How & Why: Our 2-in-1 High School Year
After all the battles we had about Lindsey’s desire to go to public school (which she did last year), she has decided to come back home for school this year.
Why:
If Lindsey stayed in public school, it could take four more years, or two years plus two summers of math in summer school to meet graduation requirements. 
If a student has not successfully completed Math, English, and Science for a grade level, the student remains “officially” in the lowest grade they have completed. This meant she’d still be considered a freshman next year, even though she’ll be 18 in January. Thinking realistically, why would she even want to continue on that way? For kids in that situation, looking at graduating high school at 20 or 21 years of age, the likelihood of quitting school skyrockets.
Summer school is expensive: $550 for one class ($275 if the student only needs one semester’s worth of the class). Summer school also takes up all but a few weeks of the summer, and is at only one location in our county, about a 40 minute drive each way (and she does not yet have her driver’s license). None of these things made any of us eager to sign her up.
She isn’t behind in every subject, so having to continue on for that long simply because one subject has given her so much trouble seems ridiculous. And in homeschooling, the fact is she wouldn’t have received a failing grade because A) we’d have gone back over things she didn’t understand instead of just moving on with the rest of the class, and B) she would’ve gotten credit for the 180+ hours of time she put into math this year — but in public school she gets NO credit for that.
In order to meet state graduation requirements, Lindsey needs a total of 10 more credits; in a typical public school year, students earn 7.0 credits. This means she needs the equivalent of about 1.4 years of school, but it will take far longer if she has to adhere to the rigidity of public school schedules and requirements.
How:
In homeschooling, we are flexible. We can set the pace, we can do only the subjects she needs, and we can skip the fluff. Rather than looking at two to four more years, we can do this in just one year if we stretch a typical 9-month school year into 12 months. At that rate, we’re really not even accelerating the pace of schooling, but simply increasing the length of the school year.
That means, if she works diligently and if all goes as planned, we’ll start her school year in June, and she will complete state requirements for graduation in the summer of 2013.
After I explained all of this to Lindsey, it didn’t take her long to decide.
Of course, I’ll be sharing as we go, so stay tuned and follow along with Lindsey’s “senior year… sort of” (as she described it)!
Wife, mom, J-ma. Introvert who enjoys good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand – unless it’s lost yet again in the microwave. Read more »
That doesn’t seem very fair or right. And it doesn’t make sense, either. I hope all goes well as she starts back at homeschooling!
I’ve been waiting for this post, Jamie–and I’ll definitely be following along! Wishing Lindsey the best school year ever! 🙂
Thanks, Judy! I’m sure we’ll hit some bumps and snags, but I’m praying it’ll be her best school year ever, too!
I’ve been checking your blog out recently, and getting caught up with your family–Sounds like you’re making a good decision for sure. I am still trying to figure out what grade each of my boys are in, but that is the beauty of homeschooling. 🙂
I’ll be back, I enjoy your site!
aloha
Thanks, Monica! It’s a great thing, isn’t it, to be able to just do what the kids need, rather than being tied to particular “grade” requirements!
Jamie, my 14YO rising 10th grade Aspie and I are sorting our way thru high school. I was just thinking of doing ‘block’ scheduling sort of like some high schools around here do. IE. 3 subjects till he finishes them and then add the new subject as he completes each of the 1st 3. Do you have any thoughts on blocks vs all 6 subjects all 180 days?
Carol Anne,
I do like that idea. I’m not sure exactly how I’m going to schedule things. We have 3 math credits to do in the coming year, and those will definitely be one at a time, but I haven’t decided about how we’ll do the other subjects. Something to think on, though!
Oh, I had it with my oldest the other day…I asked my husband to see what we needed to do to enroll him in the local public school. That isn’t something that we want for any of our kids. But, he’s always challenged me… it’s really a positive leadership quality that we’re working on refining. But after 12 years of constant head butting I had it the other day when I asked him to print off a copy of his service hours for the school year and he thought that was ridiculous. Really? He can’t just say “ok”, then take… Read more »
That’s awesome, Sue, that he already sees the benefits of homeschooling! My youngest is that way, too, and won’t even entertain the thought of any other type of schooling!
I’m rooting for Lindsey in this! She can do it! You can do what it takes to help her get it done! Keeping you all in my prayers!
Thanks, Jonnia!
This just makes my heart soar! The fact that she’s not only coming back to homeschool, but by her own will and because it will work so well for her solidfies my resolve. Thanks for sharing!!
Homeschooling FTW!
That sounds like a great plan, Jamie. I hope the year is great for both of you!
Gosh, that just sounds ridiculous! I agree that graduating at 20 or later would cause many to drop out, so sad. I’m sure you will have a great year, you will have a highly motivated student 🙂 Blessings,
Oh, the flexibility of your mama heart and faith mind – and the wisdom you show when presenting the options and letting your child make the decision – and the care you took in considering the options – I know it all sounds so “everyday” to you – and it IS – but from the beginning of my blogging about a year ago – and the great number of homeschooling moms I’ve met – and me never having a child. To this day I am still SO inspired. All your babies are in SUCH safe hands. God bless and keep… Read more »
Craig,
When you take the time to comment, it is obvious you have truly put time and thought into what you say. You are a wonderful encourager and make me teary-eyed at least half the time. 🙂 Thank you for your kind words.
Best of luck (and lots of prayers) on your endeavor! I’m hoping that homeschooling year-round will allow us to graduate our kids “early” and possibly w/ associates degrees from the local junior college by “skipping the fluff” and letting them work at their own pace. Prayers for Lindsey (and you) as she seeks to be diligent in her studies!
Rock on, girls!!
So glad she’ll be home with you next year:)
It sounds like you’ve got a great plan for finishing up high school.
That makes a lot of sense…and I’ll say the part you left out…she will get a STRONGER education by being home with you this year and she will be MORE prepared for college because she would have gained more experience working independently and being personally responsible for her education. That is something that is hard for most kids entering college. For homeschoolers they’ve already had 8-10 years of more independent learning under their belt.
I’m glad she is coming back home for her last high school and I will be very interestingly following along with your journey. Yay for Lindsey! Praying for you both.
I don’t blame you guys for choosing that either! It sounds like the school district has really ridiculous requirements. In NY we have regents diplomas, which means you have to have accomplished a certain grade on each classes’ state standardized tests…it’s a huge mess.
Excited to see how your year goes!
Jamie, I know the local school says she “needs” all those math credits, but really think about it. She doesn’t need them. Get her through Geometry OR Algebra 2, and she can take the other at community college. I hate to see her overwhelmed with math, especially if it’s not her best subject. Just ONE math course was almost too much for me in high school. Don’t forget to be flexible! Two full courses plus the DR class may just be too much. I second the suggestion for block scheduling too. They use that at one of the high schools… Read more »
Dawn,
Thanks for the input. I know you have more experience than I do! If it really seems like too much we’ll scale back, but we’ll see how it goes. She really doesn’t want to do anything at a community college, and so far it’s going well since we’ve spread it out a lot and she’s already about 1/3 way through geometry. The Dave Ramsey thing isn’t really all that math intensive; more a money management, which she’s motivated to learn since she has a job and wants a car in the foreseeable future! 😉