South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools

High School Program

Overview of the High School Program

In the ever-changing world of academia, the SCAIHS High School Staff strives to remain on the cutting edge. Our dynamic program offers a wide range of services, including: tracking and recording high school credits, issuing transcripts, providing curriculum counseling, informing parents about special extracurricular opportunities, providing guidance services, and hosting a formal graduation ceremony every year.

Four Tracks are offered in the High School Program:
Track I—College Preparatory Diploma Track
Track II—General and Applied Studies Diploma Track
Track III—Non-Diploma Track
Track IV—Occupational Diploma Track

Track I is for college-bound students and a minimum of 24 credits must be earned to graduate with this College Preparatory Diploma. This minimum reflects what most four-year colleges and universities require.

Track II is for students who plan to pursue full-time employment or alternate educational opportunities, such as technical or occupational training, after high school. Twenty-two credits are required to earn this General and Applied Studies Diploma. Requirements include less demanding math and science courses and no foreign language.

Track III is a non-diploma track and is for students using a correspondence school which issues diplomas, for students whose families are enrolled with SCAIHS as Auxiliary Members, and for students who plan to take the GED.

Track IV, the Occupational Diploma Track, is only for students registered in the SCAIHS Special Needs Program who plan to pursue full-time employment after high school and are unable to complete the standard academic requirements of Tracks I and II.

FAQ's

Can my child go to college if he or she is home schooled?
Yes, students who have graduated from the SCAIHS high school program are admitted to the colleges of their choice, not only in South Carolina, but also across the country. A large number of our graduates receive merit-based scholarships each year, and the SCAIHS staff is committed to assisting parents and students with the scholarship and college application process.

How do I choose and obtain the curriculum materials for my high school student?
Many materials from secular and Christian sources are available for parents to use with their high school students. When requested, the SCAIHS staff offers parents curriculum counseling to assist them in choosing materials that are best suited to their student’s learning style, their family’s resources and their priorities. SCAIHS has a resource room with many materials for parents to review when choosing curricula.

How can I teach the more challenging high school courses (advanced math, lab sciences, foreign languages, composition skills, etc.) when I only have a high school education or do not have training in the specific subject area(s)?
Many creative options are available, such as video programs, computer software, home-school classes, and dual enrollment, to help meet the needs in these areas. The SCAIHS High School Staff works very closely with parents helping them find the best options for their circumstances, needs, and student.

What about extra curricular activities and socialization for my high schooler?
Home-schooled students are usually very active in church activities, community activities, and academic competitions. SCAIHS students have participated in TeenPact, community service, musical theater, band, scouts, sports, 4-H clubs, Civil Air Patrol, volunteering in the medical field, art and music lessons, group seminars and classes, Bible studies, and youth group activities, just to name a few. One of the advantages of home schooling in the high school years is the flexibility available to students to pursue a particular area of interest or develop a particular talent. SCAIHS students have been tennis champions, state chess champions, rodeo champions, Envirothon Champions, and Olympic-level gymnasts. They have performed on Broadway, have won the Miss Teen South Carolina, and have received NCAA athletic scholarships. When approached with creativity, ingenuity, and resourcefulness, the opportunities for enriching activities are limitless.

Guidelines for Placement in the High School Program

To enroll in SCAIHS, a high school student must register for a minimum of four courses. The deadline for first-semester enrollment is September 15, and the deadline for second-semester enrollment is January 15. Seniors must be enrolled by the September 15th deadline.

If, prior to enrolling in SCAIHS, a student has earned high school credit, an official transcript of grades, credits earned to date, and standardized test scores must be submitted with an application. The transcript can be issued by a public school, a private school, a correspondence school, or a home-school supervisory organization whose standards and documentation parallel those of SCAIHS.

A student who has been home schooled in previous years but does not have a transcript, can be considered for enrollment if certain criteria are met.

List of Forms Required to Apply for Membership:

Student Enrollment Form
Statement of Intent
Course Schedule
Course Description (one for each course)

Testing Requirements: Which test when?

Students in grades 9 through 11 must be tested annually. Students have the option of taking one of the following standardized tests:
Iowa Test of Basic Skills
Stanford Achievement Test
SAT I
ACT
PSAT

Reporting Requirements: (Reporting forms are mailed in the acceptance packet.)

1) Progress Report--This report gives a detailed summary of the course work covered by the student during a specific time period. Two reports are required per year.
2) Year-End Report Card
3) Course Credit Record--This form provides an overview of all work completed in a course. One form is submitted for each completed course.
4) Copy of Standardized test scores.