How to Homeschool High School in Washington (2026): Diplomas, Running Start, and College

Verified June 2026 against Washington OSPI homeschool and Running Start guidance and RCW 28A.600.310. Confirm current Running Start forms and enrollment limits with your participating college before relying on this for enrollment decisions.

Washington High School at a Glance

Legal basis	Annual declaration of intent, plus annual assessment
Who issues the diploma	You do; Washington colleges accept it
Transcript	You build it; universities accept parent-created transcripts
Running Start	Grades 11 and 12, including home-based students
Who pays	The state pays tuition; an enrollment cap and some fees apply
Enrollment form	Running Start Enrollment Verification Form (RSEVF)

How Homeschool High School Works in Washington

Washington homeschooling runs on an annual declaration of intent, a qualified instructor, and an annual test or assessment, and all three continue through high school. As the parent, you set the graduation requirements, keep the transcript, and issue the diploma. Washington's public universities and community colleges accept parent-issued transcripts and diplomas, so your student does not need a GED. Keep filing your declaration and assessment each year through the senior year, since a lapse in either can complicate the diploma and any college applications that ask for continuous enrollment records. We cover the declaration and assessment in the Washington homeschooling guide.

Because Washington leaves the graduation standard to you, the transcript you build is what carries weight once your student applies to Running Start or to college. A diploma with nothing behind it is just a signed document; a diploma backed by a real transcript, a course list, and grades is what colleges and Running Start coordinators look for when they weigh a home-based applicant against the rest of the pool.

Set Graduation Requirements and Build the Transcript

You decide what your diploma requires. Many Washington families model their plan on the state's graduation framework: four years of English, three of math and science, three of social studies, plus arts, health and fitness, and electives. Write the plan at the start of ninth grade and build the transcript as you go, listing each course by year, the credits, and the grade. Decide early whether your student is aiming for a competitive four-year university, which usually wants a full college-prep sequence, or a more flexible path built around Running Start and electives.

A clean transcript matters here because it is what your student uses to enroll in Running Start and to apply to college. Link your planning to a real baseline before you map the four-year plan; the free reading assessment shows you where your student stands right now, which helps you sequence courses realistically.

Running Start: State-Paid College Courses

Running Start is Washington's standout feature for homeschoolers. Students in the eleventh and twelfth grades, including home-based students, can enroll at a participating community or technical college and take courses that count for both high school and college, with the state paying the tuition. You apply using the Running Start Enrollment Verification Form, and home-based students use their parent-issued records to do it.

Two practical notes: there is a combined enrollment cap on how much a student can take, and some fees, books, and transportation are not covered, so budget for those. Used well, Running Start lets a Washington homeschooler finish high school with a year or more of college credit already earned. Plan for it in tenth grade, since colleges may want a semester or two of ninth and tenth grade coursework on your transcript before they process the enrollment paperwork, and some participating colleges set enrollment deadlines a full term ahead of the start date your student wants. We link the details in our Washington homeschooling guide.

Issue the Diploma and Apply to College

When your student meets the requirements you set, you issue the diploma, dated and signed by you. Washington colleges accept it, so there is no need for a GED. For college, pair the diploma with your transcript, SAT or ACT scores, and any Running Start grades, which arrive on an official college transcript and carry real weight.

Washington's public universities admit homeschool graduates, and Running Start credit can transfer, sometimes letting a student enter as a sophomore. Some selective programs ask for course descriptions or a reading list alongside the transcript, so prepare those in advance if your student is applying somewhere competitive. Link your high school planning to a resource built for this stage; the guide covers how to structure the years so the transcript, the diploma, and the college application all line up.

Students With Learning Differences

If your student had an Individualized Education Program in public school, those services end when you file a declaration of intent, and that includes high school. You can build accommodations into your own program, and college disability services open once your student enrolls, including through Running Start. Plan documentation early, since colleges and testing accommodations can ask for recent records rather than a file from years earlier in your student's school career, and gathering updated evaluations takes time to schedule.

A Note from Homeschool Teacher Guide: What This Really Means for You

Washington keeps a few ongoing requirements through high school, the declaration and the annual assessment, but it hands your student a real prize in Running Start. You issue the diploma, and Washington colleges accept it. The move that pays off most is planning Running Start early: in the junior and senior years your student can take state-paid college courses that count twice, so line up the enrollment form and the college by tenth grade, and budget in advance for the fees and books the state does not cover.

Build a real transcript from ninth grade, since it opens both Running Start and college admissions, and keep it current every semester rather than trying to reconstruct four years of coursework the summer before graduation. Our Washington homeschooling guide covers the declaration and assessment in full.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Washington Homeschool Diploma Valid?

Yes. You set the graduation requirements and issue the diploma, and Washington's universities and community colleges accept parent-issued transcripts and diplomas.

What Is Running Start?

It is Washington's dual enrollment program. Eleventh and twelfth graders, including home-based students, take community or technical college courses for both high school and college credit, with the state paying tuition.

Does Running Start Cost Anything?

The state pays tuition, but there is a combined enrollment cap, and some fees, books, and transportation are not covered. Budget for those.

Do I Still Test in High School?

Yes. Washington's annual declaration of intent and annual test or assessment continue through the high school years.

Do Colleges Accept a Washington Homeschool Diploma?

Yes. Washington public universities admit homeschool graduates. Pair the diploma with a transcript, test scores, and any Running Start grades.

Sources

• Washington OSPI: Running Start
• Washington State Legislature: RCW 28A.600.310 (Running Start)
• HSLDA: How to Comply with Washington's Homeschool Law