The Christy-Faith Show

·S1 E131

Ep. 131 - How to Homeschool High School With Confidence (Part 1 of 4) // Natalie Mack

August 20
52 mins

Episode Description

Your student is heading into ninth grade and suddenly everything feels like it counts. Credits, transcripts, graduation requirements, college, and a hundred decisions you're not sure you're qualified to make. Homeschool expert Christy-Faith sits down with Natalie Mack, M.Ed., to answer the question that keeps homeschool moms up at night: how do you homeschool high school without living in a pressure cooker?

This is Part 1 of a four-part high school series.

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In this episode, you'll learn:

  • What actually changes when you move from homeschooling middle school into high school
  • Why Natalie calls high school a blank canvas — and why there's no single right way through it
  • The five core subject areas that build a sound high school foundation
  • How many credits a homeschool high schooler needs each year, and what a credit really represents
  • Why every student needs a homeschool transcript — even the ones who say they're not going to college
  • When to start the transcript and why it stays a draft document for years
  • How to set your own graduation requirements and where state law comes into it
  • The biggest mistake homeschool parents make in high school planning — and how fear drives it
  • The truth about the all-AP myth, straight from a College Board parent advisory council member
  • How to choose between dual enrollment, AP, CLEP, and online classes using four fit filters
  • The dual credit mistake that costs families real money when credits don't transfer

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Resources mentioned:

About our guest:

Natalie Mack, M.Ed., is the founder of Homeschool Natalie Mack, and a homeschool consultant, TEDx speaker, and author of 101 Tips for Homeschoolers. With more than 23 years of homeschooling experience, she helps families confidently navigate high school, transcripts, college admissions, military service, and other postsecondary pathways. Natalie is passionate about equipping parents with practical guidance so they can make informed decisions.
👉 natalie-mack.com

Connect with Christy-Faith:

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  • (00:00) - Meet Natalie Mack
  • (02:15) - What's Coming in This 4-Part Series
  • (05:30) - Natalie's Five Kids and Their Different Paths
  • (09:20) - What Actually Changes in High School
  • (10:30) - High School Is a Blank Canvas
  • (16:33) - Why 14-Year-Olds Shouldn't Have to Decide Forever
  • (18:25) - Homeschooling Is the Flex
  • (21:00) - Trust the Process and Calm It Down
  • (26:00) - Credits, Transcripts, and the Five Core Subjects
  • (28:00) - How Many Credits Per Year
  • (29:30) - Why Every Student Needs a Transcript
  • (31:20) - Graduation Requirements and the Diploma
  • (36:55) - The Biggest Mistake: Planning From Fear
  • (40:15) - Dual Enrollment, AP, CLEP, or Online
  • (43:00) - The Dual Credit Transfer Trap
  • (45:25) - How Early Should Families Start Planning?
  • (49:05) - Where to Find Natalie Mack
See all episodes