Can You Graduate Early if You’re Homeschooled?

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Homeschooling has many benefits, like the freedom to tailor a child’s education according to their aptitude and interests. But is early graduation also a benefit of homeschooling? Yes, it is!

Homeschooled children can graduate early from high school. They can take extra credits equivalent to a year of high school, enroll in an online accelerated homeschool program, and the like. Early graduation has its pros and cons, and you should carefully weigh both for your child’s sake.

This article will expand on how homeschooled children can graduate early and the pros and cons of early high school graduation. Keep reading to find out more.

How Can Homeschooled Children Graduate Early?

Almost all states require potential high school graduates to complete a minimum number of units per course. You don’t have to comply with your state’s requirements to the letter (unless your state has graduation requirements specific to homeschoolers). However, they can guide you when determining whether your homeschooler is ready to graduate and keep up with their non-homeschooled counterparts.

Homeschooled children can graduate early in any of the following ways:

Homeschoolers can take extra credits in high school.
Homeschoolers can undergo dual enrollment.
Homeschoolers can earn college credit through the CLEP exam.

Below, I’ll clarify the options for homeschoolers aiming to graduate high school early.

Homeschoolers Can Take Extra Credits in High School

Thanks to the flexibility homeschooling offers, your child may already have a head start regarding the minimum course credits they need to complete. If your homeschooler has free time on their hands and doesn’t mind a few more hours of studying, taking extra credit won’t hurt.

To determine what counts as “extra credit,” do the following:

Take stock of everything your homeschooler has completed so far. Don’t limit yourself to academic coursework. You can also count extracurricular activities, volunteer work, and other similar activities as credit. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) put together an excellent guide on calculating homeschool credits.
Check your state’s minimum requirements for high school graduates. Check the HSLDA directory for homeschool laws according to state.
Compare what your homeschooler completed with the state requirements. If the credits your homeschooler completed exceed the state requirements, your homeschooler may have already earned extra credit.
Consider whether the extra credit equals a year of high school. Many states require high schoolers to complete at least 24 units by graduation. That translates to an average of six credit units per year. If your homeschooler completed 30 units, early graduation is possible (again, check with your state regulations to see how many credits a junior or senior high school student should complete).

Of course, since extra credits are optional, your homeschooler has to want to add to their schoolwork. After all, early graduation through additional credits comes at the cost of free time, which your homeschooler might prefer.

Homeschoolers Can Undergo Dual Enrollment

A dual enrollment program is where students concurrently take high school and college-level classes. Because this program allows your child to earn college credit before entering college, it’s possible to start tertiary education at the sophomore instead of the freshman level.

Aside from early graduation, the benefits of dual enrollment include:

Your child can earn transferable credits. Since dual enrollment courses count as college credit, your child can transfer them to a different state school.
Your child has a higher likelihood of graduating with a degree. Studies show that dual enrollment students are more likely to earn a degree than those who didn’t undergo such a program.
Your child can better prepare for college life. A solid dual enrollment program gives your child a taste of what they can expect from college, giving them an edge over peers who jumped straight from high school to post-secondary education.

On the other hand, dual enrollment may not benefit your homeschooler because:

The dual credit program may not be the best quality. Before you put your homeschooler through a dual enrollment program, search honest online reviews on the program first.
Your child’s target school may prefer AP classes to dual credit courses. Some universities prefer applicants who take AP classes over those who underwent dual enrollment. After all, it’s easier to measure AP subject proficiency through a standardized national exam.
Your child may miss out on other opportunities to enrich their educational experience. For example, your child may prefer an internship or exchange program over dual enrollment.

When deciding whether your homeschooler should undergo dual enrollment, weigh the pros and cons. Check with your child’s target schools regarding their policies on dual enrollees. Above all, ask your child what they ultimately want to get out of college.

Homeschoolers Can Earn College Credit Through the CLEP Exam

Suppose your homeschooler doesn’t have time to attend AP classes or a dual enrollment program. In that case, consider letting them take the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) Test.

CLEP consists of 34 exams on introductory college courses. A passing score on one CLEP exam can earn your child at least three college credits, and almost 3,000 tertiary education institutions around the country recognize those credits. That’s a significant benefit from just one test!

What about the cons of a CLEP exam? For starters, not all schools recognize it. Also, CLEP may accurately measure your child’s test-taking ability for a particular subject but not necessarily your homeschooler’s proficiency.

As you can see, paths to early graduation are available to homeschoolers. If your child takes one of the above approaches, what are the benefits? Let’s explore them in the next section.

What Are the Benefits of Graduating High School Early?

Your child may want to graduate early for one reason or another. Indeed, many pros exist for homeschoolers who graduate from high school earlier than their peers.

The benefits of graduating high school early are:

Your homeschooler can earn an early graduation scholarship.
Your homeschooler can finish years-long degrees faster.
Your homeschooler saves money.
Your homeschooler becomes independent sooner.

Read on for in-depth explanations on the benefits of early high school graduation for homeschoolers.

Your Homeschooler Can Earn an Early Graduation Scholarship

Many post-secondary institutions offer scholarships to students who graduate high school early. Check your child’s target school’s website to see if they provide financial assistance specifically for early high school graduates or homeschoolers.

Your Homeschooler Can Finish Years-Long Degrees Faster

Suppose your child wants to take up a degree like law and medicine, which take longer than four years to complete. In that case, early graduation can give your child a head start if they want to apply their knowledge to the real world ASAP.

Your Homeschooler Saves Money

As you know, post-secondary education in the United States is expensive, so any shortcuts your child can take (and still receive the needed education and degree) are worth taking. If your child spends less time in college, that can save as much as $38,185 per year.

Your Homeschooler Becomes Independent Sooner

Once your homeschooler graduates high school, their life is no longer in your hands. Your child will have to learn how to take care of themselves, save money for retirement, navigate post-high school relationships, survive the working world, etc. Learning life lessons ASAP is usually a good thing.

Of course, early high school graduation has its drawbacks. Your homeschooler should also know the pitfalls of graduating too soon, which I’ll cover in the following section.

Is It Bad To Graduate High School Early?

The short answer is: Not necessarily. As I’ve explained earlier, there are benefits to early high school graduation.

It’s bad to graduate high school early if:

Your homeschooler doesn’t know what degree they want yet.
Your homeschooler finds college-level courses too difficult.
Your homeschooler breaks friendships with same-age peers.
Your homeschooler isn’t mature enough for college.

Why do I think the above factors are cons? Read on to find out.

Your Homeschooler Doesn’t Know What Degree They Want Yet

At 16, your child may not know whether they want to become a physicist or mathematician. They may need more time to explore their interests and decide what career they want to take over the long term. If they graduate early and jump right into college, they may waste money and time taking classes that they won’t need once they decide on a career path.

Your Homeschooler Finds College-Level Courses Too Difficult

Your child may want to get used to the increased rigor of college-level courses first before they graduate high school. While age isn’t necessarily a true indicator of how difficult a person will find classes, it could be harder for less mature students to succeed in college classes meant to be taken by adults.

Your Homeschooler Breaks Friendships With Same-Age Peers

Your child may feel wrong about going to college before their peers do. If your child has a friend who hasn’t finished high school yet, the strain of the changes brought about by early graduation might prove too much to handle. Plus, your child will have to start college alone, which can make the experience much scarier.

Your Homeschooler Isn’t Mature Enough for College

Your 16-year-old may feel out of place in a class full of 18- or 20-year-olds. They may engage in risky behavior with older students to feel like they belong.

Before you send your homeschooler to college at 16, go through the cons of early graduation with them first. That way, your child can get ready for any challenge college throws their way.

Conclusion

Your homeschooled child can graduate early as long as they meet specific requirements and as long as they’ve considered the pros and cons of early graduation carefully. As always, ask your child for their honest and informed opinion before making significant decisions on their behalf.