Tony Said:

Homeschooling - great online school for high school? College important. Any suggestions?

We Answered:

I have to comment that online charter schools are public school and not 'homeschool'. It is government education and not parent-led education. You can enroll as a homeschooler in K-12 for a fee (actually a fraction of what tax dollars are paying for the public education.)

I don't have recommendations of specific online high schools but it doesn't effect college entrance as long as you are prepared. There are also so many variable as to the type of education you want for your child.. such as secular or religious, classical or traditional, parent led or teacher led instruction. Narrowing down your requirements will help you decide on the best online opportunities.

A homeschool diploma is valid in ALL 50 states and the vast majority of colleges have alternative admission for homeschoolers and those that don't attend 'accredited schools'. Accredited means.. acceptable at the college of your choice but that catch is that can vary as well. Some colleges accept some accreditations and not others, so be aware of the snags of accreditation. That is one of the reasons that colleges have alternative options for college admission. There are many colleges that love to have non-accredited homeschoolers and recruit them specifically. Do not think you MUST have an specific accreditation and that an online school is not 'great' just because it doesn't have that accreditation.

As for social skills.. would you honestly NOT get your child participating in various outside activities if they were at home? Join a homeschool support group in your area that meets regularly for teens, participate in activities found in your community. Some ideas would be at the rec. department like sports, 4-H, scouting, civil air patrol and regularly participate in religious activities (youth groups, etc.) if that is your preference. Volunteering is a great opportunity to develop needed skills for the future. It looks good on a portfolio as well as providing interaction with people of all ages. Ideas here could include soup kitchens, your library's children's department and senior centers. These are just some of the options to serve the community and they are great places to develop social skills in the 'real world'.

Hope this helps!