Educational Resources
Highschool
In 2015, I graduated my first child from homeschooling. I was very apprehensive whether I could homeschool through the high school years, but we made it. Since then I have graduated two more students, with our fourth daughter graduating this May. We tried some new things with my second child that I did not do with my first. All my children have taken dual enrollment classes during high school, one at a local community college and the other online at Christian colleges.
Here are some great resources if you are looking for more information on homeschooling for High School. I recommend The HomeScholar. She has some great information on everything for high school. Below are some of her blog posts on specific high school topics.
"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”—Benjamin Franklin
Homeschool Conferences and Conventions
Homeschool conferences are gatherings designed to inspire, equip, and support homeschooling families. They’re packed with workshops, speakers, and resources tailored to your needs. They are a must-attend whether you’re just starting your home school journey or looking for fresh ideas. But they’re so much more than that—they’re a place to connect with other parents who truly understand your journey. You’ll leave with practical tools, encouragement, and the confidence to tackle challenges head-on. It’s a chance to refocus, recharge, and remember why you chose this path in the first place. If you’ve been feeling stuck or unsure, a homeschool conference can be the spark you need.
Every year I try to attend a homeschool conference. While we were active duty we have made every effort to attend Teach Them Diligently. Our favorite location is Nashville TN (currently Pigeon Forge). A few years ago, one of the speakers , Christine Torre, had some great information on preparing your high school student for college. Check out her website and information from that session here
College
My oldest daughter had no idea what she wanted to do with her life when she was in high school but I wanted to give her a strong college prep high school program. She applied to two different schools, Southeastern University and Lee University and was accepted to both of them. She received a scholarship to one of them on her ACT score alone. We also took advantage of as much dual enrollment as we could while the girls were still in high school. My oldest graduated high school with 12 college credits and my second child had 26 credits completed when she graduated. She would have had more but we moved in the middle of her senior year and took a break due to being homeless and living with family.
College Prep Testing
We opted to do the ACT for my daughters. I also made the decision to do it blind (not really blind but without any test prep). I wanted to gauge where my daughters stood and how they were progressing as students. Since we had lived in states that did not require testing as part of homeschooling, I was not quite sure where they stood. My initial plan was to work on the areas where they were weak to improve their test scores and retake the exam, but when the time came to register to retake the exam, neither daughter wanted to retake the ACT nor take a stab at the SAT. If I could do it over again, I would have had her take the PSAT first around 10th grade to see how she was progressing and then choose the ACT or SAT during 11th/12th grade. You may want to do some research on the SAT because this year (2015) they are coming out with a brand new test. I have heard some say not to take the SAT in it's first or second year after revamping but do your research and make that decision for your family.
College Prep Testing
We opted to do the ACT for my daughters. I also made the decision to do it blind (not really blind but without any test prep). I wanted to gauge where my daughters stood and how they were progressing as students. Since we had lived in states that did not require testing as part of homeschooling, I was not quite sure where they stood. My initial plan was to work on the areas where they were weak to improve their test scores and retake the exam, but when the time came to register to retake the exam, neither daughter wanted to retake the ACT nor take a stab at the SAT. If I could do it over again, I would have had her take the PSAT first around 10th grade to see how she was progressing and then choose the ACT or SAT during 11th/12th grade. You may want to do some research on the SAT because this year (2015) they are coming out with a brand new test. I have heard some say not to take the SAT in it's first or second year after revamping but do your research and make that decision for your family.
Online Schools / Classes
Some of these classes are live, others are pre-recorded video classes while others are teacher led curriculum. All of those listed below are NOT free and are tuition based programs or classes. I have used and recommend North Star Academy while the other programs listed come personally recommended by other homeschool families that I know.
There are many more online classes and schools available for homeschool families. I do not have any experience with them, so I cannot give a recommendation. If you have used one of these schools and can give a recommendation, please leave a comment below.