Why This Code Exists
CEEB codes (also called College Board codes or school codes) are 6-digit identifiers assigned to every high school in the United States. They allow the SAT, College Board AP program, Common App, and college admissions offices to route records to the right place and identify where a student went to school.
Since homeschools are not assigned individual CEEB codes, the College Board and ACT created a universal code — 970000 — that flags the student as homeschool-educated. When admissions offices see this code, they route the application to their homeschool review process (if they have one) or treat it as a non-traditional applicant.
Where to Enter 970000 — Platform by Platform
SAT / College Board
When registering for the SAT at collegeboard.org, you will be asked for your high school. Search for your school name first — your homeschool will not appear. When the search returns no results, look for the option to enter a school code manually or select "Homeschool" from the school type dropdown. Enter 970000 in the CEEB code field. College Board will flag your account as a homeschool student and route your score reports accordingly.
When sending SAT scores to colleges, the scores are linked to your student profile — the 970000 code travels with them. You do not need to re-enter it when requesting score sends.
ACT
On the ACT registration at act.org, you will be asked for your high school. Select "Homeschool" as the school type. ACT uses its own internal code for homeschool students, but the process is the same — you select homeschool rather than searching for a school name. Some ACT forms display this as code 969999 or 000000; either is correct for ACT purposes. When in doubt, select "Homeschool" from the dropdown rather than entering a number manually.
Common Application
On Common App, in the Education section under "High School," click "Search for your school." Your homeschool will not appear. After the search, select the option for homeschool students. Common App will ask you to enter your homeschool's name and address and will assign the CEEB code 970000 internally. You also gain access to the homeschool supplement, which is where you submit course descriptions and the school profile.
Important: do not leave the high school code field blank. A missing code causes processing delays and can prevent your counselor materials from being linked to the application correctly.
Coalition Application / Scoir
Similar process to Common App — select "Homeschool" as your school type. The platform will handle the code assignment. Your homeschool name and address are entered manually.
FAFSA
FAFSA asks for your high school completion status, not a CEEB code. Select "Yes" when asked if you have a high school diploma or equivalent. You will not be asked for a school code. If FAFSA asks where you attended high school, enter your homeschool name and a physical address. There is no code requirement for FAFSA.
NCAA Eligibility Center
If your student is pursuing NCAA athletic eligibility, the NCAA Eligibility Center has a specific homeschool process. Use code 970000 when the form asks for your school code. You will also need to submit a transcript, course descriptions, and potentially a home school certification form depending on your state. Contact the NCAA Eligibility Center directly for their current homeschool documentation requirements — these change more frequently than college admissions requirements.
What Happens After You Submit 970000
The code triggers a homeschool flag in the receiving system. At colleges using Common App, this routes your application to the admissions reader who handles homeschool applications (most mid-size and larger colleges have a designated person or process). At testing agencies, it ensures your scores are reported accurately. The code does not penalize your application — it simply identifies your educational background accurately.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Using the correct homeschool code is mandatory — trying to enter a fake school code to appear as a traditional student is fraud and will be caught. Selective colleges have seen thousands of homeschool applications. The code triggers the appropriate review process, which is designed for your situation. Some colleges actively recruit homeschool students and see the 970000 flag as a positive differentiator.
Individual homeschools cannot apply for their own CEEB codes — those are assigned by College Board to accredited schools. There is no benefit to seeking one and no pathway to obtain one for a private family homeschool. The universal 970000 code is the correct and complete solution.
970000 is already 6 digits and should be accepted by any form designed for CEEB codes. If a form rejects it, contact the institution directly — this is usually a form validation error on their end, not a problem with your application. Ask them to manually enter the code or note it in your file.