For instance, teens interested in a Science major, all of their sciences count as Career Pathways
    • Teens interested in non-college or trade schools. For instance, if  Early Childhood Eduation is a teen’s Career Pathway, shadowing, volunteering or working at a daycare or preschool, as well as 7Sisters Early Childhood Education textbook.

Elective courses

Most states require some elective credits (usually one to four credits). Many homeschool high schoolers have more than the minimum elective requirement. That’s because we can include ALL of their educational experiences on the transcript to highlight the richness of learning.

Electives are topics that interest your teens, they want to explore for fun, or are extra courses related to a favorite core course.

So, let’s say your teen had all the fine arts they needed, but they enjoyed being in a choir. They can count those choir hours as a Choir Elective.

One of my teens was interested in the History of Church Music. He created his own credit in that topic.

Elective credits add sparkle to the transcript. It also shows that your teen is self-motivated and can explore an interest.

Don’t be intimidated. Transcripts are a game.

There you have it! Since transcripts are a game, you may as well show off your teen’s excellent high school experiences! Never exaggerate or fib, but do show off your teens’ educational strengths!

Keep your attitude positive! You can do this!

Stay in touch!

• Share your questions on our fun, encouraging 7SistersHomeschool Facebook Group.
• Encourage your homeschool at 7SistersHomeschool’s Instagram and TikTok.
• Get helpful ideas on 7Sisters Homeschool’s Pinterest.
• Relax and learn together on 7 Sisters Homeschool’s YouTube channel.

Join Vicki for encouragement as you plan your teens’ credits for the homeschool transcript.

For more on transcripts, check out:

• An Authoritative Guide to the Homeschool Transcript
• GPA on the Homeschool Transcript
• College Attractive Transcripts for Homeschool High Schoolers
• How to Get Homeschool Transcripts Exactly Right

Thank you to Seth Tillman for editing today.

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