High School

Advanced Placement (AP) exams are College Board standardized tests that can earn high school students college credit. Homeschoolers can take AP exams without taking official AP courses.

CLEP exams are standardized tests offered by the College Board that allow students to earn college credit by demonstrating subject mastery, saving homeschoolers significant time and money on college tuition.

A Carnegie Unit is a standardized measure of high school credit equal to 120-180 hours of instruction in one subject. This time-based system helps colleges and universities evaluate transcripts consistently.

Class rank compares a student's GPA to others in their graduating class. Homeschoolers typically don't have traditional class rank since they're often the only student in their 'class,' but colleges understand this and evaluate homeschool applicants using alternative measures.

A college application essay is a personal narrative (typically 250-650 words) that helps admissions officers understand who you are beyond grades and test scores, revealing personality, character, and potential contributions to campus.

A college preparatory track (CP) is a standard-level academic pathway designed to prepare students for four-year college admission, covering core subjects like English, math, science, and foreign language at rigorous but accessible levels.

Concurrent enrollment allows high school students to take college courses for both high school and college credit simultaneously, often at reduced or no cost, with courses typically taught by qualified high school instructors or taken at local colleges.

Core academic requirements are the foundational courses in English, math, science, and social studies that high school students complete for graduation and college preparation.

A course description is a detailed document explaining what a homeschool student learned in each high school course, including materials used, skills developed, and how the student was evaluated.

Course weighting adds bonus points to GPAs for advanced courses like AP, IB, or honors classes. While common in traditional schools, most homeschool experts recommend homeschoolers use unweighted GPAs and demonstrate rigor through other means.

A credit hour is a standardized unit measuring educational time, where one high school credit typically equals 120-150 hours of instruction over an academic year.

Credit by Exam allows students to earn college credit by passing standardized tests like CLEP, DSST, or AP exams rather than taking traditional college courses.

DSST exams (DANTES Subject Standardized Tests) are credit-by-examination tests that allow students to earn college credit for knowledge gained outside traditional classrooms, with 38 subjects available and acceptance at over 1,900 colleges.

Dual credit allows high school students to take college courses that count toward both their high school diploma and a future college degree, potentially saving thousands in tuition and accelerating the path to graduation.

Dual enrollment allows homeschool high schoolers to take college courses for credit, with 48 states plus DC having formal policies. Many programs are free or discounted, and ESA funds can often cover tuition in participating states.

Elective requirements are the number of non-core credits students must earn for high school graduation, typically 4-8 credits out of 24-26 total, with specific numbers varying by state and chosen graduation pathway.

A foreign language requirement is an academic expectation for students to complete coursework in a language other than English, typically two to four years for high school graduation and college admission.

A four-year plan is a comprehensive roadmap outlining all courses, credits, and activities a homeschool student will complete from 9th through 12th grade, ensuring graduation requirements and college prerequisites are met.

GPA (Grade Point Average) is a numerical measure of academic performance calculated by converting letter grades to points (A=4.0, B=3.0, etc.) and averaging across all courses.

A gap year is a period (typically one year) between high school graduation and college enrollment used for travel, work, volunteering, or structured programs that promote personal growth and career exploration.

Graduation requirements are the academic standards and coursework a student must complete for a high school diploma. Most states allow homeschool parents to determine their own requirements.

An honors course in homeschooling is a high school class with increased rigor, depth, and expectations compared to standard coursework, typically involving more challenging materials, deeper analysis, and additional time investment.

Honors designation on a homeschool transcript indicates that a course exceeded standard high school rigor, requiring documentation of the criteria used and ideally third-party validation through AP exams, CLEP tests, or dual enrollment grades.

Lab science requirements specify the number of science courses with hands-on laboratory components that students need for high school graduation, college admissions, and NCAA athletic eligibility.

A semester credit is a unit of academic measurement where one full credit represents a year-long course (120-150 hours) and 0.5 credits represents a semester course (60-75 hours), based on the Carnegie Unit standard.

An unweighted GPA is calculated on a standard 4.0 scale where all courses count equally regardless of difficulty - an A in regular English and an A in AP Physics both earn 4.0 points. The maximum unweighted GPA is 4.0.

Vocational track (now commonly called Career and Technical Education or CTE) refers to educational programs preparing students for specific careers through practical, hands-on training—offering homeschoolers pathways to skilled trades, healthcare, technology, and other fields without requiring a traditional four-year degree.

A weighted GPA factors in course difficulty by adding extra points for honors, AP, or dual enrollment classes, allowing GPAs to exceed the standard 4.0 scale.