When Eighth Grade Counts as High School
Some eighth grade students are ready to begin tackling high school level work—especially in core academic subjects such as math, science, or foreign language. If that sounds like your student, you might consider using high school-level course materials now and noting these courses on a high school transcript. Courses that are part of a clear sequence—such as Algebra I, Geometry, Biology, or Spanish I—are often the most acceptable to colleges when taken in eighth grade, but this can vary by school.
Some colleges may not count eighth-grade humanities or elective credits toward high school graduation requirements, but others are open to accepting any coursework that truly reflects high school-level learning. If your student has a particular college in mind, it’s worth checking with their admissions department for guidance.
Preparing for High School
Whether or not your student earns high school credit in eighth grade, your main goal this year is to prepare him for success in high school. This generally means focusing on the two key skill areas of math and language arts and solidifying a foundation in the content areas of science and social studies.
Math Readiness
Eighth grade is often the time to solidify computation skills, build speed and accuracy, and strengthen understanding of math concepts in preparation for Algebra, if he hasn’t already begun Algebra. This is also a good time to work on logic and reasoning skills, which are valuable across subjects.
Language Arts Readiness
Strong reading and writing skills are essential for high school. Your student should be building vocabulary, mastering grammar, and growing more confident in writing—both in organizing ideas and polishing mechanics.
Other Helpful Foundations: For science, it’s helpful if your student has a general familiarity with the basic principles of science and an introduction to the scientific method. At this stage, many students have had some experience conducting simple experiments and may have begun learning how to document those activities using basic lab notations.
In history and geography, it can be beneficial for students to have a basic understanding of their state and national history and geography, along with an introductory look at ancient and modern world history and global geography. A semester of civics is also common at the junior high level, though not essential.
These subjects—science and social studies—are considered content areas (vs skills subjects) and will typically be covered again in greater depth during the high school years, so a solid introductory foundation is helpful, but don’t panic if it’s not especially comprehensive at this point. He’ll have more opportunities to cover those areas in high school.
Planning and Placement Tools
To get a clearer picture of your student’s readiness for high school, you may find it helpful to consult a checklist of typical objectives for this grade level. These are not hard requirements, but they can help guide your planning and identify any gaps:
Either of these can give you a broad view of what’s usually covered by the end of eighth grade. Use them loosely, as tools—not rules—to support your unique homeschool journey. (See more in What Should I Be Teaching My Child? Also see Making the Most of the Middle School Years, linked below.)
Beyond Academics
It’s also worth noting that academic readiness isn’t the only priority. This is a key season for character development as well. As your student matures, it’s important to help him grow in moral reasoning, personal responsibility, integrity, and empathy. These traits are foundational not only for academic success but for becoming a trustworthy and ethical young adult.
Your goal as a parent is to eventually work yourself out of a job! Life skills and time management training will serve your student well in the future, both immediate and long-term. Young people at this age are usually able to be given increasing control over their schedules as well as some input into subject matter choices. This may take a bit of patience on your part—and training in diligence and thoroughness on your student’s part—but it will eventually be worth it.
Junior high is also a great time to help your student begin exploring personal interests, future goals, and potential career paths. One of the great blessings of homeschooling is the flexibility to tailor coursework to reflect your student’s gifts, passions, and post-graduation plans. Many students dabble in entrepreneurship and develop talents or hobbies that could blossom into future ventures. Is he into technology, animals, art, or aviation? Encourage him to pursue elective topics and projects related to those interests. As you plan his high school years, you can build in opportunities for internships, certifications, or independent studies that reflect those passions—one of the many beautiful advantages of homeschooling!
This may be a time of great physical, emotional, and spiritual transition for your young person. It can be a challenging age, but she needs your affection, communication, and understanding even more than ever. It is not uncommon for students in this developmental stage to have spiritual questions; don’t take them personally but do take them seriously. What a wonderful opportunity to mentor and disciple your child!
You Are Not Alone
As a homeschool consultant, I’m happy to help you with questions about high school planning, transcripts, or recordkeeping. And I encourage you to connect with other parents of high school students, whether in person or online. You aren’t in this alone!
