Home education (homeschooling) for high school in Connecticut:
Legal Framework & Basics
Connecticut law mandates that children aged 5 to just before they turn 18 must either attend public school, private school or homeschool.
While authorities recommend filing a Notice of Intent to homeschool within about 10 days of starting, this is not legally required.
The required subjects by statute (§10‑184) include:
Reading, writing (including spelling, grammar)
Geography
Arithmetic (math)
U.S. history and citizenship (town, state, federal govt)
Science, foreign languages, arts, and physical education are not legally required, but are widely recommended for a well-rounded education.
Record-Keeping & Curriculum
There’s no strict statewide requirement, but it’s advised you:
Keep attendance logs (days and hours of instruction)
Maintain a portfolio with samples of work, books used, projects, etc.
Optionally include results of any national assessments
Local districts may request an optional portfolio review, but they cannot require it, and many do not pursue these reviews
It’s advisable to align your instruction with the Connecticut Core Standards to ensure academic completeness and aid in transitions back to public school.
Parents and students should also be aware that if a student is homeschooling for grades 9 – 12, it is best that the complete it once they start. Schools are often reluctant if not outright refusing to accept a high school homeschooler’s academic work because the law gives them the right to “discern”. While that does not fit the fact that homeschoolers often do superior academic work, the law stands. Districts can choose to accept homeschooler’s high school academics and assign credits – and some are reasonable about doing so.
High School Graduation & Diplomas
Connecticut does not issue a state homeschool diploma. Parents can choose to create and issue their own diplomas and transcripts to document courses, credits, and grades. The student can also contribute to the development of a transcript, toward a parent-issued diploma upon completion of high school studies.
You may also pursue a Connecticut State High School Diploma via the GED® exam:
Must be 17 or 18 and either:
Be officially withdrawn from school for at least 6 months, or
Provide a letter from the school indicating you entered ninth grade in a graduating class
A GED diploma is state-recognized and can be a good option if you want a formal credential. However, it is important to note that colleges and universities across the country have easily accepted a parent-issued high school diploma. Homeschooled students with parent-issued diplomas and carefully crafted transcripts are generally accepted by colleges, though some institutions may request additional documentation or standardized test scores whether a student is homeschooled or not.
If your student has attended public high school and is completing their high school studies by homeschooling, be sure to send the school district (superintendent’s office) a request for your child’s complete academic records. You can include that information when developing a complete homeschool high school transcript.
General High School Homeschool Resources
Free Online Platforms & Curriculum Tools
StartsAtEight – Free Homeschool High School Resources
Offers a rich collection of printables and tools, including:
Elective planning templates
Free curriculum help via The HomeScholar blog
Ambleside Online (Charlotte Mason-style, K–12)
Easy Peasy All‑in‑One (full high school curriculum)
Khan Academy, Math Planet, iPractice Math
American Sign Language courses, Shakespeare guides, vocabulary exercises, Coursera, SAS Curriculum Pathways, HippoCampus
OrganizedHomeschool.com – 15 Free Resources for Homeschooling High School
Highlights include:
Transcript and course planning templates
Free or discounted Kindle books by Lee Binz on topics like scheduling, science, college essays, and transcripts
Khan Academy
Free, standards-aligned courses in math, science, English, and more. Great for supplementing or forming a self-paced curriculum; includes SAT/AP prep and progress tracking.
Time4Learning
A flexible, structured online curriculum covering core subjects with automated grading and progress tools—especially helpful for self-paced learning styles or families with unique needs.
Outschool
Offers diverse live online classes and clubs that count toward electives (e.g. language, arts), with flexible scheduling and teaching styles (Montessori, Charlotte Mason, etc.).
EdX
Free or low-cost courses from universities like MIT and Harvard on a range of advanced topics; certificates available. Great for electives or enrichment beyond core subjects.
Apex Learning
Accredited virtual courses across K–12 with offerings in core, honors, AP, world languages, electives, and technical education. Credits are transferable.
Specialized Curriculum Providers
Classical Academic Press
Offers a classical curriculum focusing on Latin, Greek, writing, logic, science, literature, and more. Popular among classical education homeschoolers.
BJU Press
Christian-based curriculum publisher offering K–12 textbooks and resources, including record-keeping tools designed for homeschool use.
Online Schools with Diplomas & Structured Programs
High School of America (Connecticut-specific, accredited, self-paced)
Offers a complete online high school experience with:
Accredited diploma
Connecticut-aligned curriculum across core subjects, electives, arts, foreign languages, PE
Learning Management System, clear graduation requirements, and credit transfer support
Penn Foster pennfoster.edu
Legacy Online School (K12 Homeschool Legacy)
Provides Florida Virtual School–based curriculum, certified teachers, AP courses, STEM focus, and US-certified diplomas. Flexible and personalized for Connecticut families.