English Composition 2
Self-paced online English Composition 2 course (ENG 102). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →VirginiaHomeschool
Building a Virginia homeschool transcript with college-level courses
By the team. Checked 15 Nov 2026.
The short answer
A Virginia homeschool transcript is written by the parent: a list of courses by year with credits, grades and short descriptions. College courses fit in well, and Va. Code 22.1-254.1 lists a report card or transcript from an institution of higher education as one form of evidence of progress due by August 1.
What the law asks the parent to keep
Va. Code 22.1-254.1 does not ask for a transcript. It asks for a notice of intent by August 15 each year, with a list of subjects, and evidence of progress by August 1 after the school year. That evidence is either a composite score at or above the fourth stanine on a nationally normed achievement test, or an evaluation the division superintendent accepts.
The evaluations the law lists include a letter from a licensed teacher or a person with a master's degree who knows the child's work, and a report card or transcript from an institution of higher education, college distance learning program or home-education correspondence school.
- Notice of intent with subjects by August 15
- Evidence of progress by August 1
- A college transcript is a listed form of evaluation
What a homeschool transcript looks like
Colleges usually ask homeschool applicants for a transcript the parent prepares. Keep it to one or two pages: the student's name, the school name you use, the years, and the courses for each year with credits and grades. Add a grading scale and a signed line from the parent.
Course descriptions go on a separate page. For each course, give the main texts or materials, what was covered and how the grade was set.
| Column | What to put |
|---|---|
| Year | Grade 9, 10, 11 or 12, and the school year |
| Course | A clear title, such as English Composition I |
| Credit | High school credit, usually 1 for a full-year course |
| Grade | Letter grade and how it was set |
| Provider | Home, online provider or college |
Where college courses fit
A course from a community college goes on the home transcript with a note naming the college. The college sends its own official transcript when asked, which gives admissions officers an outside check on the home grades. Many families count a one-semester college course as one high school credit, but say on the transcript how you converted it.
Self-paced courses with ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended credit can also go on the home transcript as course work. UPI Study's courses, for example, can be listed as English Composition I or College Algebra with UPI Study as the provider. Their college credit counts only via a college transcript from a partner college such as TESU, UoPeople or Newlane, if that college agrees. UPI Study is not accredited.
Using college work as evidence of progress
Because the law lists a college transcript as one evaluation option, a family whose teen takes community college courses may be able to use that transcript for the August 1 evidence. The division superintendent decides what shows adequate progress, so check with your division before you rely on it.
If your teen takes self-paced courses that are not on a college transcript, keep the course grades and certificates, and plan another form of evidence, such as a standardized test or an evaluation letter.
A simple record system
Keep one folder per school year. Put in the notice of intent, the evidence of progress, the course list, reading lists, graded work and any certificates or college transcripts. Write course descriptions as each course ends, not in the senior year. When the teen applies to colleges, the transcript can be written from the folders in an afternoon, and each college can ask for the details it needs.
- Notice of intent and evidence of progress
- Course list with grades
- Descriptions written as each course ends
- College transcripts and certificates
What to ask in writing
Before you enrol
Ask each college your teen may attend to confirm in writing how it treats each course before your teen enrols.
UPI Study is not a college and is not accredited. ACE and NCCRS review our courses and recommend credit; a college decides whether to give that credit and records it on its own transcript.
ACE and NCCRS have over 2,100 cooperating colleges that will consider accepting credits; the final decision is with the universities.
Questions people ask
Does Virginia require a homeschool transcript?
The home instruction law asks for a yearly notice and evidence of progress, not a transcript. Colleges, employers and the military often ask for one, so building it from yearly records is wise.
Who signs a Virginia homeschool transcript?
The parent who provides home instruction prepares and signs it. A college course has its own official transcript, sent by that college on request.
Should college courses get extra weight on the transcript?
Some families weight college courses like honours courses. Whatever you choose, explain the scale on the transcript so admissions officers can read it.
Courses that fit
ACE-recommended or NCCRS-recommended courses, studied online at your own pace.
Pre-Calculus
Self-paced online Pre-Calculus course (MATH 115). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →
US History 1
Self-paced online US History 1 course (HIST 101). NCCRS recommends 3 semester credits; each college decides how it applies them.
See the course →Start when you have it in writing
Every course, self-paced, for the life of the plan.
Sources
- Code of Virginia: 22.1-254.1 Declaration of policy; requirements for home instruction of children (official)A: a parent may provide home instruction if the parent holds a high school diploma, is a qualified teacher, provides a program of study or curriculum (which may be a correspondence course or distance learning program), or shows ability to provide an adequate education. B: annual notice to the division superintendent no later than August 15, with a list of subjects. C: by August 1 following the school year, evidence of progress, either a test score at or above the fourth stanine or an evaluation, including a report card or transcript from an institution of higher education, college distance learning program or home-education correspondence school. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.
- Northern Virginia Community College: Dual Enrollment (official)Two routes: contract dual enrollment, NOVA classes at the student's high school during the regular school day, where students do not pay tuition; and independent dual enrollment, NOVA courses on campus or online for full college credit, where students are responsible for tuition and fees. Checked on 15 Nov 2026.