Writing a homeschool transcript is something every family will navigate if they have a student in high school. It might seem daunting, but it’s easier than you think.
As a parent, you know your child best, so you’re perfectly equipped to document their academic journey. When my oldest son was in middle school, I attended a homeschool support group meeting and another mom shared the steps she took to create her child’s transcripts. Having a checklist to follow made the process simple and doable.
If you have a teen in middle school or high school, now is the time to start. You will add a little bit every year until voila…they graduate!
Overview of Writing A Transcript
Here is a streamlined guide to help you write a solid transcript for your student in eight simple steps. I recommend starting in middle school as there are some middle school classes that do count for high school credit.
1. List All Courses and Activities
Start by listing everything your child has done academically and in extracurriculars. This includes textbooks, field trips, volunteer work, sports, hobbies, and more. Don’t forget to include classes from 7th and 8th grade if they were taught at a high school level.
Make a very thorough and comprehensive list, even if you aren’t sure where those things go on the transcript.
2. Check State Graduation Requirements
Every state has different graduation requirements, so check your state’s Department of Education website to ensure your transcript aligns with their standards.
3. Check College Entrance Requirements
It is helpful to check the entrance requirements of local public and private universities to see if they have any unique expectations. Public schools are often quite flexible and offer remedial courses, but private schools do sometimes have special things they like to see on applicants’ transcripts.
4. Name Courses and Assign Credits
Go through your list of things your teen has done and identify the courses they have taken. You may need to combine several things together to make a course. Generally, completing 120 hours of something is considered a one-credit course. You may combine different activities, books, and resources to get to that number.
Once you have identified your courses, name each course in a way that clearly reflects the content. Whether you go with “English I” or “American Literature & Composition,” make sure the names align with what colleges or other schools expect to see.
Sometimes parents want to get really creative with their course names. There is nothing wrong with this. However, keeping the names simple helps institutions make simple connections and make sure their requirements are met without needing to overthink.
5. Fill in a Transcript Template
Use a template to organize your courses, grades, and personal information. This keeps your transcript clear and concise, fitting all the necessary details onto one page. Your transcript should give final grades for each course. If a course is in progress, you can add the course to the transcript but add “in progress” to the transcript and do not include those courses in the running GPA.
You can get a free transcript template here.
6. Calculate GPA
Determine your child’s GPA by dividing the total number of grade points by the total number of courses. You can use a simple grading scale or add weight for honors or college-level classes.
7. Sign as the Guidance Counselor
As the parent, you are also the guidance counselor, so sign the transcript to make it official. If the student creates their own transcript later, they should omit this field.
8. Write Course Descriptions
Some schools may request descriptions of each course. Keep these brief, focusing on the curriculum, course content, activities, or projects completed. Ensure the descriptions meet the standards of the institution where you’re submitting the transcript.
Here again, schools are looking to see whether basic subject content was covered that they would expect to see in a course.
Start Writing A Homeschool Transcript Today
Planning for high school and writing a transcript doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following these steps and staying organized, you’ll create a document that accurately reflects your child’s accomplishments and opens doors to their future.
The right time for writing a homeschool transcript is when your child is in middle or high school. You may start when they have just one course to add to the transcript, or you can write the whole thing at once.
When my son was going off to college, I was worried that maybe I hadn’t done something “right.” However, we found college admissions officers to be surprisingly helpful. They would tell me if something needed to be added or changed, and it didn’t end up being a problem.
When your transcript is complete, it serves as a great reminder of the investment you made in your teen’s education. It will serve them well in their future but it’s also a great record of your own accomplishment as a parent!
