How Homeschooled Athletes Can Qualify for College Sports

Homeschooling continues to rise across the country. In the 2022–23 school year, about 3.4% of all K–12 students in the U.S. — roughly 3 to 4 million — were homeschooled, up from around 2.8% in 2018–19. With more families choosing home education for flexibility, faith, or focus on athletics, many homeschool athletes are now setting their sights on competing at the next level.

The path to college sports is absolutely open for homeschool athletes — it just takes organization, preparation, and understanding the NCAA eligibility process.

Start by creating your Student-Athlete Account at the NCAA Eligibility Center. This is your official starting point for NCAA verification and where you’ll upload your transcript, course details, and proof of graduation.

Next Build a Complete Homeschool Transcript. The transcript should list all courses, grades, and credits earned and be signed and dated by your homeschool administrator (usually a parent). This serves as your official record of academic achievement.

Then, Provide Course Descriptions and Meet NCAA Core Standards. Each course needs a brief outline that includes textbooks, grading methods, and objectives. The NCAA requires 16 core courses in English, math, science, and social studies, so make sure your curriculum matches those expectations.

Along the way, keep detailed records. Save syllabi, graded work, and reading lists. The NCAA may request additional documentation, and staying organized will make the process much smoother. Student athletes will need to submit proof of graduation. So, a homeschool diploma or written statement confirming your graduation date completes your eligibility file.

Throughout your high school care it is important to compete, so get on the field and get noticed!

Join a homeschool athletic association, club program, or — where allowed — your local public school team to gain competitive experience. Exposure is key to being recruited by college coaches.

Coach’s Tip: PrepStar has helped thousands of student-athletes, including homeschoolers, get seen and recruited by college coaches nationwide. If you’re homeschooled and ready to take the next step toward your college recruiting journey follow my IG page- homefieldadvantagehq – our page to help homeschool athletes reach the next level.

Prepstar featured athlete- Kaleb Layton

The PrepStar featured athlete for this week is Kaleb Layton. Kaleb is a dynamic quarterback with a strong arm, impressive athleticism, and the ability to make plays both in the air and on the ground. The recent transfer to Buena High School (AZ) Kaleb had a stellar 2024 season, throwing for 1,943 yards, 19 touchdowns, and maintaining a 101.0 QB rating while also rushing for 210 yards and 8 touchdowns. His performance throughout the season earned him multiple Player of the Week honors, including recognition from Tucson ESPN Radio, KVOA News 4 Tucson, the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl, and more. Recently, I caught up with the rising Senior about preparation for the coming season and some memorable moments.

Metrics
Height 6’2”
Weight 170

Academics
GPA 3.0

Link to recruit profile: PrepStar 360 Athlete
Link to Hudl: 2024 Season Highlights
Twitter/X: @kaleb_Layton4

What are your goals after high school?
To go college and study business and continue my football dream and goals.

Are you looking to play in college?
Yes, it’s always been my dream since I was little to play at the next level in college.

What’s your dream school or team?
My dream college has been LSU ever since I was a kid. I’ve been watching them from the ups and downs.

What has been your favorite moment in competition?
The opportunity to get better, with good competition means that I’m pushing myself to be my best every rep.

What part of the game do you love most?
The family that it creates around a group of boys and creating memories with a team that is a part of something special.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
There is always something you can work on or get better at and your biggest competition is always the guy that looks back at you in the mirror.

What’s your pre-game routine / or pre-game superstition?
Locker room getting hyped up with my brothers.

If a movie was made about you, who would play you?
It would have to be my closest friend because he knows everything about me.

If you could try another sport, what would it be?
Yea, I wanna play baseball this year.

What’s your favorite game-day food?
Canes. Me and my teammates have always eaten canes before games. It helps us through the game

Prepstar Featured athlete – Jenna Layton 

The PrepStar featured athlete for this week is Jenna Layton. The outstanding volleyball athlete was a 2024 Sports360AZ All-Academic Girls Volleyball (4A-6A) selection as a libero and defensive specialist. On the court she brings a high level of intensity, court awareness, and leadership to the Walden Grove High School team. Recently, I caught up with the rising Senior about preparation for the coming season and some memorable moments.

Link to recruit profile: PrepStar 360 Athlete

Link to Hudl: 2024 Season Highlights

Twitter/X: ​​@jenna_layton7

What are your goals after high school?

My goals for after high school is to play collegiate volleyball and to study sports medicine. I plan on getting my doctorate in athletic training and major in kinesiology. 

Who or what inspires you to keep working hard?

What inspires me to continue to work hard is the mindset to be the best me in anything that I do, if that’s in volleyball or in my schooling or even as a person. I want to strive to continue to be better in areas that I’m already good in and to get better in the areas that I struggle. 

What’s one skill you’re working on this season?

One skill I would like to work on this season is my serve receive and getting it down to a tea. I realize within myself that it’s an area of performance that I know I need to try and perfect. 

What’s been your biggest accomplishment in your athletic career?

My biggest accomplishment in my athletic career would be making varsity as a sophomore or winning our preseason tournament leading into my junior high school season. 

How do you handle pressure or adversity?

How I handle pressure or adversity is by trying to forget the point before. If I mess up I forget about it and not let it dwell my performance the rest of the game. I also try to make sure I’m having fun when I play to help limit the pressure I feel. 

What do you want to be remembered for as an athlete?

What I would like to be remembered for as an athlete is not only my performance but how I am as a teammate and being able to run the back row when I play. I want to be known as the teammate that lifts everyone up and brings the energy to the court. 

If you could play any other sport, what would it be?

If I could play any other sport it would be softball. I grew up in a softball/baseball family and I do have interest in it. I also played softball when I was younger and was pretty good. 

What’s your pre-game hype song?

Honestly I don’t have a specific song. I think any song that brings up the energy and gets me into the mood. Preferably Drake, 21 Savage or Kendrick. 

Who’s your favorite pro athlete and why?

My favorite pro athlete would be Lexi Rodriguez or Justine Wong Orantes. They control the court so well and play so calmly in tough situations. 

Favorite game-day snack?

My favorite pre game snack would be cheddar goldfish. I always have some in my volleyball bag for before or between games.