Homeschool High School Credits and Graduation Requirements

How many credits does your homeschooled high schooler need to graduate? How do you give credit for the work your students are doing? And how do you count credits? In the world of homeschooling high schoolers, there are many questions that often don’t have clear answers because they often don’t apply to parents whose children attend a school. When you go to set up your own homeschool high school transcript and meet graduation requirements, you’ll need to know how to assign credits for the work your students have completed and know which courses you should be including.

First, understand that no state has set homeschool graduation requirements. States may require that certain be taught every year, but they do not require a total number of credits or courses to be completed for a homeschool student. Each state’s board of education or department of education has set minimum requirements that public and private schools must meet, and districts or private schools may have their own requirements in addition to the state’s. Knowing what your state expects of high school graduates can help you set goals for your homeschool graduate and create an exceptional high school transcript for your student.

Use the table of high school credits to find your state’s credit requirements, or find your state’s course requirements for graduation:

• Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia
• Alaska, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania
• Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia
• California, Illinois, Iowa, and Montana
• Connecticut
• Georgia, Idaho, Oklahoma
• Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island
• Maine
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Wyoming
• Wisconsin

What are high school credits?

A high school credit is often based on the Carnegie unit, which equals one daily hour of instruction five days a week for twenty-four weeks. The Carnegie unit is a measurement of seat or class time that the student has achieved. If you do the math, that’s 120 hours of instruction per year. This time-based standard helps states and schools determine whether students are present in class often enough to learn and understand the material.

Concerns with the Carnegie Unit

Since the Carnegie unit is a time-based measurement, it does not give an accurate measurement of the student’s effort or learning. Just because a student has spent 120 hours in a class doesn’t mean the student has learned or accomplished anything in those 120 hours. Because of this concern, most states and schools include an additional caveat to awarding credits, requiring students to be able to demonstrate mastery of the content in addition to being present in class for the required amount of time. Usually, mastery is determined based on test results, successful completion of projects, or demonstration of understanding based on informal evaluations. Some states have dispensed with the time requirement altogether.

How do high school credits work for homeschool?

How you award credits in your homeschool is largely up to you, unless your state’s homeschool requirements include instruction time. For most states, one full year course (including two semesters worth of lessons) is worth one credit. Single semester courses are generally worth a half credit. Therefore, a state that requires 24 credits for graduation often requires seniors to have completed 22–23 unique, full-year courses between 9^th and 12^th grade, as well as a few semester courses.

Some states are unique in how they count credits or units, so their graduation requirements might be difficult to understand.

How many credits does my homeschooler need to graduate high school?

For homeschoolers, many states have a list of required subjects that you must teach your child every year. These are the standard core subjects—English language arts, math, social studies, and science. No states have a required number of credits for homeschool graduation. You will only have a required number of credits to graduate if you are a member of a homeschool organization with their own requirements or are homeschooling under an umbrella organization. If you are a member of an organization, that organization will likely have the same graduation expectations as the state it’s based in, in addition to its own standards.

Credits for Part-Time Homeschooling

Local school districts or private schools may allow homeschool families to participate in select learning opportunities to earn additional credits from the school directly. Families often take advantage of these opportunities to allow their children to participate in team sports for a physical education credit. Families must contact their local school district or private school of choice to determine if part-time credit is available.

What is dual credit in high school?

Dual high school credits are credits that will be accepted for college credit in either a local community college or a university. AP studies may qualify for dual credit, or students may take classes at a college campus to earn credit both toward high school graduation and for college. It’s rare for homeschool families to be able to earn dual credit, but the Academy of Home Education offers dual credit opportunities to local students.

How to Get Extra Credits in High School

When homeschooling in high school, students will be expected to complete a number of elective credits in addition to standard course work. Your curriculum provider may support electives as well as the core courses, but you may also consider creating your own elective course as an option to satisfy these requirements.

High School Credits by State

Most states require the same or a similar number of required credits for high school graduates. Some states use a different definition for a credit so their numbers might look different.

States	Credits
Maine	11
California, Illinois, Iowa, Montana	13
Wyoming	14
Wisconsin	15
Michigan	17
Ohio, New Hampshire, Rhode Island	20
Alaska, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania	21
Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia	22
Georgia, Oklahoma	23
Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia	24
Connecticut	25
Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Vermont	Unique credit requirements

States with Unique Credit Requirements

• Colorado: Colorado does not have specific course requirements or a set number of credits that students must achieve for graduation. Instead, students must be able to demonstrate college and career readiness by completing an upper level standardized test, like the ACTs, SATs, or another available test. Success on one of these tests does depend on yearly instruction and development in the core academic areas.
• Idaho: Idaho requires 46 credits for graduation but does not have a clear definition for their credits. Based on yearly course expectations, it can be assumed that Idaho counts one credit per semester-long course, making Idaho’s credit requirements like a more standard 23 credits.
• Indiana: Indiana requires 40 credits for graduation and does not have a clear definition for their credits. Indiana’s credits may also be one credit per semester-long course, making their credit requirements like a more standard 20 credits.
• Louisiana: Louisiana requires 10 credits to be completed in the 9^th and 10^th grades, while the number of courses completed in 11^th and 12^th grade depend on an individual student plan for college and career preparedness.
• Nebraska: Nebraska requires 200 high school credit hours for graduation. For Nebraska, every semester-long course that meets 5 days a week for 18 weeks earns a student 5 credit hours. In more standard terms, Nebraska’s graduation requirements are more like a 20-credit requirement.
• New Jersey: New Jersey requires 120 credits for graduation. For New Jersey, every year-long course that meets 5 days a week for the year earns a student 5 credit hours. In more standard terms, New Jersey’s graduation requirements are more like a 24-credit requirement.
• Nevada: Nevada requires 22.5 credits for graduation. For Nevada, while credits are required, the emphasis is on demonstration of success rather than credit hours earned.
• Vermont: Like Colorado, Vermont does not have set credit requirements for high school graduation. Throughout their high school education, Vermont students will take courses covering English language arts, math, science, global citizenship, physical education, health education, artistic expression, financial literacy, and transferable skills. Students must be able to demonstrate competency in these areas for graduation.

High School Graduation Requirements for Homeschoolers

There are no specific requirements your student must meet to be a homeschool graduate unless you are part of an organization with its own requirements. However, state-required courses and achievements do often reflect the experience colleges are looking for in high school transcripts. For this reason, it’s generally advisable to create a similar line-up of courses for your student as are required for state schools and plan on completing an end-of-high school achievement test like the ACTs or SATs.

Which classes are required to graduate high school?

All states require a series of core courses, including English, math, social studies, and science. Many also require elective courses like a modern language, physical education, and health. Certain states may also offer honors level degrees which require additional work and higher-level courses.

Graduation Course Requirements by State

Alabama, Florida, Hawaii, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia

States Requiring 24 Credits

• English language arts
• Math (including algebra 1 and geometry)
• Science (with lab components, including biology and physical science)
• Social studies (including world history, United States history, government, economics, civics (AL, MO, UT, WV), state history (HI, MO, NM), democracy (HI only), and LEA discretion (UT only)
• Physical education
• Health (FL, NM, SC don’t require this course.)

Assorted required electives:

• Alabama: 3 credits CTE, foreign language, or arts, 1 credit career preparedness
• Florida: 2 credits, one in fine and performing arts, speech and debate, or practical arts, and one from an online course
• Hawaii: ½ credit personal transition plan
• Missouri: 1 credit fine arts, 1 credit practical arts, ½ credit personal finance
• New Jersey: ½ credit financial literacy, 1 credit arts, 1 credit world language, 1 credit 21^st century life and career
• New Mexico: 1 credit communication skills
• Oregon: 3 credits second language, arts, or CTE
• South Carolina: 1 credit computer science, 1 credit foreign language or CTE
• Utah: 1 ½ credit fine arts, 1 credit CTE, ½ credit digital studies, and ½ credit financial literacy
• Washington: 2 credits arts, 2 credits language or personalized pathway, 1 credit CTE
• West Virginia: 1 credit arts, 4 credits personal education plan, 2 credits language, 4 credits acquisition in industry and CTE
• Open electives: 2 .5 (AL), 4 (WA), 5.5 (UT), 6 (HI, OR), 7 (MO, SC), 7.5 (NM) or 8 (FL) credits

Learn more about your state’s credit requirements for each required course.

Alabama | Florida | Hawaii | Missouri | New Jersey | New Mexico | Oregon | South Carolina | Utah | Washington | West Virginia

Alaska, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Pennsylvania

States Requiring 21 Credits

• English language arts
• Math (including algebra 1, geometry)
• Social studies (including state history, world history, United States history and government, economics, and geography)
• Science (including physical, biological, and earth and space science (KS), and 2 including laboratory experience (MD only), and one CTE credit (MN only))

Assorted required electives:

• Kansas: 1 credit arts
• Maryland: 1 credit technology education, 1 credit arts, 2–4 credits program choice
• Minnesota: 1 credit arts
• Pennsylvania: 2 credits arts
• Open electives: 5, (PA), 6 (KS), 7 (MN), or 8 (AL)

Learn more about your state’s credit requirements for each required course.

Alaska | Kansas | Maryland | Minnesota | Pennsylvania

Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia

States Requiring 22 Credits

• English language arts (including literature and composition)
• Social studies (including state history (AZ, NC), United States history (AZ, AK, NY, NC, ND, SD, TN, VA), world history (AZ, AK, NY, NC, TN, VA), geography (AZ, AK, NY, TN), American government (AZ, NY, SD, TN, VA), economics (AZ, AK, NY, NC, SD, VA), and civics (AK, TN))
• Math (including algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2)
• Science (including life science, biology, physical science, earth or environmental science, and chemistry)
• Physical education (AR and MA do not require this course)
• Health (AR, MA, TX, and VA do not require this course)

Assorted required electives:

• Arizona: 1 credit fine arts or CTE, ½ credit oral communication
• Arkansas: ½ credit fine arts
• Delaware: 3 credits career pathway
• Kentucky: 1 credit fine arts
• Massachusetts: 1 credit fine arts, two credits world language
• New York: 1 credit world language
• North Dakota: 1 credit fine arts, 1 credit language
• South Dakota: 1 credit fine arts, 1 credit language, ½ credit oral communication
• Tennessee: 1 credit fine arts, 2 credits world language
• Texas: 2 credits world language
• Virginia: 1 credit fine arts or CTE, 1 credit online course
• Open electives: 3 ½ (DE, NY, TN), 5 (MA, ND, SD, TX), 6 (AK, NC), 7 (AZ), or 8 (VA) open electives

Learn more about your state’s credit requirements for each required course.

Arizona | Arkansas | Delaware | Kentucky | Massachusetts | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia

California, Illinois, Iowa, and Montana

States Requiring 13 Credits

• English language arts
• Math (including algebra 1 and geometry, as well as financial literacy (IA only))
• Science (including biology and physical science)
• Social studies (including United States history, geography, world history, American government, and economics
• Physical education (MT, CA only)
• Foreign language or visual and performing arts (IL and IA only)
• Career and technical education (MT only)

Learn more about your state’s credit requirements for each required course.

California | Illinois | Iowa | Montana

Connecticut

• Humanities (including civics and the arts)
• Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
• Physical education and wellness
• Health and safety
• World language
• Mastery-based diploma assessment

Learn more about Connecticut’s credit requirements for each required course.

Georgia, Idaho, Oklahoma

States Requiring 23 Credits

• English language arts (including American literature, composition, listening, and speaking)
• Math (including algebra 1, geometry, and algebra 2)
• Science (including biology, physical science or physics, and chemistry, earth systems, or environmental science)
• History (including United States history, world history, American government, civics, and economics, and state history)

Assorted required electives:

• Georgia: 3 credits CTE, modern language, or fine arts, 1 credit health and physical education
• Idaho: senior project
• Oklahoma: 1 credit fine arts, 8 open electives

Learn more about your state’s credit requirements for each required course.

Georgia | Idaho | Oklahoma

Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island

States Requiring 20 Credits

• English language arts
• Math
• Social studies
• Science (including lab-based science courses in physical science, life science, and an advanced study (OH))
• Health (NE does not require this course.)
• Physical education (NE and RI do not require this course.)

Assorted required electives:

• Indiana: 3 credits college and career pathway, 2.5 flex credits)
• Open electives: 3 (IN), 5 (OH), 6 (NH), or 7 (NE) credits

Learn more about your state’s credit requirements for each required course.

Indiana | Ohio | Nebraska | New Hampshire | Rhode Island

Maine

• English language arts
• Social studies and history (including American history, government, civics, and personal finance
• Math
• Science (including at least one year of laboratory study)
• Fine arts

Learn more about Maine’s credit requirements for each required course.

Michigan

• English language arts
• Math
• Physical education and health
• Science (including biology)
• Social studies (including United States history, geography, world history, economic, civics, and personal economics)
• Visual, performing, and applied arts
• World language

Learn more about Michigan’s credit requirements for each required course.

Mississippi

Mississippi’s state board of education requires 24 credits for graduation but expects school districts to set number of credits per subject. Mississippi’s graduation requirements include technology or computer science, college and career readiness, health, physical education, and art, in addition to core requirements.

Learn more about Mississippi’s credit requirements for each required course.

Wyoming

• English language arts
• Math
• Science (including one year of computer science)
• Social studies (including history, American government, and economics)

Learn more about Wyoming’s credit requirements for each required course.

Wisconsin

• English
• Math
• Science
• Social studies
• Physical education
• Health

Learn more about Wisconsin’s credit requirements for each required course.

State graduation requirements are subject to change from year-to-year, depending on how often the state’s board of education chooses to update them. For your homeschool graduation requirements, it may be helpful for you to stay aware of any potential changes. Being aware of your state’s graduation requirements will be very helpful in creating an effective homeschool transcript.