For many homeschool families, the years leading up to graduation open the door to important conversations about life after high school. While four-year college is one path, trade school and skilled careers can be an excellent option for teens who enjoy hands-on learning, practical skills, and wish to enter the workforce sooner.

Trade programs often lead to well-paying, in-demand jobs in fields like healthcare, construction, automotive technology, IT, and advanced manufacturing. Best of all, students can explore these options without pressure or cost using free, reliable resources.

Start with Career Exploration

Before choosing a school or program, it’s helpful for teens to understand what different careers actually involve.

• O*NET Online/My Next Move provides clear descriptions of hundreds of careers, including skilled trades. Teens can learn about daily tasks, required skills, working conditions, and job outlook.
• My Next Move also includes a simple interest profiler, which is especially helpful for students who aren’t sure what they want to do yet.

These tools help teens connect their interests and strengths to real-world careers.

Plan High School Courses with Trade School in Mind

Homeschooling offers a big advantage: flexibility. With trade school as a possible goal, course planning can focus on building practical skills alongside solid academics.

Helpful areas to prioritize include:

• Math – Many trades use applied math daily. Courses like pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, or consumer math help build confidence and problem-solving skills.
• Science – Physics (even at an introductory level), general science, or applied science courses are useful for understanding how systems work.
• English & Communication – Reading instructions, writing reports, and communicating clearly with coworkers and customers are essential in every trade.
• Technology & Computer Skills – Basic computer literacy, typing, spreadsheets, or introductory coding can be valuable in modern trade programs.
• Hands-On Electives – Shop classes, electronics, automotive basics, home repair, robotics, or maker-style projects help teens develop real-world skills and discover what they enjoy.

Encourage your teen to document projects, certifications, and work experience. A simple portfolio can be helpful when applying to trade programs or apprenticeships.

Explore Training and Education Options

Once a career direction starts to take shape, families can look at how to get there.

• CareerOneStop, run by the U.S. Department of Labor, is a simple resource for exploring careers, training programs, certifications, and trade schools. It also includes wage data and job outlook information, making it easier to compare options realistically.

This site is especially useful for homeschool parents who want neutral, trustworthy information without advertisements or sales pitches.

Don’t Overlook Apprenticeships

Trade school isn’t the only route to a skilled career.

• Apprenticeship.gov explains how apprenticeships work and allows students to search for registered programs by location and industry. Apprenticeships combine paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction and can be a great fit for teens who learn best by doing.

Supporting Your Teen’s Next Step

Homeschool families are well-positioned to support career-focused planning. Encourage your teen to:

• Explore careers early
• Match high school courses to future goals
• Compare trade school and apprenticeship pathways
• Talk with people already working in the trades

Trade school can be a practical, respected, and rewarding path—and with thoughtful planning and the right resources, families can explore it with confidence.

Helpful Resources

• CareerOneStop.org
• O*NET Online/MyNextMove.org
• Apprenticeship.gov

Local Trade Schools 

New England Institute of Technology (Warwick, East Greenwich, RI)

MTTI (Seekonk, MA)

Lincoln Tech (Lincoln, RI)

Technology Learning Center (Oxford, MA)

International CDL(Johnston, RI)

Cosmetology:

• Paul Mitchell School of RI
• Roy Rob Academy (MA and RI)
• Collectiv Academy (MA and RI; formerly Toni and Guy)
• Empire Beauty School (Providence)

For more information about homeschooling high school check out ENRICHri's series of High School articles and resources.