Do Homeschoolers Get a Diploma in SC?

Do homeschoolers get a diploma in SC? If they don’t get a diploma, then how do they graduate? In a previous post, I discussed the buzzword “accredited” which is related to this question about the diploma. The South Carolina Department of Education disclaimer notice says they “do not accredit, endorse, support, or recommend any home school association.”

Homeschoolers do not get a state-issued diploma (even if they use the school district option 1 instead of an association). The state issues diplomas for students that have gone thru the public system. Private schools and homeschools do not get that kind of diploma, because they did not go thru the public system.

Realizing that homeschool grads don’t get a state-diploma sometimes comes as a surprise though.

Do Homeschoolers Get a Diploma?

Homeschool graduates can still get a diploma. The parent or the association *can* issue a diploma. There’s actually places online that you can order very official looking ones, with a leather case and gold embossing. There’s also lots of others that you can print yourself. Many associations also issue a diploma.

The diploma is not the important document though. I have a state issued diploma and no one has ever asked to see it. The important document is the transcript.

A transcript is the educational resume that opens the doors of opportunity for college admissions, scholarship eligibility, military recruitment, trade schools, and technical colleges. Parents can make their own transcripts, legally they are allowed to do so.

The point is to prepare an accurate reflection of your student’s abilities and accomplishments. It’s an academic resume. We’re translating what your student has accomplished into commonly understood format so the doors of opportunity will open. That’s the transcript. Not the diploma.

Click here for my free printable high school planning guide:

Educational Resume

However, some institutions and programs have gotten burned with fraudulent “homeschool” transcripts in the past. So, parent made transcripts are coming under more scrutiny. When you think about a resume–much of that is unverified. But, if you say you’re fluent in Japanese, you kind of need to be. It’s not like you can just watch anime and arbitrarily inflate that to say you’re fluent in Japanese. That’s the kind of fraud that’s gotten homeschool transcripts a bad rap.

Homeschoolers may be asked to submit more proof, such as course descriptions and additional inquiry about their courses and grades. Some places will straight up refuse to accept the parent made transcripts (which probably could be addressed from a legal defense case. We just haven’t had anyone get that far yet.)

Homeschool associations have been able to step in the gap as an independent authority to *verify* the transcripts. Some associations offer transcript assistance to their members. While others feel that service oversteps the parents right/responsibility for the record-keeping. Option 1 doesn’t offer any kind of transcript assistance, so the parent is on their own to figure it out.

I think it’s worth having a local expert assist in your transcript preparations, so you can avoid the most common homeschool transcript mistakes. Because, SC has some unique requirements–details that matter to the Commission on Higher Education (like dates and the word “Final Official”). Plus our grade scale is weighted and very complicated to figure. You can reformat it and submit it solely on your own if you want to.

SC Connection offers independent transcript assistance service, no matter which association you choose. We have verified and formatted transcripts for folks who graduated years ago where the association is closed now and also for recent grads whose association doesn’t provide transcript assistance, and also a few from out of state.

Homeschoolers do not get a state-issued diploma. But, that’s ok because the doors of opportunity with a homeschool diploma too!

Read more about College Admissions Prerequites:

Setting the Records Straight: How to Craft Homeschool Transcripts and Course Descriptions for College Admission and ScholarshipsTranscripts Made Easy: The Homeschooler’s Guide to High SchoolThe Easy Truth About Homeschool TranscriptsCreating Transcripts for Your Unique Child: Help Your Homeschool Graduate Stand Out from the Crowd (The HomeScholar’s Coffee Break Book series 3)Planning High School Courses: Charting the Course Toward Homeschool Graduation (Coffee Break Books)Graduating With A Homeschool Diploma: How Your Homeschooler Can Graduate With An Official High School Diploma That Is Accepted (Nearly) EverywhereHome School High School Diploma – Homeschool LoverJOLEES by You, Large DiplomaCertificate Cover Imprinted