What records do homeschoolers keep?
Most families end up with the same handful of things: attendance (which days you did school), grades or notes on how each subject is going, a few samples of your child’s work, and — once high school rolls around — a transcript.
None of it has to be fancy. A little bit, kept as you go, is so much easier than rebuilding a whole year from memory in June.
Tip: start tiny. A checkmark on the calendar for each school day and a folder for a few favorite worksheets is a wonderful beginning — you can always add more later.
Every state asks for something different
This is the part that surprises people. Some states ask homeschoolers for very little, some want you to count attendance days, and some ask for an annual assessment or portfolio review. Rules change, too. A good place to start is this state-by-state guide to homeschool requirements by state — then double-check the details with your own state’s education department.
Report card, progress report, or transcript?
📝
Report card
A snapshot of grades by subject for a term or a year. Great for your own peace of mind (and for proud grandparents). You can make a homeschool report card in a few minutes.
🌱
Progress report
Words instead of letter grades: what your child has learned, what’s clicking, and what’s next. A lovely fit for the younger grades, where a letter grade can feel like too much.
🎓
Transcript
The big one for high school: every course, credit, and grade in one place — the record colleges usually ask to see. Start it in 9th grade and build your homeschool transcript as you go.
🖨️ Just want something to print? Grab these free printable homeschool report card templates and fill them in by hand at the kitchen table.