Home schooling high school can be an appealing and effective way to give your child a well-rounded education. It allows for an individually tailored curriculum and additional community involvement for social purposes. However, homeschooling high school does have an associated cost which needs to be taken into consideration prior to making a decision.
In this article, we will cover the various expenses associated with homeschooling high school, what is included in them and some of the alternatives available to help reduce the cost.
What are the Costs of Homeschooling High School?
The cost of homeschooling high school will vary depending on the teaching style adopted and the resources used. The main expenses fall into four categories: Learning Materials, Accreditation, Professional Services, and Technology.
Learning Materials
The learning materials required to homeschool high school will depend a lot on the teaching style you follow and the curriculum used. Different curricula have different costs so parents will have to make an assessment on what works best for them when determining the cost of materials. Generally, course materials such as textbooks, printed workbooks and other resources will form part of the cost, however, more and more homeschoolers are using digital materials for their courses, which can reduce the cost significantly.
Accreditation
Accreditation is an important part of the homeschool high school experience. It is the process by which schools, agencies, and organizations determine that a homeschool is providing adequate instruction for a high school diploma. Accreditation is necessary for a student to be eligible for certain activities such as college admittance, sports teams and organizations.
The cost of accreditation will depend on the particular accreditation organization that is chosen, usually in the range of a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
Professional Services
Homeschooling high school can be a demanding process and often parents may require additional professional services. This can be in the form of tutors or online courses.
Tutors can range from several hundred to thousand of dollars depending on the individual tutor and the subject and online courses may require a one-time fee or an ongoing monthly subscription in the range of several dozen to a few hundred dollars.
Technology
Technology plays an increasingly important role in homeschooling high school. Digital resources, access to online classes and tutoring, and communication with teachers, organizations and fellow students all require access to technology such as a computer, internet access and other peripheral devices.
These can range from several hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on the level of sophistication required.
What are the Alternatives to Reduce the Cost of Homeschooling High School?
There are many alternatives available to parents looking to reduce the cost of homeschooling high school. The first step is to research the various financing options for accreditation, materials and professional services available to homeschoolers. There are also a number of grants, discounts and scholarships available for homeschoolers which can cover the cost of tuition and provide financial assistance for learning materials, technology and professional services.
In addition, there are a number of no-cost options which can help reduce the cost of homeschooling high school. Many religious organizations and community groups offer resources at no cost such as books, tools, software and other learning materials.
Free local courses and seminars are also available for homeschoolers in some areas. Online classes and tutoring are available free of charge, although the quality of the material may not be as reliable as those provided through paid options.
Finally, there are many ways to keep the cost of homeschooling high school low or free by simply searching online and through your local outlets. Thrift stores, libraries, second-hand shops and online demand sale sites can offer a wide range of materials and resources at low or no cost.
Conclusion
The cost associated with homeschooling high school can be quite high, however, there are alternatives available to parents looking to reduce their costs. Financing options, grants and discounts, religious organizations and even thrift stores can provide possible solutions to the cost of materials, accreditation, professional services and technology. With some creative thinking and research, parents can successfully homeschool high school without the expense associated with traditional schooling.