Homeschool Graduation Requirements in Texas

The short version

Texas does not set graduation requirements for homeschoolers. Texas treats a homeschool as a private school, so there is no notice of intent to file, no state testing, and no state diploma. You decide when your student has finished high school, and you issue the diploma and transcript yourself.

Texas is one of the most homeschool-friendly states in the country, which means most of the responsibility for setting a standard is yours.

How homeschooling works in Texas

Under the Leeper court decision, a Texas homeschool is treated as a private school. The only legal requirements are:

• The instruction is bona fide, meaning genuine and not a sham
• The curriculum is in visual form, such as books, workbooks, or video
• It covers five subjects: reading, spelling, grammar, mathematics, and good citizenship

There is no notice to file, no standardized testing, and no teacher qualification required. If your child is currently enrolled in a public school, send the district a letter of withdrawal before you begin.

Graduation requirements

Beyond the five required subjects, parents have full discretion over graduation. You set the requirements, decide when your student is done, and issue the diploma and transcript. Sign both documents yourself, since a diploma or transcript signed by someone other than the parent can cause confusion later.

Texas law treats a completed nontraditional secondary education as equivalent to public school graduation, and colleges are required to apply the same standards to homeschool graduates as to other applicants. Science and social studies are not legally required, but colleges expect them, so include them for a college-bound student. As a reference point, Texas public schools require 22 credits for the Foundation diploma, and many homeschool families use that as a guide even though it is not required of them.

Getting into college from a Texas homeschool

Texas universities, including the state flagships, accept homeschool applicants when the transcript and coursework are clearly documented. Homeschool graduates have equal access to the state's automatic-admission programs when they meet the same criteria as other students. Keep a transcript, course descriptions, and SAT or ACT scores.

Keeping records and the transcript

A transcript is not legally required in Texas, but it is essential for college, scholarships, and many jobs. HStranscripts.com lays out the transcript, adds up credits, and calculates the GPA automatically. You can create your homeschool transcript here, and see how to make a homeschool transcript for the full process.

Before you rely on this

This is general information, not legal advice, and homeschool rules can change. Confirm the current requirements with the Texas Home School Coalition (THSC), HSLDA's Texas page, and the Texas Education Agency before you rely on them.

In Texas, the law asks for very little, so the graduation standard is yours to set. Teach the required subjects, add what colleges expect, keep good records, and issue the diploma and transcript yourself.