Homeschool ACT Scores

Saturday, September 5th, 2009 at 1:55 pm

ACT Scores for Homeschoolers

Many of you who visit this site know us, the Simmons family. Four of our five children have finished homeschooling through high school and have gone on to college. Of those four, only our daughter made a great score on the ACT (28). Our three sons made scores that didn't keep them out of college, but were nothing to brag about. I tell you this so that you will not be discouraged if your student doesn't do as well as the averages reported for homeschoolers. All of our children went to community college for the first 2 years. They all have received some scholarships based on their success at community college. Our oldest son went on to receive a degree in Electrical Engineering at Mississippi State University and he has been inducted into several engineering honor societies. Our second son got his degree in Mechanical Engineering (also at MSU) and completed a successful Coop program through the university. Both of our engineer sons are gainfully employed in their field at present. Our third son is presently working on a business degree at FL State U while managing a Chick Fil A and preparing for a career as an owner/operator of Chick Fil A. He also received a scholarship from Chick Fil A.

Homeschoolers should have no fear of college.

Even though the way we homeschooled in high school was different from what was required in college (we had much more flexibility) , all four of our college children thrived in college classes. They were in no way handicapped from having been homeschooled. Adjusting to college classes was not difficult for any of them, and they each have their own strengths and weaknesses in study habits and learning styles. Homeschoolers should have no fear of college. Don't be slack in preparing, but don't stress about it if some things are not accomplished well in high school. It is no big deal. High school records, subjects. and accomplishments get forgotten as college accomplishments take their place.

The Simmons Family

In almost every study, homeschoolers come out in a positive light. The following article came out on CNSNews.com on September 1. It may help you in considering homeschooling through high school. It is very encouraging...

Home Schoolers Top National Average on ACT

CBS New Report:

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/53292

Compared with other students, homeschoolers scored higher than the national average on this year's ACT, a national standardized test used to gauge educational development and college readiness.

The national average for 2009 graduating high schoolers reported by ACT (American College Testing) officials is 21.1 on a scale from 1 to 36. Homeschoolers scored a national average of 22.5.

Like the SAT, ACT scores are used in the college admissions process to evaluate applicants. Virtually all colleges accept either test, Ed Colby, spokesman for the ACT, told CNSNews.com.

Scores are based on the 1.48 million students who graduated in 2009, Colby said. Among those students were 11,535 homeschoolers, he said.

Ian Slatter, director of media relations for the Home School Legal Defense Association, said the one-on-one attention home-schooled students receive is conducive to learning.

"Parents can tailor-make an education program to suit the child. The child can then advance at their own pace," he said.

Homeschoolers are further prepared for college because they must take initiative to accomplish projects, Slatter said. "Typically, in the home-school environment, the teen is self-directed in their learning because parents set a topic or task, and the student will then do their own research."