Bill Gates found a way to do it...he just started his own company so that his "boss" would let him work at any pace and method he wanted! Not sure if that business model will work out quite as successfully for the average student as it did for old Bill though.
There are a number of issues about home-schooled students as it has been explained to me.
First of all, there is the issue of representation. As ccscoach says, home school students are allowed to form their own teams and compete against SCHSL-affiliated teams. In doing this, they are representing the organization with which they are affiliated. If a home school student plays on a high school team, he is representing in competition a school/organization with which he has no affiliation.
Also, the issue of "everyone pays taxes that support the school" is true, but somewhat misleading. Everyone pays taxes, yes, but schools receive an allocation based on the number of students enrolled. If a student is not enrolled in the high school but is instead home schooled, the school does not, in point of fact, receive the financial support they would have if the student was enrolled, so the "equal taxes, equal privilege" argument really does not hold.
Other states do permit it and valid arguments can be made for either side; these are just a couple that have led to the decision that we currently have in SC.
