HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES - FAQWhat is this, exactly?
HC USA was originally created to provide free resources for homeschooling high schoolers to build a quality curriculum without great expense, while also tailoring their studies toward taking college-level exams for credit. Since HC USA's launch in 2010, several great new websites have come online, most notably Saylor.org. Using these sites, we now offer a 4-year high school plan covering the core curriculum and several electives for those students needing a free high school curriculum who are not interested in college-level exams at this time. You only need minimal supplies (generally less than you would purchase to attend a public school), internet access, and ideally a printer. You may choose to purchase the 4 novels used each year as part of the English/Language Arts program, or request them from your local library. |
For those students who are interested in earning a fully accredited college degree while also completing their high school studies, please follow the instructions found on the Get Started page.
How do I get enrolled?
You don't register or enroll with HC USA. You will need to create free accounts with a few websites in order to track your progress. Please remember, HC USA is NOT A SCHOOL. We do not provide transcripts or diplomas. You must be following your state's homeschool laws in order to use this program.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and parents have the right and authority to issue their children both transcripts and diplomas themselves. See the portfolio page for examples.
Do I have to do all these courses?
You don't have to do any of them. You may substitute in any subjects you want or only do one or two of the courses offered. You may also want to visit the main page and look over the CLEP/DSST prep courses offered. Even if you have no plans to take any college-level exams, you can still use the study materials and resources available.
I don't know what the homeschool laws are for my state. Can you help me?
We are not lawyers and we are not homeschooling experts on all 50 states. We highly recommend you contact your state-wide homeschool organization for guidance. You can find them through your favorite search engine.
When can I start?
Any time. Even today. Before you begin your studies, look over the portfolio page. It will help you get organized and put together a homeschool portfolio that can be used as a record of your work, either for state-mandated evaluations if they are required for you, or as part of a college admissions package.
How long should I be spending each day on my lessons?
As long as it takes. That may seem like a silly answer, but it is the most accurate. You are not tied to a traditional school schedule that dictates you spend 45 - 55 minutes per day on each subject. If that sort of schedule works for you, by all means use it. However, most people find that while they excel at certain subjects, others are more of a struggle. You may need to spend two hours a day on your math studies, but only a half hour on history. Look over each course and determine about how many lessons or how much material you want to cover in a week and break that down over the days you plan for school work. After a month or so, if it seems like you may not be making enough progress to finish the course by the end of your school year, adjust your schedule accordingly. Also, you might want to consider studying one course at a time (in a summer school-type mentality), rather than all the courses at once.
We don't live in the United States. Can we use this program?
HC USA is open to anyone anywhere. It is your responsibility to determine whether or not you can use the resources here and meet whatever laws may apply to you. Please note that some of the website materials, particularly the videos, may not work for anyone outside the US or Canada.
I've already finished my freshman and sophomore years. Can I start as a junior?
Of course. If you find that you've already completed one or more of the courses listed for your junior year, look over the sophomore year to see if you can substitute something else.
How do I determine grades for my work?
In general, grades are up to the parents. In some cases, these may be calculated for you, such as with the Saylor courses' final exams.
My state requires that I submit my curriculum for approval. Can I use HC USA?
We cannot guarantee that any district or school will approve the HC USA curriculum. We have, however, put together grade level course curriculum lists with individual course descriptions and a course catalog that provides information about all 4 years of study, including the resource providers. You are free to print all of these (and are encouraged to do so for portfolio purposes) to submit to your district if needed.
Should I take the SAT or ACT?
Unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure you will not need it, yes, you should plan to take one or both. Most, though not all, colleges and universities require at least one of the two. (Thomas Edison, Charter Oak, and Excelsior do not.) Also, in many cases scholarships are awarded based on test scores. We recommend you begin your SAT/ACT prep as early as your freshman year. And please, before you go out and purchase any expensive books or prep courses, look over the materials we have here. There are a lot of great free resources available to you and you may find you do not need to buy anything more.
I've been using HC USA for awhile. Now everything is changed. Why is that?
We aren't trying to cause you any headaches! If you were already following along with the courses offered at the old HC USA site, rest assured you can still find everything through the subject links on the main page. We decided to pull together HC USA and The University of You to provide students of all ages with instructions and plans for earning a college degree from home. We added in this new high school program for any homeschooling high school students who are simply seeking a free curriculum due to financial needs. We understand all too well what it is like to homeschool on a tiny budget and want especially to help these families in any way we can.
How do I get enrolled?
You don't register or enroll with HC USA. You will need to create free accounts with a few websites in order to track your progress. Please remember, HC USA is NOT A SCHOOL. We do not provide transcripts or diplomas. You must be following your state's homeschool laws in order to use this program.
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states and parents have the right and authority to issue their children both transcripts and diplomas themselves. See the portfolio page for examples.
Do I have to do all these courses?
You don't have to do any of them. You may substitute in any subjects you want or only do one or two of the courses offered. You may also want to visit the main page and look over the CLEP/DSST prep courses offered. Even if you have no plans to take any college-level exams, you can still use the study materials and resources available.
I don't know what the homeschool laws are for my state. Can you help me?
We are not lawyers and we are not homeschooling experts on all 50 states. We highly recommend you contact your state-wide homeschool organization for guidance. You can find them through your favorite search engine.
When can I start?
Any time. Even today. Before you begin your studies, look over the portfolio page. It will help you get organized and put together a homeschool portfolio that can be used as a record of your work, either for state-mandated evaluations if they are required for you, or as part of a college admissions package.
How long should I be spending each day on my lessons?
As long as it takes. That may seem like a silly answer, but it is the most accurate. You are not tied to a traditional school schedule that dictates you spend 45 - 55 minutes per day on each subject. If that sort of schedule works for you, by all means use it. However, most people find that while they excel at certain subjects, others are more of a struggle. You may need to spend two hours a day on your math studies, but only a half hour on history. Look over each course and determine about how many lessons or how much material you want to cover in a week and break that down over the days you plan for school work. After a month or so, if it seems like you may not be making enough progress to finish the course by the end of your school year, adjust your schedule accordingly. Also, you might want to consider studying one course at a time (in a summer school-type mentality), rather than all the courses at once.
We don't live in the United States. Can we use this program?
HC USA is open to anyone anywhere. It is your responsibility to determine whether or not you can use the resources here and meet whatever laws may apply to you. Please note that some of the website materials, particularly the videos, may not work for anyone outside the US or Canada.
I've already finished my freshman and sophomore years. Can I start as a junior?
Of course. If you find that you've already completed one or more of the courses listed for your junior year, look over the sophomore year to see if you can substitute something else.
How do I determine grades for my work?
In general, grades are up to the parents. In some cases, these may be calculated for you, such as with the Saylor courses' final exams.
My state requires that I submit my curriculum for approval. Can I use HC USA?
We cannot guarantee that any district or school will approve the HC USA curriculum. We have, however, put together grade level course curriculum lists with individual course descriptions and a course catalog that provides information about all 4 years of study, including the resource providers. You are free to print all of these (and are encouraged to do so for portfolio purposes) to submit to your district if needed.
Should I take the SAT or ACT?
Unless you are ABSOLUTELY sure you will not need it, yes, you should plan to take one or both. Most, though not all, colleges and universities require at least one of the two. (Thomas Edison, Charter Oak, and Excelsior do not.) Also, in many cases scholarships are awarded based on test scores. We recommend you begin your SAT/ACT prep as early as your freshman year. And please, before you go out and purchase any expensive books or prep courses, look over the materials we have here. There are a lot of great free resources available to you and you may find you do not need to buy anything more.
I've been using HC USA for awhile. Now everything is changed. Why is that?
We aren't trying to cause you any headaches! If you were already following along with the courses offered at the old HC USA site, rest assured you can still find everything through the subject links on the main page. We decided to pull together HC USA and The University of You to provide students of all ages with instructions and plans for earning a college degree from home. We added in this new high school program for any homeschooling high school students who are simply seeking a free curriculum due to financial needs. We understand all too well what it is like to homeschool on a tiny budget and want especially to help these families in any way we can.