Why Homeschool High School?

by Penny Ross
Sep. 28, 2026

I know I approached the high school years with fear and trepidation. Though homeschooling had been going well for our family and I loved having my children home with me each day, I was worried that high school would be too complicated and quite difficult. I was afraid it would be more than I was able to handle.

Perhaps you have a different concern. Are you one of those families who are struggling with homeschooling? If you are faltering now, are you worried that continuing on into the high school years would be a disservice to your children?

Or maybe your children are currently enrolled in a campus-based public or private school. But if they are not thriving, you wonder if homeschooling high school might be your last chance to ensure they get a good education.

Whatever your particular situation, if the thought of homeschooling high school leaves you anxious or concerned, then The High School Handbook is for YOU! This book will supply the information, encouragement, and support you need, enabling you to homeschool the high school students in your own family. However it takes more than just knowledge. You will also need a healthy dose of motivation and inspiration to start down the path to homeschooling high school.  

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done. Psalm 105:4-5a (ESV)

So let’s look at some of the benefits to homeschooling teens:

• FAITH AND WORLDVIEW – As a Christian parent, you have likely raised your children in the church, immersing them in Bible stories, songs, and prayers teaching the foundations of our faith. In their teen years, as their analytical abilities mature, they may question perceived discrepancies between their faith and current events or specific academic subjects. You can work through these issues and questions with your teens as you disciple them and model Christian faith throughout all aspects of everyday life, including homeschooling.

• CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT – Teens who spend the majority of their time with peers feel enormous pressure to fit in and go along with the crowd. Social media contributes to that pressure. But the healthy family relationships that develop through homeschooling can provide teens the confidence to stay the course and follow the biblical principles modeled by their parents.

• CUSTOMIZED EDUCATION – Students educated in a campus-based school have only a few choices in their schooling. However, students schooled at home can receive a totally customized education. Using the internet and the library, families can build a class or an extracurricular activity around any imaginable topic using whichever type of learning approach or method works best for the student. Plus they are free to mix and match different methods and resources, all within the same school year. 

• TIME – Homeschooling usually takes fewer hours per day than campus-based schooling, so teens have more time to explore their interests and passions, develop hobbies, learn new skills, try different extracurricular activities, and gain valuable work or volunteer experience. As a result, they often acquire a clearer picture of the talents and gifts God has placed within them.

This is not an exhaustive list of the benefits provided through homeschooling. You can probably think of additional reasons that are important to your family and your particular circumstances. Take some time to think through your reasons, write them down, and then keep them readily available for future reference.

Whatever your reasons may be, don’t underestimate the awesome privilege of spending additional time and priority influence with your teen as you guide them toward the adult world.

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Penny Ross taught her own three children at home from birth through high school graduation. She led a PSP at her church and now runs Tools for the Home Educator, an independent consulting business. She offers encouragement, support, and training through consultations, coaching, webinars, and workshops. Her specialty is in helping families clarify their homeschooling goals and then assisting them in mapping a pathway to success. Penny is married to her college sweetheart, Greg, and together they delight in seven grandchildren.