Understanding High School Diplomas

This page will help you understand what kind of high school diploma a student will generally need to have; what accreditation is, what it means for a school to be accredited, and what colleges and universities may need regarding accreditation; and some information about homeschooling and the resources available to help homeschooling families meet their necessary state standards.
Note: The terms “high school education” and “secondary education” are synonymous and interchangeable. 

Types of High School Diplomas

You usually need to have a standard high school diploma for admission to a college or university. (Some states offer advanced high school diplomas as well.) However, some diploma types (such as the Virginia’s Applied Studies Diploma) are not the same as a standard high school diploma and do not meet most colleges’ requirements for completion of high school. 

This is why colleges and universities will generally require that students have completed a “standard secondary education” (or, in the case of homeschoolers, the equivalent to a standard secondary education) that meets their state’s standards in order to enroll. 

Accreditation

accredit: to give official authorization to or approval of:
. . .to provide with credentials
. . . to recognize or vouch for as conforming with a standard
. . . to recognize (an educational institution) as maintaining standards that qualify the graduates for admission to higher or more specialized institutions or for professional practice
Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Having accreditation is generally required for public and private high schools. Public high schools are usually accredited by their state’s Department of Education, while private schools generally must meet accreditation standards set by non-governmental accrediting organizations which help to make sure that the school meets or exceeds the state’s standards for a standard secondary education. If you have the option of getting a diploma from an accredited high school or an unaccredited high school, you’d typically want the diploma from the accredited high school.

However, it’s important to know that not all accrediting organizations are equal; there are many different accrediting organizations with many accreditation standards. It is also important to know what your desired college or university requires regarding accreditation. Some colleges or universities will accept accreditation from some organizations while rejecting others. Some colleges or universities may also require private schools to provide written statements confirming that they meet their state’s standards for a standard secondary education.

Homeschooling

Probably the best resources available for parents who homeschool, participate in homeschooling co-ops, or use a homeschool umbrella program is the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). HSLDA helps parents to know what their state’s secondary education standards are and how to abide by them through homeschooling. 

Note that, if you as a parent are sending a homeschooled student to college, the homeschool administrator (likely you) may need to provide a written statement to the college or university confirming that your student’s homeschool education meets or exceeds your state’s standards for a standard secondary education.

Also note that, if your student took any courses outside of your homeschool (perhaps they did some of high school at a public school prior to homeschooling, or they took some courses at another school simultaneously and “transferred” them to your homeschool, or they did dual enrollment college courses to satisfy high school requirements, etc.) then you may need to provide records from those other institutions to the college or university your student is applying to.