Wayne County, Michigan · 48201 · 48207 · 48226

Detroit Online Homeschool: Accredited K-12 Built for the Motor City

Self-paced. Nationally accredited. No DPSCD approval needed.

Detroit families are choosing an accredited K-12 program that runs on their own schedule, backed by certified teachers and a diploma built to hold up wherever your student takes it next.

24
credits in HSOA’s accredited diploma
K-12
full grade range, one accredited school
24hr
certified-teacher response time
0
state-mandated tests for Michigan homeschoolers
The Detroit Reality

Why Detroit Families Are Looking Elsewhere

These aren’t guesses. They’re the documented numbers behind why so many Detroit families are researching alternatives.

51,000
students enrolled in DPSCD today, down from roughly 162,700 in 2000 (a 71% decline)
4%
of Detroit 8th-graders scored proficient in math on the 2024 NAEP, versus 24% statewide and 27% nationally
5%
of Detroit 4th-graders scored proficient in reading on the 2024 NAEP, versus 25% statewide
Sources: Detroit Public Schools Community District enrollment history (Wikipedia, Citizens Research Council of Michigan); 2024 NAEP results as reported by Chalkbeat Detroit and The Detroit News.

None of this is about any one school or teacher. It’s a district that’s been rebuilding for over a decade, and plenty of families have decided not to wait on that rebuild to educate their own kid this year.

The Legal Picture

How Michigan Homeschool Law Works for Wayne County Families

Michigan is one of the least-regulated home-education states in the country, and Detroit families operate under the exact same framework as anywhere else in the state.

📋
Notice of Intent
Not required. Michigan doesn’t require filing with the state or DPSCD before withdrawing.

Not required

📝
Standardized testing
No mandatory state test for home-educated students, and no M-STEP once you’re outside the public system.

Not required

📚
Required subjects (MCL 380.1561)
Reading, spelling, math, science, history, civics, literature, writing, and English grammar, all built into HSOA’s accredited curriculum.

Built in

🏫
Nonpublic school status
Enrolling in an accredited private online school like HSOA means the school, not the parent, handles recordkeeping, grading, and the diploma.

HSOA handles it

💡
Pro Tip

You withdraw directly from DPSCD or your current district. No state approval, portfolio, or waiting period required. Most Detroit families are fully enrolled within a week of their first call.

For the full statutory language, see the Michigan Department of Education. Questions specific to your situation are a phone call away: (888) 242-4262.

The 74,000-Search Question

Homeschool Curriculum Built for K-12, Not Bolted Onto It

“Homeschool curriculum” is the single most-searched term in this space nationally, and for good reason: it’s the actual substance behind the accreditation.

Elementary (K-5)
Phonics-forward reading
Foundational math
Early science
Social studies
Middle School (6-8)
Pre-algebra → Algebra 1
Life · Earth · Physical science
ELA
World studies
High School (9-12)
Algebra 2 · Geometry
Biology · Chemistry
4 years English
Electives & dual-enrollment prep

Every course sits inside a full American curriculum aligned to what colleges and Michigan employers expect, taught by certified teachers who respond within 24 hours.

See the exact curriculum for your student’s grade

A short call tells you precisely where your student would start.

Talk to a Counselor

Every Grade, One Accredited School

K-12 Online Homeschool Programs for Detroit Students

The name says High School. The program runs kindergarten through 12th grade.

Grades K-5
Elementary
  • Science-of-Reading phonics instruction
  • Self-paced math with real mastery checks
  • Parent dashboard, real-time progress

K-5 online elementary program →

Grades 6-8
Middle School
  • Pre-algebra to Algebra 1 readiness ladder
  • Coherent 3-year science progression
  • No building-change disruption at 6th grade

Online middle school, grades 6-8 →

Grades 9-12
High School
  • 24-credit accredited diploma
  • Room for dual-enrollment
  • Transcript colleges already know how to read

Online high school, grades 9-12 →

One City, Many Reasons

Detroit Families Choosing HSOA, Neighborhood by Neighborhood

Detroit isn’t one story. Here’s how families across the city are using an accredited online program.

Midtown

Wayne State families

Parents on staff or in grad programs at Wayne State, or planning ahead for a student who wants to dual-enroll there, use self-paced coursework to keep both tracks moving.

Southwest Detroit

Mexicantown bilingual families

Coursework runs in English so the diploma is recognized everywhere, with counselors available to walk multilingual families through enrollment at a pace that fits.

Downtown & Corktown

Revival-era professional families

Parents working the new downtown economy (tech, hospitality, the growing riverfront corridor) need a school schedule as flexible as their own.

West Side

Rosedale Park & multi-generation families

Longtime Detroit families who’ve watched their neighborhood school open and close more than once want a school that isn’t tied to a building’s fate.

Ready to see your student’s graduation plan?

We’ll map the exact path from where your student is now to a 24-credit diploma.

Start Enrollment

Spec Sheet

The Diploma, Laid Out Plain

No sales pitch, just the specs.

ModelHSOA Accredited K-12 Diploma
Credits Required24
Curriculum AlignmentMichigan Merit Curriculum
AccreditationNationally accredited
State Testing RequiredNone
Issuing AuthorityHSOA (not self-issued)
College RecognitionWayne State, U-M Dearborn, U-D Mercy, and colleges nationwide
Dual-Enrollment PathwayAvailable for qualifying students (grades 9-12, 3.0 GPA); confirm current terms with a counselor

Michigan lets parents self-issue a diploma, and it’s legal. The gap isn’t legality, it’s the transcript. A school-issued one is a document admissions offices already know how to read.

How It Actually Runs

The Assembly Line to Graduation

Four stations, start to finish.

01

Intake Call

A short call covers grade, any transcript on hand, and what the first semester looks like.

02

Submit Records

No transcript yet is fine. Records can follow by text, email, or upload.

03

Build the Plan

Once records arrive, the team maps exactly what’s needed to reach the 24-credit diploma.

04

Start Coursework

Enrollment is open year-round. Most Detroit families are logged in within a week.

Questions before you start?

Call (888) 242-4262. A real counselor answers, not a bot.

Request Information

Recall Notice

Common Misconceptions, Corrected

Recall Notice

“You lose your school record when you leave DPSCD.”

THE FIX

Any credits already earned are reviewed and applied toward the 24-credit diploma. Nothing gets thrown out.

Recall Notice

“Homeschool means learning completely alone.”

THE FIX

Certified teachers respond within 24 hours, and a parent dashboard tracks real-time progress. It’s self-paced, not self-taught.

Recall Notice

“It’s not a real diploma colleges will accept.”

THE FIX

HSOA is nationally accredited. The transcript is recognized at Wayne State, U-M Dearborn, U-D Mercy, colleges nationwide, employers, and every U.S. military branch.

Questions Detroit Families Actually Ask

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to notify DPSCD when I start homeschooling?+

No. Michigan law doesn’t require notifying DPSCD, Wayne County, or the state. You withdraw your child directly, and once enrolled in HSOA you operate under MCL 380.1561 as a nonpublic school.

My child has an IEP through DPSCD. What happens if we switch?+

Enrolling in a private school like HSOA means the district’s IEP services no longer apply. A counselor can walk through how HSOA’s self-paced structure accommodates learning differences directly.

Will Wayne State, U-M Dearborn, or U-D Mercy accept the diploma?+

Yes. HSOA’s nationally accredited diploma and transcript are accepted at Wayne State, University of Michigan-Dearborn, University of Detroit Mercy, and colleges nationwide, along with employers and every U.S. military branch.

Can we enroll mid-year?+

Yes. Enrollment is open year-round with no semester windows. Credits already earned this year are reviewed and applied toward the diploma.

What if English isn’t the primary language at home?+

Coursework is delivered in English so the diploma is recognized everywhere in the U.S., and counselors work with multilingual families, including Southwest Detroit’s Spanish-speaking community, to make enrollment straightforward.

How does HSOA compare to a Detroit charter school?+

Charter schools are still publicly funded and subject to state oversight and testing requirements. HSOA is a private accredited school with no mandatory state testing and full scheduling flexibility.