The Short Answer
To homeschool high school in South Dakota, file your one-time notification, set your own graduation requirements, keep a transcript, and issue the diploma yourself. Senate Bill 177 removed standardized testing for homeschoolers in 2021 and made notification a one-time step, not an annual one. South Dakota sets no graduation requirements and does not issue a diploma, so a parent-issued diploma is what your student carries, and it is valid for college, work, and the military. Residents in grades 11 and 12 can take dual credit at a reduced rate, but you must sign the dual credit memorandum of understanding inside your notification first. For the Opportunity Scholarship, a homeschool graduate needs an ACT composite or superscore of 24 with the required coursework at a C or higher, or a 28 with no curriculum requirement, plus a parent-issued transcript. Confirm each program's rules.
Verified July 2026 against South Dakota home education law as reformed by Senate Bill 177 (2021), South Dakota Board of Regents dual credit rules, and South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship eligibility. Confirm current Opportunity Scholarship coursework and ACT thresholds at sdbor.edu before relying on this for aid decisions.
South Dakota High School at a Glance
| Legal basis | One-time notification to the state; no annual filing and no state-required testing |
|---|---|
| State graduation requirements | None set for homeschoolers; you set your own |
| Who issues the diploma | You do; the state does not |
| Opportunity Scholarship | ACT 24 plus coursework, or ACT 28 with no curriculum requirement, on a parent transcript |
| Dual credit | Residents in grades 11 and 12 get a reduced rate; sign the MOU in your notification |
| College admission | Parent transcript plus an ACT score; dual credit strengthens it |
How Homeschool High School Works in South Dakota
South Dakota reformed its home education law with Senate Bill 177 in 2021, and the changes matter for high school. Notification is now a one-time step filed with the state rather than an annual task, and the state removed standardized testing for homeschoolers entirely. South Dakota sets no graduation requirements, so through high school you decide what your diploma requires, you keep the transcript, and you issue the diploma. A parent-issued South Dakota homeschool diploma is valid for college, work, and the military, with no GED required. One small but useful detail lives inside that notification form, which the dual credit section explains, so it is worth filling out with your high school plans in mind. We cover the notification in the South Dakota homeschooling guide.
Set Graduation Requirements and Build the Transcript
Because South Dakota sets no requirements for homeschoolers, you set your own, and here it pays to aim at the Opportunity Scholarship's course pattern: four or more units of language arts, plus the math, science, social studies, and other subjects the scholarship names. Write the plan at the start of ninth grade and build the transcript as you go, listing each course, its credits, and the grade, with a cumulative grade average. Keep it clean and signed, because your parent-issued transcript is the document the Opportunity Scholarship reads to confirm the coursework, and colleges read it for admission. Beginning with the class of 2027, the scholarship names specific coursework from designated subcategories, so check the current list as you plan. The free assessment shows you where your student stands before you map the four-year plan.
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The Opportunity Scholarship and Reduced-Rate Dual Credit
South Dakota gives homeschool graduates two concrete wins, and both turn on planning ahead. The South Dakota Opportunity Scholarship is open to homeschool graduates, and the ACT is the lever: a composite or superscore of 28 or higher carries no curriculum or grade requirement, while a 24 to 27 qualifies if your student completed the required high school coursework at a C or higher. Either way you submit a parent-issued transcript showing the subjects, so plan the ACT early and give room to retake, since a few points can drop the coursework condition entirely. The second win is dual credit. Alternative instruction students who are South Dakota residents in grades 11 and 12 can take college courses at a reduced tuition rate, but access depends on a small step: a dual credit memorandum of understanding that the parent signs inside the Alternative Instruction Notification. Sign it when you file, and your junior or senior can start college courses that count toward both high school and a degree. We link the details in our South Dakota homeschooling guide.
The Diploma and College Admission
South Dakota colleges admit homeschool graduates on a parent transcript, and the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State, and the state's other campuses take homeschool applicants. A well-built transcript is the foundation, and the ACT you already planned for the Opportunity Scholarship doubles as your admissions score, so one test serves both. Keep any dual credit college transcripts with your records, since that credit transfers within the state system and strengthens an application. When your student meets the requirements you set, you issue the diploma, dated and signed, and it stands for college, employment, and the military. The guide is a resource for planning the high school years.
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Students With Learning Differences
If your student had an Individualized Education Program in public school, those services end when you file your notification, and that includes high school. You can build accommodations into your own program, and college disability services open once your student enrolls, including through dual credit. Plan documentation early, since colleges and ACT testing accommodations can ask for recent records.
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☕ Buy us a coffee ($5)A Note from Homeschool Teacher Guide: What This Really Means for You
South Dakota made homeschooling simpler in 2021, and the freedom it gave back means the planning is yours to do well. Two moves pay off most. First, treat the ACT as the centerpiece, since a 28 clears the Opportunity Scholarship outright and a 24 clears it with the coursework you were building anyway. Second, sign the dual credit memorandum of understanding inside your notification so your junior or senior can take reduced-rate college courses without a scramble later. Build a transcript aimed at the scholarship's subjects, keep it signed and current, and your student walks into college with aid and credit already in hand. Our South Dakota homeschooling guide covers the notification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a South Dakota Homeschool Diploma Valid?
Yes. South Dakota sets no graduation requirements for homeschoolers, so you set your own and issue the diploma. It is valid for college, work, and the military, and no GED is required.
Can South Dakota Homeschoolers Get the Opportunity Scholarship?
Yes. A homeschool graduate qualifies with an ACT composite or superscore of 24 plus the required coursework at a C or higher, or a 28 with no curriculum requirement, submitted with a parent-issued transcript.
What Did Senate Bill 177 Change?
It removed standardized testing for homeschoolers in 2021 and made notification a one-time step rather than an annual filing.
Can South Dakota Homeschoolers Take Dual Credit?
Yes. Residents in grades 11 and 12 get a reduced tuition rate, but the parent must sign the dual credit memorandum of understanding inside the Alternative Instruction Notification first.
Do South Dakota Colleges Accept a Homeschool Diploma?
Yes. The University of South Dakota, South Dakota State, and other campuses admit homeschool graduates on a parent transcript, and an ACT score strengthens the application.