Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau

Educator, Coach, Life Strategist

High School Planning & State Scholarship Eligibility

I’ve written previously of the importance of planning for high school, and about mapping out a list of courses and experiences needed to reach the finish line with a successful goal in mind.

If you haven’t looked at one in a while, see what a comprehensive, four-year high school plan might look like, for a traditional or college-bound student, to refresh your memory:

Now, what if scoring ‘the big state scholarship’ is also part of the plan? How should families include scholarship requirements on the high school plan, and is it reasonable to expect teens to complete any extra courses by the time they turn the tassel, too?

The answers to these questions lie in the scholarship handbooks themselves. In Florida, for instance, a new Bright Futures Scholarship Handbook comes out every year. Inside, all the requirements are shown in table format, plus any revisions to the program are clearly explained. Georgia’s HOPE scholarship program also comes out with annual web updates, as do all the other big merit scholarships offered across the United States every year.

Look up your state’s scholarships by starting with your department of education’s website, or the office of financial assistance. Chances are, there’s a big scholarship opportunity available to your homeschooled teen, and your goal is help him/her find out about it — early enough to make the right choice.

Reviewing Requirements / Making Decisions

For the best chance at earning scholarships, parents and their teens should carefully review scholarship materials, making a list of classes, test scores, volunteer hours, GPA scores, letters of recommendation, or anything that could potentially be needed upon application. Ideally, this review should take place during Freshman year, or even before, to get a jump on everything that needs to happen over the next four years.

With the requirements in hand, it’s time for important decision making, including knowing whether the student is genuinely planning to attend college (assume yes if they’re not sure), whether funding is definitely going to be necessary, and if the student is willing & able to follow [at least a semi-] traditional curriculum path that preparing to earn the scholarship might require.

Florida: A Case Study

As an example, take a peek at Florida’s 2020-2021 requirements for the Bright Futures Scholarship, keeping in mind these eligibility requirements can change from year to year:

As you can see, in some cases, the choice is clear and easy. Students already planning to attend college and already planning to complete a traditional and rigorous curriculum may find they were already going to be eligible for the scholarship anyway. Or, at least, with a few simple course substitutions or alterations, scholarship eligibility is already closely within their reach.

For students pulling together a unique or non-traditional high school experience, however, the decision may be a more difficult one. Weighing the value of doing high school one way versus the potential of meeting scholarship requirements is something to think strongly about. Or maybe the choice is already quite clear, as the student may be unwilling to cater to an institutional view of a high school education, favoring a more personal and meaningful approach for the next few years.

[The same choices are made for dual enrollment degrees, by the way, but that’s a topic for another day.]

In general, state scholarship requirements closely resemble a rigorous high school public education, or some set of courses which typically prepares graduates for entry into competitive public colleges and universities. In Florida, for instance, students must take 4 math courses, 4 English courses, several science classes, and so on. Since these programs are merit-based, scholarship committees must quantify what they’re seeking in terms of what the best high school graduates have to offer every year — forcing homeschoolers to fit into those frameworks, too.

What I Recommend

The best advice I can offer — and what I tell my own clients – is to first have a heart to heart conversation with the student, or many conversations over a period of time, going over the possibilities for homeschooling high school, and trying to ascertain to some degree what the student’s goals are for graduation. Then, armed with that information, it immediately becomes obvious whether planning for state scholarship eligibility falls easily within the high school plan the student might have followed anyway, or whether aiming for big state money requires a major change of focus and intent.

I also try to guide my clients to look at all sides of the decision making, if they can. Whereas free scholarship aid is an excellent goal and can make the difference between the student attending the college of his/her choice, or going to a less expensive local, part-time or online option, the lure of college funding can also blind us to leveraging the power of a home education during the high school years. That power, of course, includes the freedom to customize an education for our specific learners and to meet them exactly where they are, with exactly what they want to do. Why, then, would we turn our backs on this freedom and potential for a crack at winning free college later on?

It can be hard to look away from free money and set aside our desire to make high school a practical and enjoyable learning experience for the student. But, in the end, prepping for college and scholarships with a student who is interested in neither, can make high school overwhelmingly difficult and time-consuming, not to mention miserable, too.

Final Thoughts

In summary, I advise tackling these important questions early and often during the high school years. It is only by talking things out that families can determine whether state scholarship goals are necessary and realistic, or will underserve the teen’s only chance at making the most of his/her high school years. And this is a very personal decision indeed.

Take my free high school mini-course

See my high school e-book to learn more

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA/Tampa, H.E.R.I., HECOA, Start Homeschooling Summit, Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT, Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

When to take the SAT or ACT (specific advice from the parent of high scorers)

Many people think taking the SAT/ACT is a 12th grade thing. I remember that was my mindset when I was a high school senior, too.

If you get anything out of this article, it should be that waiting until 12th grade to take the SAT or ACT is a bad idea. In fact, since scores take a while to process, it can cause your student to miss an application deadline and ruin his/her chance of getting into the college. No joke.

If you get anything else out of this article, it should be that SATs and ACTs are not the kind of tests you wait until 12th grade to think about. Students who take these tests without practice and without experience may not do well. They might, but taking the tests multiple times often results in higher scores. Why take that chance?

It’s so much better to start planning early.

Success on the SAT / ACT means planning early…9th grade isn’t too soon.

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Time and Preparation

In my professional opinion, which matches the opinions of many other experts in this field, SAT and ACT test taking requires time and preparation. Preparation, when done right, that spans all four years of a high school education; and preparation, that if ignored, can harm a student’s chances of getting into college and receiving scholarships.

The purpose of this article is to give you a workable plan, one you can use to plan your student’s high school testing experience. It is based on my research, what I learned thru my own childrens’ successes, and what I’ve seen via the families I work with (comparing those who listened to this advice, and those who didn’t).

Are there other ways to plan SAT and ACT testing? Of course. But, if you’re looking for advice from a the parent of high scoring students (we’ve even had a “perfect” here and there), read on.

SAT/ACT planning. Advice from a parent of high scorers.

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The Plan:

Grade by Grade Recommendations

for SAT and/or ACT Testing

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9th Grade

Research and preparedness 

  • Begin conversations about college.
  • When in doubt if a student is college-bound, assume yes.
  • Learn the names of each test, the cost, the registration process, and browse test schedules.
  • Offer high school courses that target the specific subject areas covered on each test.
  • Begin researching colleges and universities, programs and careers, and requirements.
  • Involve student in every step (in later grades, this should be student-led).

10th Grade

PSAT in the fall

Actual test in the spring (optional)

  • Continue all 9th grade activities.
  • Register for fall PSAT at your local high school. Take it for learning and practice.
  • Target which test(s) to study for. Purchase study workbooks. Find sample tests online.
  • Start studying in the spring, a little every day or week throughout the rest of the school year.
  • Register for an actual test in the spring. Don’t send scores; use for learning and practice.
  • Plan for intense study over the summer.

11th Grade

PSAT in the fall

Test in the fall

Test in the spring

Test in late summer (optional)

  • Continue all 9th grade activities, paying special attention to strengthening areas of weakness.
  • Take PSAT in October (for National Merit eligibility and additional practice)
  • Purchase updated materials for newest test(s) as needed. Use only reputable materials.
  • Continue regular studying. Take practice tests (actual previous tests).
  • Use classes, workshops, tutors, or other help if necessary.
  • Decide which test (SAT or ACT or both) seems most appropriate for the student.
  • When looking at test-optional colleges, discuss the possible impact of skipping tests altogether.
  • Create online account with test provider(s). Explore college planning tools available there, too.
  • Decide if writing portion of test is necessary (check with colleges).
  • Decide if subject tests are needed (check with colleges).
  • Test in fall
  • Unless a perfect score in fall, test again in spring.
  • Plan summer test if necessary.
  • Send best spring (or summer) scores to colleges of choice.
  • Continue intense studying if needed.

12th Grade

Early fall testing (optional)

  • Continue all 9th grade activities.
  • Test again if scores will process in time for college deadlines.
  • Make sure best and highest scores are sent to colleges of choice (or all if super-scored).

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As you can see, it’s all about 11th grade. That’s why it’s so important to use grades 9 and 10 wisely for preparation and practice. This is exactly what I recommend, and almost exactly the schedule my children followed before each received lots of acceptance letters, lots of free tuition and lots of great scholarships. If you need help with this, I’ve linked some articles, below. If you still need help, I’m available.

To your success,

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago. A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast. Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever. A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide. Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

You might like:

SAT, ACT and the new CLT exam

Core 16 and other high school information

Can you homeschool high school after a student was in public school K-8?

Maybe you’ve met parents who homeschooled all the way through 8th grade, then enrolled their children in school for 9th-12th. Years ago, before the homeschool market expanded and learning options became so plentiful, it wasn’t uncommon to hear about teens going to public high school for those last 4 years.

Fast forward to today, when some families are doing the exact opposite.

I’m meeting more and more parents turning to homeschooling for high school after using schools for K-8.

Whether it’s about safety, learning goals, or logistical matters like travel or distance, homeschooling high school is an increasingly popular path to graduation today. What’s new is that there are now families who’ve used the system straight thru middle school, but then decided high school isn’t the right way to get their students to the finish line.

Just last week, I spoke to a mom about homeschooling high school after her daughter completes middle school in the spring. Surprisingly (to me), that was my third request for that specific information this year.

Parents ask, “Can I homeschool high school if my child was in public school for K-8?”

The answer is yes. Homeschooling can start at any time — even in high school. There are no laws, no procedures, or no rules preventing home education from starting at any time that is necessary or practical. The only dates that really matter are when you’re able to get started, and remembering to file paperwork on time, if any is required where you live.

Public schooled K-8th can still be homeschooled 9-12th.

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Parents also want to know, “Will it work out okay if my teenager has never been homeschooled before?”

Again I respond, yes. In fact, I tell them, it will probably work very well if they have a student where great work habits, independence, and maturity are involved. Even if not, with a little direction (and especially if they’re given choices), all kinds of teens can be highly successful in homeschool, no matter their experiences so far. All teens, I add, seem to appreciate the added freedom, not to mention sleeping in a little later, too!

Will there be challenges? I’d be lying if I told you homeschooling teens is always easy, particularly if teens have never done it before. Missing friends, missing activities, and feeling stuck at home all day are common complaints for many a newly-homeschooled teen. Adjusting to changing roles once they realize you’re in charge can be an issue (if authoritarian is your style). True or not, wondering why they have to do all that work when things were easier in public school is another common narrative I hear.

Bottom line, homeschooling is an adjustment period. Like with anything, learning new things take time and patience, while dust settles and teens get used to the new routine. I could share all the tricks and tips I know, but in the end, you’ll figure out what works in your unique situation, given your unique student and the reasons why you’ve ultimately chosen homeschooling for the high school years.

The great news, is that homeschoolers are very appealing to today’s college undergraduate admissions departments, and to potential employers who like what they’ve heard about homeschooled grads. That news makes it easier for today’s families to make high school decisions based on needs and goals, rather than worrying about the validity of homeschooling itself.

If you have the time and can make the commitment, and if homeschooling is on your heart or has become a necessity for other reasons, welcome it in, and give it a try. But, if you’re still on the fence about homeschooling a teen for the first time, let me summarize my very best advice:

If you have a rising 9th or 10th grader, just go for it. There is little to lose and so much to gain. Public schools are always there if you change your mind, but early high school is the perfect time to explore all that is possible when leveraging the power of a home education. Barring anything truly unusual, within a few months, I think you’ll understand what I mean and decide to go the distance.

If you have an 11th or 12th grader, tread a little more lightly, but go for it too. College-bound students in particular want to be careful about meeting requirements and moving from traditional to non-traditional programs during those last 2 years of high school. If college admission is the goal, do some research and talk to a homeschool high school counselor if you can, then be prepared to stick it out for the long haul — no dropping in an out of school during 11th and 12th grades. If college isn’t an immediate option and the “perfect” college-ready transcript doesn’t happen, you’ve served your child well anyway.

To your success,

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever.  A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide.  Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

What if I forget something really important?

{This post is one in a series called, “Top 10 Fears”, in which I speak to the most common fears parents express about homeschooling the high school years.  To see all the topics, or start at the beginning, click HERE.}

Fear #9

The fear of forgetting something really important

The biggest problem with homeschooling a teenager is never getting a second chance. What that means is, grades K-8 notwithstanding, you’d better not mess things up in high school. If you do, your child will have a perfectly miserable life. Oh, and, because everything’s your fault, you’ll be miserable forever, too.

Just kidding.

If high schooling were so high risk, why would so many of us be doing it? Did you realize there are as many homeschoolers in high school as in the lower grades?  Contrary to what many people think, you don’t have to put your kids back in school when they reach high school age.

So, the proof is in. People do it. And it works.

Better yet, homeschooling high school works despite the mistakes we make. And we do make mistakes. We’re mere mortals taking on a gargantuan task, right?

The good news is that high schooling errors aren’t the end of the world. Not by a mile. I know there’s a bit of a learning curve, and you’re doing the best you can to prepare, but, there’s no way to predict every possible thing that can happen. It’s safe to assume you’ll probably goof up every now and again.

But, you can recover from making mistakes in high school, and your student will continue making strides anyway. Success in high school isn’t dependent on doing things perfectly. It’s dependent on your caring and doing the best job you can. And you’re already doing that or you wouldn’t be here, amiright?

Recovering from High Schooling Mistakes

Though it’s impossible to list all the dreadful scenarios and major foibles you might make when high schooling your kid, let’s take some common situations so I can show you things aren’t hopeless. Meet me again at the end of this article, so I can share some final thoughts and we can recap this whole thing together.

Common homeschool high school mistakes and how to fix them:

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What if…you forget to schedule/teach a class, or your student fails one miserably?

Recovery strategies might include: Having the student take/retake the entire class or a similar one (time permitting); have the student take an intense or abbreviated version of the class; the student may choose to learn the material independently, then “test” for course credit; you could extend the graduation date, allowing time to take the class; you could also research the importance of the class after all, judging whether it was really that important; or, you could just move on without it.

What if…you lose important paperwork, or forget to write down things your student did several years ago?

Recovery strategies might include: Trying to obtain copies of important paperwork if they exist somewhere else (your district, a homeschool group, copies loaned to friends, etc.); recreating documents from memory, with help from your student or others; looking for similar materials and seeing if they resemble what you might have done in the past; explaining in an honest written statement what happened, highlighting those parts of the experience you do recall, plus samples of any evidence you’re able to find; or, omitting the course/experience on the transcript altogether, substituting something else worthwhile in its place.

What if…you miss a deadline, and now it’s too late for your student to do something he/she wanted to do?

Recovery strategies might include: Petitioning for a deadline extension, or applying at the next and earliest available time; applying for something similar but different, and making the best of the change; looking for a similar opportunity out of town or possibly online; designing/creating a similar opportunity on your own; using it as a learning opportunity to highlight the importance of planning and responsibility; or, emphasizing the need (for you and your student) to stay on track for the future.

What if…you’ve been busy preparing your student for a job/other opportunity after graduation, then you find out your student wants to go to college after all?

Recovery strategies might include: Using the remaining time in high school (if any) to prepare; extending the graduation date, if possible, for college prep activities; using independent learning to hone skills in crucial areas that matter; taking college prep study courses and webinars, or purchasing study guides and focusing extensively on those; taking a gap year (or more) until college preparedness is complete; or, knowing there’s a college for most everyone, finding a college match based on what the student has completed, not what he has not.

As you can see, there are many ways to circumvent so-called high schooling errors or make the best of changing situations. With the help and guidance of friends who’ve been there, of reading articles like these, or maybe even bending the ear of a high school counselor like me, I promise homeschooling high school can still be successful.

There are lots of ways to get around the errors we sometimes create on behalf of our students. In my mind, the best way to handle things is to assume they’ll happen because we’re human, and figure out how to make lemonade and keeping going.

Messing up is just life. When you think about it, you’ll probably be better people for figuring out how to recover from these errors anyway. Bouncing back from the unexpected is just one more way to learn. You can bet your student will notice.

To your success,

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschooling pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed as it illustrates how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever.  A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide.  Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.

What are “Social Sciences”?

When homeschooling high school, the phrase “Social Science” often comes up. You might see it in on a high school check-list, on a college web site, or in a list of course requirements.

It would be easy to say that social science is just another name for history (or what some call, “social studies”), but that’s only partially correct. While social science does include history, there’s a lot more to that academic category, as well.

Common Questions

How do I count “psychology” on my child’s transcript?

Where do I list “anthropology” on my student’s list of requirements? 

What’s the difference between a science and a social science?

How many social sciences do colleges require for admission, and what classes can they be?

These are practical questions that many parents ask at one time or another. Understanding the social sciences will help families prepare their high schoolers for graduation, college, and beyond.

Social Sciences Courses

In general, high school studies in the following areas are considered social sciences:

  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Criminology
  • Economics
  • History
  • Law and Legal Studies
  • Linguistics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
Need to know what the “social sciences” are? Here’s a list.

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In college, other studies may also included within the social sciences, like business studies, media and communication, education studies,  library science, and many others.

Note, while homeschool parents can essentially do whatever they want, not all social science courses should be awarded a full year of credit on the transcript, especially if the student is college-bound. For more information about that aspect, it can be helpful to refer to information from your state’s department of education, a local college, a local high school, a high school guidance counselor; or, consult a homeschool guidance counselor like me.

Want to know how many of each kind of course is required for college? Read this.

To your success,

Dr. Marie-Claire Moreau is a college professor who traded in her tenure to become a homeschool mom 20+ years ago.  A homeschool pioneer and the founder of many groups and organizations, she works to advance home education, and is an outspoken supporter of education reform coast to coast.  Her book, Suddenly Homeschooling: A Quick Start Guide to Legally Homeschool in Two Weeks, is industry-acclaimed for illustrating how homeschooling can rescue children and families from the public school system, and how anyone can begin homeschooling within a limited time-frame, with no teaching background whatsoever.  A writer, a homeschool leader, and a women’s life coach, Marie-Claire mentors in a variety of areas that impact health, education and lifestyle. A conference speaker, she has appeared at FPEA, H.E.R.I., Home Education Council of America, The Luminous Mind, Vintage Homeschool Moms, iHomeschool Network, and many other events. Her articles have appeared in and on Holistic Parenting, CONNECT,Homefires, Homemaking Cottage, Kiwi, Circle of Moms, and hundreds of sites and blogs nationwide.  Marie-Claire can be reached at contactmarieclaire@gmail.com.