Many parents, even some who have confidently homeschooled through the elementary grades, wonder if they should send their child to a traditional school for high school. Some are concerned about the challenge of teaching higher level courses. Others consider social issues, such assports, prom, and graduation.This is a personal decision which must be considered by individual families, but here are 5 reasons to continue homeschooling through high school.
1.Academics
Statistically, homeschool students score higher on college entrance exams such as the ACT. Many universities actively
recruit homeschoolers, as they know they are independent learners who will take their education seriously.What about those higher level courses that scare some parents, such as chemistry or physics? Join a homeschool co-op that offers such courses, or take advantage of the many online courses now available.
2.Apprenticeships
Homeschooling allows students to explore their interests to determine a future career. Flexible scheduling makes it possible to set up apprenticeships or internships in the student’s fields of interest. Better to decide that you don’t want to be a veterinarian
after an internship than after many (expensive) years of college! Apprenticeships and internships, as well as job shadowing, can help a student who is not yet sure which career they want, to make an informed choice.
3.Family Values
Some parents choose homeschooling to instill their own values and worldview into their children, rather than the values taught (by word or example) at the local traditional school. If you started homeschooling for this reason, why change now? High school students still need guidance in making good choices. In some cases, they may need
you more at 15 than they did at 5!
4.Peer Pressure
How many times have you read or heard about a “good kid from a goodfamily” who just got arrested or was the victim of a crime? Often the kid got involved with the wrong group of people. Sometimes kids cave in to peer pressure and do things they would never do on their own. Continuing homeschooling gives them a chance to mature and
make choices without the pressure or influence of a peer group.
5.Flexibility
Homeschooling provides so much flexibility that traditional schools cannot match. Students can work full or part time while continuing their high school education. Because homeschooling can be done any time of day, homeschool students can often work day shifts not available to other students. Flexibility in scheduling is a big plus for employers, making
homeschoolers an attractive pool of potential employees. Of course, this flexibility could also allow a student to create his or her own business and become an entrepreneur ratherthan an employee! There are as many reasons to continue homeschooling as there are reasons to start, but I hope this brief list will encourage you to keep working with your children through high school graduation.