How I Approach And Calculate Homeschool Grading

Homeschool grading is going to look different for everyone. In this blog post, I’m sharing how I approach and calculate grades within our homeschool, and what works for us!

My caveat here is that what we do won’t work for everyone, and if our approach doesn’t suit your family, that’s okay! The grading system of homeschooling is largely up to the discretion of the parents, unless there are legal requirements put in place by your province or state. This means that unless the government tells you otherwise, homeschool grading can be done however you want!

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How I Grade My Kids

When it comes to homeschooling, making “good grades” isn’t as important as it is in public school. In traditional school settings, letter grades are what tells the teachers and parents that the student knows the material. 

But homeschool is not the same as public school. There are so many differences, including the fact that the homeschool teacher IS the parent. I am with my children every day and can clearly see what they’re understanding and what they aren’t. Therefore, I don’t actually “grade” my kids at all! 

Now, before everyone starts panicking and telling me I’m doing them a disservice…..hear me out. 

Right now my children are in the elementary years and there is absolutely no need for something like a percentage grade applied to their work. 

Instead, I take the mastery approach. This means that we work on a concept until it’s mastered, and then move on to the next thing. If they are having a bit of trouble grasping something, we stay there until they master it. 

Dishing out homeschool grades for everything would be a waste of time, because my kids don’t need to see that to know they understand the work. And as the homeschool parent, neither do I. 

Homeschool Report Card

Another traditional school custom is report cards. Typically, teachers write up report cards twice each year and send them home to the parents. That makes sense for public or private school settings, but not for homeschool. 

This is because report cards are designed to communicate to the parents how their children are performing at school. Again, as homeschoolers this is just simply not required. 

I have never given my children report cards, and they will likely never need to become a part of our homeschool journey. 

High School Transcripts

Right now my children are young and in elementary school. But once they get into the high school years, we will be making sure they have everything they need for their high school transcripts. 

As homeschoolers, this can be done in many different ways, such as a final grade being given for each subject, as well as grades given from online courses. However, many colleges and universities have different requirements when it comes to homeschool applicants because they know that homeschool works differently than traditional school. 

So, as my kids approach those higher grade levels, we will evaluate their goals and make sure they have all the credentials required to pursue further learning. 

Homeschool Grade Level

When people think about “grading”, they don’t just associate that with a number grade. Oftentimes, that term is applied to passing from one grade level to the next. For most people including myself, this only ever happened at the end of each school year! A child finishes out their current grade level in June, and then moves on to the next grade in September. 

There is nothing wrong with that way of doing things, and to an extent, that’s how we do it within our homeschool as well. However, homeschooled kids don’t always stay within their assigned grade level when it comes to their daily work. 

For example, my daughter who is in 5th grade right now is doing 5th grade math, 4th grade language arts, and has completed some science programs that apply up to the 8th grade. Because of this, we homeschoolers tend to not put much weight on the actual grade level of our child. Instead, we focus on what level of work they are ready for in each subject and give them what they need. 

My children do progress to a new grade level every year, but to be honest that’s mainly just based on their age. It comes in handy when filling out applications for activities, and for answering people’s questions about their schooling. But their actual school work will vary by grade level throughout the entire year. 

Provincial/State Requirements

If you live in an area where your government requires you to keep a portfolio of records for your children’s homeschool work, then you must make sure you do that. 

However, please keep in mind that while you may follow a specific grading process to stay within the lines of your government regulations, that doesn’t have to control how you operate within your home. 

I’m not suggesting in any way that you lie in your record keeping! What I mean by this, is that even if you have to use more traditional grading scales when it comes to your homeschool records, you can still be advancing your children at home and challenging them in the ways you see fit. It is very possible to provide the detailed information your government is asking for, AND enjoy the freedom that homeschooling offers! 

What Is The Best Way?

My final thought on the topic of homeschool grading is that there is no “best way” of grading a homeschooled child. You as the homeschool parent have the freedom and authority to steer your child’s education in the way that is best suited for them! 

Some kids might thrive off of seeing a percentage grade for their writing assignment or math quiz, while others could care less! Some children will advance quickly through a certain grade level while another child may have to linger on something a little bit longer. 

It’s all okay and there are no correct answers when it comes to how to handle homeschool grading. Letter grades and percentages are traditionally given so that teachers and parents have an understanding of the student’s progress. 

But again, when it comes to homeschooling, the parents ARE the teachers. We are with our children every single day and don’t need a letter score to see how they’re doing. 

My advice to you would be to set specific goals each year for your children, and work towards those goals. In the early years, focus on lots of play and relationship building. Go on field trips and have fun with your kids! As they grow and get into the higher grades you will naturally hone in on the nitty gritty stuff. 

Be sure to provide whatever legal documentation is required, and use your discretion for the rest. You know your children best, and I know that as a homeschool parent you have their best interests at heart!

Blessings!

~Maryann