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With something as important and official as a high school transcript, it can feel overwhelming or intimidating to create your own, but it doesn’t have to be. If your child is nearing or entering high school, use this guide and download our free templates to create a transcript made to impress!
Start early.
Transcripts are only required for high school students, but you should be in the habit of keeping records long before high school rolls around. Depending on your state, you may be legally required to keep certain records. Yet, even if your state doesn’t require it, we recommend you get in the habit of recording attendance, hours spent schooling, grades, and the curriculum you use, including levels, subjects, publishers, and the scope and sequence.
Plan with the end in mind.
Make sure to choose a transcript track that fits your post-graduation plans. If your child wants to immediately pursue a trade, then AP classes aren’t really necessary. However, if you’re aiming for an Ivy League, you’re going to need certain things on your transcript.
You can find your state’s minimum high school requirements on your state’s department of education website. From there, determine which tier of transcript your child should work toward.
1. The minimum requirements
2. A slightly more rigorous recommended program
3. A distinguished program
If you need help determining how many credits you should pursue for each tier, use this free “road map” from College Prep Genius that breaks down the credits for each.
Decide on AP courses, dual credit, and/or CLEP.
If your child is looking toward college after graduation, you should consider early college options like AP, dual credit, or CLEP.
Any of these early college options should be included on your child’s transcript and can be listed under “notes.”
Make it official.
The best way to make your transcript look official is to use one of our free homeschool transcript templates.
DOWNLOAD DIGITAL TRANSCRIPT TEMPLATE (EDITABLE)
DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE TRANSCRIPT TEMPLATE
Keep your transcript to two pages and get specific when you’re filling out the course information. For example, instead of putting “12th grade History” put “Government and Economics.”
To go a step above and beyond, get your transcript notarized.
Additional Important Reminders
Here are just a few important things to keep in mind about transcripts while you prepare for your homeschooler’s next journey:
Beginning high school:
- Make sure you know the number of credits and classes your state requires for a student to graduate from a public high school. While homeschoolers only technically need to complete the courses assigned by their homeschool, many colleges want to see transcripts that match a state’s graduation requirements.
- Make a plan. The next four years will go quickly, so make sure you have the classes planned in advance, so you don’t accidentally miss a necessary class/credit.
- Create courses and assign credit
- Start your transcript early and update it year to year. That way you won’t have to find and combine old records in a longer and more frustrating process.
Getting a transcript ready for graduation:
- Organize your records. There are plenty of available transcript templates that can be found online, as well as professional transcript services where you can pay to have it done for you.
- Make sure your transcript is formatted according to university specifics where your homeschooler is applying.
- Confirm that your homeschooler is not missing any necessary credits. If you’re short of meeting requirements, take a summer class so all necessary credits are completed.
- Calculate your student’s GPA.
We want to thank our friends at Alpha Omega Publications (AOP) for providing us with this week's blog post. AOP is a leading provider of PreK-12 Christian curriculum, educational resources, and services to Christian schools and homeschool families worldwide.
Get 15% off plus free U.S. Shipping and SmartPoints on curriculum from Alpha Omega Publications at the Co-op here until May 31, 2021
