Homeschooled and Above Average
Wednesday, March 15th, 2006By Mimi Rothschild
How young is the youngest student at one of the most prestigious universities in the country, UC Berkeley? The answer isn’t 17 years old, nor is it 16. The youngest student at UC Berkeley is 13 years old. He was educated by his parents through homeschooling. Of the more than 22,000 Berkeley students, more than 125 of them are under 17 years of age, and some of them came from a homeschooling environment.
Though a small percentage, the number is one that grows every year along with the prevalence of homeschooling across the United States. Homeschooled students have clearly proved themselves to be ahead of the pack academically. Some homeschooled students pass state regulated high school proficiency exams, designed for graduating high school seniors, when they are as young as 9 years old.
So, what is the “usual” path for a homeschooled student who may be far ahead of his or her peers in the education system? Though it is difficult to nail down trends in such an elite and small group, many students who have been educated through homeschooling in their younger years choose to skip high school altogether. There are plenty of things to be said about the social rigors of the American high school system – both for and against – but ultimately, for an advanced student, high school could be boring. Would it be fun? Probably. Would it be enlightening? Probably not.
Homeschooled students who earn their high school equivalency or diploma at a young age often choose community college as their next step. The courses are interesting and diverse while schedules are flexible. It is an important stepping-stone for homeschooled students. They can move toward the next level, such as a four-year university like UC Berkeley.
What about social pressures that someone five to ten years junior to their daily peers may feel? Most students report a bit of “good natured teasing” at most. They feel comfortable with their difference and they point out that no matter how old you are; starting college is a new phase of life with its own pressures. Life is full of pressures and homeschooled kids are showing that they have what it takes to handle it.