How to Earn a High School Diploma
Correspondence, Online , and Independent Study High School Programs
There are many more such schools throughout the country. Any search engine will turn them up; be sure to search under “Distance Learning Programs” as well as “Homeschooling High School.” Also, most homeschooling books that cover teenagers also list Internet resources for learning high school subjects. These are some I’ve known people to use successfully.—PF
Brigham Young University Independent Study
High School Transcript Programs
206 Harman Building
PO Box 21514
Provo, UT 84602
1-800-914-8931
Whitmore School Online High School
Since 1994, this online school provides an accredited online high school diploma program and courses.
Princeton Review
An unconventional standardized test preparation service.
Schools that Do Not Use SAT/ACT Scores for Admissions
A list by FairTest.org, updated in Summer 2014.
University of Missouri
Center for Distance and Independent Study
136 Clark Hall
Columbia, MO 65211-4200
1-800-609-3727
University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Independent Study High School
269 Hardin Center
Lincoln, NE 68583-9400
Testing to Receive a High School Diploma:
Testing to Receive College Credit for Courses:
American College Testing – Proficiency Examination Program (ACT – PEP examinations)
ACT PEP
Box 168
Iowa City, IA 52243
NY State residents should contact: Regents College Examinations, Albany, NY 12230.
College Level Examination Program (CLEP)
CLEP Official Study Guide (Official Study Guide for the CLEP Examinations). College Board, 2022.
Standardized Testing for College
Covers the PSAT (usually taken in Oct. of sophomore or junior year), the SAT I, SAT II, AP, and CLEP practice tests available online.
Earning College Credit for What You Already Know
Earn College Credit with Prior Learning Assessments
A Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) evaluates and awards credit based on a student's experiences and knowledge developed through "careers, employer training programs, military service, independent study or community service."
Thomas Edison State College
A good place to go if you need to turn your learning into a credential for use with work or school. The New York Times profiled this college in 2013: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/25/education/25degree.html
Opportunities and Activities for Teenagers Not in School
AFS InterNational Exchange Program, 71 West 23rd St. 17th floor New York, NY 10010, 212-807-8686, 800-AFS-INFO. Fax: 503-241-1653
Alliance for Self-Directed Education Teen Forum. You need to become a member of ASDE—it is free—before you can participate in the forum. The moderator writes, "This is the only ASDE forum intended primarily for a particular age group, but keep in mind that any Alliance member who cares about teens’ rights can participate, and teen members are welcome to participate in any of the other forums, too. Participants over 20 should, in this forum, generally limit their participation to providing support and information that a teen member has requested, and consider waiting until other teen members have had time to respond first. This is not a strict rule, but it follows naturally from our goal of helping teens empower themselves and each other.”
Blake Boles. Boles is an entrepreneur and world traveler who helps "young adults challenge themselves, feel engaged, and become better self-directed learners."
Center for Interim Programs,
Center for Interim Programs
Princeton, New Jersey
609-683-4300
info@interimprograms.com
Chesapeake Bay Foundation, 6 Herndon Ave. Annapolis MD 21403, 800-445-5572.
Crow Canyon Archaeological Ctr, 23390 County Rd K, Cortez CO 8l32l, 970-565-8975, 800-422-8975. Our adult programs are open to people over age 18; summer camps and High School Field School are open to students age 12-18, and nontraditional students are welcome.
En Familie International
A French, 38-year-old language immersion exchange program.
World learning.org, Box 676, Kipling Rd, Brattleboro VT 05302-0676, 802-257-775l. 800-345-2929, Fax 802-258-3248. Cultural immersion home study programs for 3, 4, and 5 weeks in the summer to 18 countries.
Farm Sanctuary, P.O. Box 150, Watkins Glen NY 14891. 607-583-2225. Fax: 607-583-2041. Apprenticeships in caring for sick animals.
Free Computer Science Classes
This is a free, self-paced 12-week program offered by Harvard University.
https://www.edx.org/, Thousands of courses connected to career-relevant learning.
Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, 9275 Tremont Rd, Townsend TN 37882, 865-448-6709 Naturalist Workshops, programs for teenagers.
Hulbert Outdoor Center, 2968 Lake Morey Road, Fairless, VT, 05045, 802-333-3405. Fax 802- 333-3404. Camp for ages 9-17. Vegetarian food provided.
Kids for Saving Earth, Kids for Saving Earth 37955 Bridge Road North Branch, MN 5505
Lazy Mill Living Arts, Lazy Mill Living Arts is a folk school dedicated to reviving traditional skills of hand and land.
Global Ecovillage Network, GEN wants \"to inspire, scale and facilitate communities and people from all walks of life to become active participants in the transition to a resilient and regenerative human presence on Earth.\" Global Ecovillage Network, The Park, Findhorn, Forres, Moray, IV36 3TZ Scotland
National Wildlife Federation Wildlife Camp, www.nwf.org, 800-822-9919
Not Back to School Camp, P.O. Box 1014, Eugene, OR, 97440, 541—686-2315. Grace Llewellyn’s camp for ages 13-18. Vegetarian food provided.
Off-Trail Learning, Blake Boles' latest venture for helping teenagers learn what they want to know in customized ways. A great information and podcast site. Here are the links to the free podcasts in the iTunes store.
Project World School, Inspiring Temporary Learning Communities for Teens & Young Adults
SERVAS, 11 John St, Rm 505, New York NY l0038, 212-267-0252. Visit or host foreign family.
Unschool Adventures. Blake Boles creates "life changing trips for self-directed young adults."
Tree People, l260l Mulholland Dr, Beverly HIlls CA 902l0, 818-753-4600.Environmental leadership program.
