Transcripts are important. A high school transcript is a one-page summary of your student’s coursework, grades, and credits earned (or in progress). A current transcript may be used to obtain a good student discount on car insurance. Your student’s transcript will be required by all colleges to which your student applies. Other groups, such as the military, employers, or volunteer organizations may request a copy of your student’s transcript. Once signed by you, the homeschool parent, your student’s transcript becomes a valid record of his or her academic achievement.

Creating a one page transcript does not have to be complicated! To make it easier on colleges or companies that might ask for a transcript, we recommend using a layout that is similar to what they receive from public and private schools. There are services, internet sites, and software that will help you create a transcript.  Or you can simply use word processing software and create your own. Covenant College has a good guide and sample/template transcript that you can download from their website here (scroll down and look under Homeschool Resources).

Transcripts should include the following information:

• Student’s personal information: full name, address, phone number, birth date, social security number (or last 4)
• Date of graduation (or anticipated date of graduation)
• For each year of school, note the student’s grade level and courses taken along with the number of credits given and the final grade
• Grading scale table (Does your A = 90-100? A = 94-100?)
• Grade point average (GPA): Include the cumulative high school GPA. You may choose to also include the GPA for each school year.
• Don't forget that you have the option to "weight" the GPA, giving a boost for AP, dual-enrollment, or honors courses. If you do this, clearly indicate the weighting on the transcript (DE = +.5, etc)
• College Entrance Exam (ACT, SAT, etc) scores—may be included on the transcript
• Signature of parent (you choose your title could be principal, teacher, parent)

Optionally, you could consider starting a file with a paragraph about each class (who taught, textbook used, online vs in person, dual-enrolled, etc) to use as a separate attachment to the transcript when needed. Many colleges don't need or want the extra detail, but some might ask for it. So it's a good idea to collect that info now while it's fresh in your mind.