High School Electrical Engineering Homeschool Curriculum
Most high school electronics is surface-level circuits. Ours develops genuine EE thinking: the ability to design, analyze, and build electronic systems that solve real problems.
About high school learners
High school EE can develop from simple circuits to sophisticated embedded systems and digital design. Students learn both analog and digital electronics, preparing for engineering education or immediate practical application. The field is essential to nearly every technology career.
- Progressive skill development
- Highly practical and employable
- Connects to many tech fields
- Strong maker community resources
Learning objectives
- Master circuit analysis and design
- Program microcontrollers and embedded systems
- Understand digital logic and systems
- Design and build sophisticated projects
- Prepare for EE or related studies
Before and after high school electrical engineering
Before starting:
- Basic physics helpful
- Math through algebra
- Interest in electronics
- Problem-solving patience
Previous grade in this subject: 9th grade electrical engineering
Sample high school electrical engineering assignment
Student interest: audio and signal processing
Design an audio system: amplifier, filter, or effects processor. Understand the electronics behind sound, analyze your circuit mathematically, and build a working system.
What good work shows: Student understands EE with genuine depth. Connects mathematics to physical behavior. Creates sophisticated portfolio piece.
Sample projects and deliverables
Custom PCB Product
Good fit for: circuit board design
Design, manufacture, and assemble a custom PCB project. Professional-level electronics development from concept to finished product.
Skills used: PCB design, Manufacturing, Assembly, Testing
Deliverable: Working PCB product + design files + documentation + potential commercial product
Embedded System
Good fit for: embedded systems and sensors
Build a complete embedded system: hardware and software working together. Sensors, processing, actuation, communication.
Skills used: Embedded programming, Hardware integration, Real-time systems, Debugging
Deliverable: Working system + code + hardware documentation + demonstration
Competition Electronics
Good fit for: robotics and engineering competitions
Build electronics for competition: robotics, Science Olympiad, CanSat, etc. Real constraints, real stakes, real learning.
Skills used: Design under constraints, Reliability, Competition optimization, Team integration
Deliverable: Competition entry + documentation + results + engineering reflection
Same skills, different topics
Complete electronics engineering.
- Embedded Systems: Microcontrollers → Arduino/embedded programming → real-time systems → building an IoT device with wireless connectivity
- Digital Design: Digital electronics → logic circuits → FPGA design → implementing a processor on an FPGA
- RF and Communications: Wireless systems → radio frequency → transmitter/receiver design → building a software-defined radio system
- PCB Design: Professional electronics → PCB layout → manufacturing process → designing and manufacturing a custom PCB product
Where high school students get stuck
- Progressing from breadboard to PCB
- Debugging complex systems
- Integrating hardware and software
- Managing sophisticated projects
Teaching Approach for High School
Build from fundamentals to advanced topics. Include both analog and digital electronics. Heavy project-based learning with real applications. Support competition participation and independent innovation. Create portfolio demonstrating capability.