does anyone use a diploma program for highschool?

[learning6]

Ok, I am worrying about high school and the more I read about it the more confused I become. I live in Pennsylvanina and am planning to use the diploma program entitled "Susquehanna Valley Homeschool Diploma Program." Oldest child is starting seventh grade this year. This program has a list of courses that you need to cover sometime in grades 7 - 12. This list includes: Geography, World History, General math, geometry, health and physiology, algebra, civics, Us and PA history, music, safety/fire Ed., Phys. Ed., and art. The other requirements for the general Ed. diploma include the usual 4 years of English, 3 years math, etc. Daughter is just starting seventh grade. We are using Resurrection to Reformation. I have also used the Preparing guide with this child and then I left HOD for two years. I now realize that there is nothing like it and feel like I am here to stay, but am wondering if HOD will be enough for me to meet these requirements. Will I have to supplement like crazy. I already bought SOS PA History to use this year along with Alpha Omega Lifepack Civics course. I would like to fit in as much of the 7-12 grade requirements in the seventh and eighth grade years because daughter wants to study cosmotology or food service at the local vo-tech school sometime in high school. Also I am wondering do I skip the next two levels of HOD and go right to Missions and modern marvels for next year since that is the course right before high school or would that leave too many gaps?

[LynnH]

I don't live in PA nor do I use a diploma program, but looking at those they are pretty typical requirements for highschool. Carrie is designing her guides for high school around pretty much those guidelines. I don't know how you would fit all that in for just 7th and 8th grade since they really are meant to be spread out over highschool. If your daughter places in RTR skill wise, then moving all the way up to MTMM could be very frustrating for her. The guides build on each other in skills and MTMM has much higher thinking skills, writing skills etc than RTR does. You could save PA history for the year you do MTMM since an individual state study is already in the plans as optional. So looking at the current guides and plans for the future guides this is what I see.
Geography-Covered each year in RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM and then the first high school guide will be a full year of Geography
World History-Start in RTR and then the 2nd High School Guide will focus on World History
General Math, Algebra, and Geometry-you can just fit those in the math box where appropriate
Health and Physiology-Health is covered some in RTR with the changing body study, you could add a semester health study at some point if Carrie doesn't plan one in. Physiology would be covered if you do a Biology course in high school that also covers anatomy. Carrie recommends the ACE course and I think she said it covers anatomy
Civics-Economics is covered in MTMM and I think a Government course is planned for the 3rd high school guide.
US history covered in Rev to Rev and MTMM and the 3rd High school guide.
PA History- MTMM
Music-Classical Music study in Rev to Rev also I know there is something with Hymns in MTMM.
Safety/fire ed- I know the health curriculum my dd used for high school covered this.
Phys. Ed- This is really the only thing other than health that you might have to add that isn't already scheduled in a guide.
Art- There is a nature study in MTMM and there is drawing instruction in that. That coupled with Draw and Write Thru History that is done in RTR, Rev to Rev and MTMM, plus all the projects is plenty for an art course.

Honestly HOD probably sets you up better to meet those requirements than anything else I can think of.

[psreit]

I am from PA, and I used the Susquehanna diploma program for two of my three older dc. Although they did not do HOD, I hope I can put your mind at ease. If your dd is doing the general education diploma, she can cover each subject as you see fitting. First of all, the only subjects for which you need full semesters or years are the required credits for the 4 years of high school. The other areas just need to be covered sometime during 7-12 grades, but not necessarily a full semster. The general diploma does NOT require certain branches of each subject to be taught for credit. I will give you a run-down of my oldest dd's credits for Susquehanna:

4 English credits (you could use any HOD guide and have that covered every year)
3 credits in Math - 1/2 Algebra, 1 Consumer Math, 1/2 Computer, 1 Business Math
3 Science credits - 1 Environment (dd was involved in Envirothon, so she did extensive study in that one year) 1 Physical Science, 1 Animal Care/husbandry
3 Social Studies credits - 1 World History, 2 US History
A certain # of arts and humanities credits are required, My dd had more than enough. She covered them with Music, Art, Ethics, and had other electives such as PE, Child care, and New Testament Survey.

If your dd is going to vo-tech and she is going for a general diploma, she can cover her credits in various ways. Even though I have not seen the upper guides in HOD, as far as I can tell, you can continue through the guides where you are and whatever Science and History are covered that year, that is the credit she would get. (Ex, PA History, World History, US History, Civics, etc. or in science... Physical Science, Biology, Chemistry, etc) All those other things you mentioned do not need extensive coverage. I'll give you an example. HOD's history in a certain guide may be considered US history. There is always some gepography included in that. You do not necessarily have to have a whole semester of geography. She will get a history credit for whatever branch she is doing that particular year. Only those going for the College prep diploma are required to have certain branches completed for credit. Since your dd is planning on vo-tech, she could very well have all credits completed by 11th grade and just need English her 12th grade year while in vo-tech. It all hinges on whether the student is college bound.

Just for the record, not all colleges require a college prep diploma. There are good Christian colleges that will accept general diplomas. My dd never had intentions of going to college. She did eventually go to Bible college and was able to receive some secretarial training. She is married and now works as receptionist/secretary for a chiropractor. Eventually she may even be trained to run some of his equipment. I always said I could picture her married to a farmer. Her husband grew up on a turkey farm. After his training in electrical work is finished, he talks about going back to turkey farming. That is where they would like to raise their family.

Edit: I was just reading through your post again. If your daughter is doing history in HOD, you do NOT need to supplement with the AO courses you have, except as the pp mentioned, save the PA history for the HOD guide that Carrie has state history scheduled. There is plenty of history in HOD!

Feel free to PM me if you have other questions.

[learning6]

Thank you ladies! Your posts are very helpful. I am going to save them to view for encouragement when I start to doubt the path I am taking. Sometimes we need reminders!!!!