Academics · Subject Resources

You sign the diploma.
The records make it count.

A homeschool diploma is usually issued by the parent, acting as the school. Colleges, employers and the military accept it when the records behind it are clear: a transcript with credits and grades, course descriptions, proof the state’s homeschool rule was followed and some outside evidence. List the courses, mark the records you have, and see credits, GPA and gaps before graduation.

Check a studentWhat you get

Students

The worked example is made up: a senior with 25 credits and an unsigned diploma, a junior short on math, and a student with ungraded courses and few records. Saved on this device only.

Loading the student form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Academics · Subject ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A record per student: initials, graduation year, your state’s rule in general terms, every course with subject, credits and grade, and eight documents marked kept, missing or not required. Works out total credits, a 4-point GPA, English and math credits; flags low totals, short English or math, ungraded courses, an unknown state rule and missing records.
Who it is for
Homeschooling parents of high school students, and students who keep their own records.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per student. Prints one student’s courses and records, every student in a table or a blank checklist; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Subject Resources space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Look up your state’s homeschool rule.
  2. Add each course with credits and grade.
  3. Mark each record kept or missing.
  4. Fix the gaps the checklist flags.
  5. Sign the diploma and store copies.

Check a student

How it fits together

A parent-issued diploma, start to finish1Know your state’s ruleNotice, testing or an umbrellaschool: it decides which2Keep a running transcriptCourse, credits and grade,added each year, not rebuilt3Write course descriptionsTexts, topics and grading forevery course.4Add outside evidenceSAT, ACT, AP, CLEP or dualenrollment grades.5Sign and store itDiploma signed and dated;copies kept outside the home.A parent-issued diploma, start to finish1Know your state’s ruleNotice, testing or an umbrella school:it decides which records count.2Keep a running transcriptCourse, credits and grade, added eachyear, not rebuilt at the end.3Write course descriptionsTexts, topics and grading for everycourse.4Add outside evidenceSAT, ACT, AP, CLEP or dual enrollmentgrades.5Sign and store itDiploma signed and dated; copies keptoutside the home.
In most states the parent, as the school administrator, issues the homeschool diploma. The records behind it are what make it hold up.

Credits and GPA

One credit usually means a year-long course, often defined as about 120 to 180 hours of work. GPA here is on a 4-point scale (A 4, B 3, C 2, D 1, F 0), weighted by credits; courses marked Pass count toward credits but not GPA. Many public high schools require about 22 to 26 credits to graduate.

What colleges look for

Most colleges expect four years of English, three or more of math through Algebra II, and several years of science, social studies and often a world language. Homeschool applicants are usually asked for course descriptions and outside test scores alongside the transcript.

Sources

  1. U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid. Homeschooled students and federal student aid eligibility (studentaid.gov; the FAFSA counts completion of a homeschool program treated as homeschool under state law).
  2. National Center for Education Statistics. Credits earned by high school graduates, High School Transcript Study (nces.ed.gov).
  3. NACAC. Guide for homeschooled students applying to college: transcripts, course descriptions and test scores (nacacnet.org).
  4. Common App. Homeschool supplement and counselor forms for homeschool families (commonapp.org).

The worked example is made up. Homeschool and diploma rules are set by each state and change; check your state education department. This is not legal advice. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.