Home Education (Homeschooling) for High School in Connecticut
Legal Framework & Basics
Connecticut law requires that children ages 5 up to just before 18 must 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 legally required subjects (per §10‑184) include:
Reading and Writing (including spelling and grammar)
Geography
Arithmetic (Math)
U.S. History and Citizenship (town, state, federal government)
Recommended but not required subjects for a well-rounded education include: science, foreign languages, arts, and physical education.
Record-Keeping & Curriculum
There is no strict statewide law or requirement for record-keeping, but it is strongly advised for your own records, that you:
Keep attendance logs (days and hours of instruction)
Maintain a portfolio with work samples, books used, projects, etc.
Optionally include results of national assessments
Local school districts may request an optional portfolio review. They cannot require it, and many do not pursue these reviews.
It is also recommended to align instruction with Connecticut Core Standards to ensure academic completeness and facilitate transitions back to public schools if needed.
Important note for high school (grades 9–12):
Schools may be reluctant to accept homeschool academic work for credit. While homeschool students often produce superior work, the law allows districts to “discern” acceptance.
Some districts are reasonable and may assign credits. Planning ahead helps ensure smooth credit recognition.
High School Graduation & Diplomas
Connecticut does not issue a state homeschool diploma. Parents may create and issue their own diploma and transcript to document courses, credits, and grades. Allow the student to participate in developing the transcript for a parent-issued diploma.
GED® Option
Students may also pursue a Connecticut State High School Diploma via the GED® exam if they:
Are 17 or 18 years old, and either:
Have been officially withdrawn from school for at least 6 months, or
Provide a letter from the school confirming they entered ninth grade in a graduating class
GED diplomas are state-recognized. Parent-issued diplomas with carefully prepared transcripts are also widely accepted by colleges; some may request additional documentation or standardized test scores.
Tip for transferring from public high school to homeschooling:
Request complete academic records from the superintendent’s office to include when developing your homeschool transcript.
General High School Homeschool Resources
Free Online Platforms & Curriculum Tools
StartsAtEight – Free Homeschool High School Resources
Elective planning templates
Curriculum guidance 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
Courses in ASL, Shakespeare, vocabulary, Coursera, SAS Curriculum Pathways, HippoCampus
OrganizedHomeschool.com – 15 Free Resources for Homeschooling High School
Transcript and course planning templates
Free/discounted Kindle books by Lee Binz on scheduling, science, college essays, and transcripts
Khan Academy for self-paced core subjects and SAT/AP prep
Time4Learning – Structured online curriculum with automated grading and progress tracking
Outschool – Live online classes and clubs for electives (languages, arts) with flexible teaching styles
EdX – Free or low-cost university courses (MIT, Harvard) with certificates for electives or enrichment
Apex Learning – Accredited virtual courses including core, honors, AP, world languages, electives, and technical education
Specialized Curriculum Providers
Classical Academic Press – Classical curriculum in Latin, Greek, writing, logic, science, literature
BJU Press – Christian-based K–12 curriculum with homeschool record-keeping tools
Online Schools with Diplomas & Structured Programs
High School of America (Connecticut-specific)
Accredited diploma
Connecticut-aligned curriculum in core subjects, electives, arts, foreign languages, PE
Learning management system, graduation requirements, and credit transfer support
Penn Foster – Flexible accredited online high school program
Legacy Online School (K12 Homeschool Legacy)
Florida Virtual School–based curriculum
Certified teachers, AP courses, STEM focus, US-certified diplomas
Personalized for Connecticut families