Do we need a diploma?

Does My Student Need a Diploma?

Who is issuing the diploma?
As it turns out, there are no laws governing who may issue a high school diploma. We were very surprised to learn this! There are high school accreditation organizations that look at many facets of a high school and will give a school their stamp of approval when the school has met their criteria and expectations. The State of Washington approves schools whose buildings meet fire codes, whose teachers meet certification standards, whose students have their immunizations properly documented, and whose activity schedules include the right amount of hours for certain subjects. Most Washington high schools are not accredited by any agency, but do meet state-approved school standards.

Since there are no laws defining who may issue a diploma, the credibility of the organization issuing the diploma is what is at stake when a student states their diploma was obtained by attending a school. It is possible for a parent to issue a diploma, and it is possible to obtain a nice certificate that can be run through your computer's printer that looks very official. Parents need to back up their diploma with documentation that a student met a broad range of graduation requirements. Use state graduation requirements as a guideline, or college entrance requirements listed elsewhere on our website.

What about college?
For a long time, high school diplomas have not meant that a student could read, write, or do basic math. For that reason, colleges are looking for transcripts, and a date when high school was completed. Most colleges have a list of coursework they want their applicants to have accomplished. They want to see that the student took difficult courses and earned a letter grade. Most colleges are happy to have a transcript written by a parent of a homeschooler that includes a 'graduation date'. Check with the admissions counselor for suggestions on how the transcript should be presented.

Zacchaeus Academy knows of several former students who have gone to college without either a high school diploma or a 2-year degree from Running Start. To our knowledge, no one has been denied admission for lack of a diploma.

What is important to remember is that ALL courses taken at Zacchaeus Academy may be counted toward college entrance. Students do not need classroom experience at the local high school to 'validate' their education. It is very important to document the student's homeschool coursework, either taken at home or through Zacchaeus Academy. We recommend that every bit of homework for a course be collected into a large envelope. Put tests or terminal project reports on the top of the homework. Put the grade report on top of that. Put the course name and start and end dates of the course on the envelope and put the envelope in a safe place, either in a file, a file box with the student's name, or on a bookshelf with all other coursework envelopes. When it is time to write the transcript, all coursework reports will be one place.

What about financial aid?
If your student is accepting financial aid for college from the federal government (Pell grant or Stafford loans) then the FAFSA (Free Application for Financial Student Aid) will ask if the student is expecting to receive a diploma. If your student is going to complete coursework equivalent to a generally recognized diploma, indicate 'yes' on this form.

Many private colleges are financially endowed to offer all of their students scholarships depending on GPA (grade point average) and SAT or ACT scores. These usually do NOT require the completion of the FAFSA, but are automatically granted when the student is officially accepted.

What if my student is not going to college?
Students who are planning to work after high school for an indefinite period are the students who are most likely to need a diploma. A diploma suggests that a person knows how to accomplish a set of tasks, not all of which were necessarily to their liking. A diploma also suggests that a person has a fairly broad educational base.

If a homeschool family does not feel qualified to write their student a diploma, then consider obtaining a GED certificate through the testing process. Testing services are offered at Whatcom Community College and at Bellingham Technical College. Alternatively, students who are 18 or older may obtain a high school diploma through the adult high school completion program at Whatcom Community college. Their website is http://www.whatcom.ctc.edu/

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Diplomas for Homeschoolers

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