Beach High School
> I'm often asked a question like, "How are you able to award a diploma on the basis of nothing other than an essay and a letter of support?" The answer to this very reasonable question has two parts. First, I'm in a legal position to offer a diploma on this basis simply because there are no mandated requirements, in California law or anywhere else, for graduation from a private high school. (California law sets many subject matter graduation requirements for public high schools.)<p>A co-worker of mine formed her own private high school — <i>while in public high school</i> — and then graduated herself from it. She was running a successful business already, so it made sense to her at the time.<p>I was pretty shocked to learn this because I had no idea something like that was possible, and might have considered that route as well (although who's to say it would have turned out better?). For self-motivated, intellectual kids, I think it would be a dream come true — at least myself and several folks I went to high school with would have chosen to enroll in college classes much earlier, or do self-directed study, if we had the choice.