Homeschool Transcripts
Taking the Mystery Out of High School Recordkeeping
Whether your high schooler is planning on going to a trade school or a university after graduating, a transcript is the lifeline to getting them there.
The time to be thinking about a high school transcript for homeschoolers usually begins around 7th or 8th grade. Because the job of keeping accurate records falls on the parents, it is good to know ahead of time what is expected.
Many homeschoolers find that they need to shift subjects around to fit their transcript. For instance, if your child takes World Geography in 8th grade, you will want to count that as their 9th grade World Geography requirement. The same holds true with math. If your child takes Alegebra I in 7th grade, that can count towards their 9th or 10th grade math requirement, and so on.
When keeping track of grades during high school years, it is also very important to have a list of the textbooks and/or workbooks you have used, along with a short summary of what was included in the book. This is just in case a college or trade school wants to know your child's course of study, in order to support the grade given on the transcript.
Make a photocopy of the textbook/workbook front cover and have a short synopsis of the materials/subjects include below. Remember that a transcript is a work in progress until your child graduates, so you will want to keep the transcript and supporting materials in a safe place. If you are keeping records on your computer, backup your files frequently.
Some higher education institutions hold extracurricular activities very high in their decision-making process. It is good to encourage your child to become involved in community projects and/or recreational sports. Keep a list of all the things your child has done outside of school work that are commendable.
For instance, being a junior counselor at camp or participating in sport for a prolonged period of time. It is even worthy to mention awards and citations that your child has received. This is particularly useful, if your child is entering a major and the transcript shows extracurricular activities that your child has done in that field on a volunteer basis.
Pertinent information on a transcript includes:
- Student's full legal name
- Address
- Phone number
- Social Security Number
- Date of birth
- School name (could be your last name and Homeschool, i.e., Jones Homeschool)
- Courses of study by grade year (9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th) and grade achieved
It does not matter if your child is planning on going to a trade school or a major university; you should keep good records of your child's high school years. Even if your child is not planning to attend a trade school or college right after graduation, a transcript should be available to him/her, if they decide to apply in the future. It gives your child a foundation for the future.
